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Snowe Supports Move to Delay Finance Committee Bill


Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME)

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Last night, I reported that there could be a significant delay in the progress of health care reform legislation--that the committee could have to wait for weeks to get a complete CBO score before holding a final vote, or that, if the committee approves the legislation without a score, the full Senate will have to wait two weeks before taking up final health care legislation on the floor.

Right now in the Senate Finance Committee, Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME), is arguing in favor of an amendment sponsored by Sen. Jim Bunning (R-KY), that would require the committee to wait until the final CBO score is completed before voting on it.

"I don't know what's happening that this has to be put on a fast track," she said.

Chairman Max Baucus doesn't support the proposal, and neither do most Democrats, but it's quite telling that Snowe does.

Late update: The Bunning amendment failed (Snowe's support notwithstanding), but the committee passed an alternative amendment that requires a preliminary CBO analysis be completed before a final vote. And that could still cause a few days' delay.

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September 23, 2009 10:37 AM   

Whatever leverage she has goes out the window if they go the reconciliation route.

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September 23, 2009 10:43 AM   

End this bi-partisan charade. Are Democrats really that dense to not realize when they're getting played?

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September 23, 2009 11:08 AM   

Yes, that's what we should do. We should delay it even more that way this sort of stuff can continue.

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September 23, 2009 11:22 AM   

Partisan BS...Pull the trigger Dems--use the power that the American people gave you or lose it in 2010!

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September 23, 2009 11:42 AM   

Republicans are hoping that if they delay long enough that there will be another terrorist attack. And I'm only kinda joking....

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September 23, 2009 12:27 PM   

A few days is MUCH BETTER than 2 weeks.

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September 23, 2009 12:47 PM   

Isn't there a deadline on the ability to use the reconcilliation procedure? Oct. 15th sticks in my mind, but I can't remember where I got that from.

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September 23, 2009 2:38 PM    in reply to KarenJG

Karen,

According to a quick search: Under the budget plan Senate Democrats passed earlier this year, they could invoke the reconciliation process on October 15.

The have to WAIT until Oct. 15 before they can act on reconciliation. We have the time, if they have the balls.

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September 23, 2009 4:46 PM    in reply to KeithL

Ah! Thank you. I knew that October 15th was a deadline of some sort. So, what, the language is more like, "IF there's no health care bill by 10/15, THEN reconciliation will be used (or at least, can be used), right?

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