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How High Will Public Option Trial Balloon Fly In The Senate?
Brian Beutler | October 22, 2009, 6:51PM
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For days there was silence. And then this morning and afternoon, the floodgates opened. Senators began saying, on the record, that Democratic leadership was leaning toward putting a public option--with an opt out clause--in the base Senate health care bill.
But, as a source close to the negotiations told me, there's more to leadership's inclination than meets the eye. Part of the play here is to see whether this news causes Senate centrists to flip out. A classic trial balloon. So far, only Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME) has said it will likely cost Harry Reid her cloture vote. Conservative Democrats might not be pleased, but so far they're keeping it fairly bottled up. Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE) voiced some displeasure, but nobody's gone into revolt.
Assuming the calm endures, chances seem pretty good that this is the direction Reid will take. But it won't be set in stone...until it's set in stone. As Greg Sargent has noted, the votes aren't there yet for a straightforward public option like the level-playing-field plan in the Senate HELP Committee's bill. In other words, negotiations will continue.
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timba
October 22, 2009 7:12 PM
Keep the heat on Harry. The buck stops with him whether he likes it or not.
http://www.actblue.com/page/harryreidad
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sherifffruitfly
October 22, 2009 7:15 PM
As maddening as it can be watching a glacier flow, at least the baby steps here are in the right direction.
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RWN
October 22, 2009 8:12 PM
This reminds me of the suspense of April and May 2008 when Obama kept winning the nomination. Experts held firm that the Democratic Party insiders, those Super Delegates would bolt and get behind Hillary, but instead the opposite happened, slowly like a Mississippi River Flood. As this continues as I predicted back this summer those conservative Dem's (Nelson, Baucus, Landreau, Lincoln) will be left alone looking at the abyss of a political world going away from them. They will vote for cloture and then vote against the bill but Senate will still have 54-55 votes and change will be done.
When the experts look up in 2010 the Republicans will lose even more seats in both chambers and wonder "what happened".
America is slowly moving away from the illusion of idealogue politics.
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wbgonne
October 22, 2009 8:59 PM in reply to RWN
I agree. Lieberman is the real problem. Everyone else, ultimately, is a Democrat and be squeezed and cajoled. I don't know if Lieberman even gives a shit anymore.
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Hannalee
October 22, 2009 9:55 PM in reply to wbgonne
Keep the heat on Harry and especially on the "no-public option" Dems for cloture. Donate to Pelosi's war chest. Send Liebermann a rubber glove and some k-y jelly.
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lousgirl84
October 22, 2009 9:43 PM in reply to RWN
I hope you are right. I had visions of less racism in 1963. I believed then that in 20-25 years all the ugly racists would die off and the new generations would be better. Well fast forward 46 years and look what we have. Until there is better education in this country, I wonder
But I am hoping you are right.
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rwc
October 23, 2009 2:09 AM in reply to RWN
The GOP will lose seats if, and only if, the Dems pass a real HCR bill with a strong public option and real controls on the insurance industry. Hell, if they passed a single-payer plan, the Dems would win elections for the next generation, just like with FDR
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theone718
October 22, 2009 8:12 PM
I think that will be the compromise. HELP public option with the opt-out caveat. So be it for 60 votes.
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The Commenter Formerly Known as NCSteve
October 22, 2009 9:18 PM
AHIP did more to create that acceptance among the "moderates" than anything Obama, Reid, Pelosi or anyone else could have possibly done. Even the dumbest of them recognized that "report" for what it was: attempted extortion. "Give us what we want or we'll jack up or prices and blame you." Instead, they get a public option and repeal of their antitrust exemption because NO ONE piddles on the precious perogatives of U.S. Senators, dammit.
(And for Christ's sake can we please call them what they are: conservative Democrats? Calling them "moderates" implies there's no ideological distance between Dick Durban and Dennis Kucinich)
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lousgirl84
October 22, 2009 9:47 PM in reply to The Commenter Formerly Known as NCSteve
Rachel Maddow calls them conservadems. I just think they are bought sold and paid for assholes.
I just saw a HCAN ad which is great by the way. They point out the states that have only one or two insurance companies to choose from, i..e. monopolies - one is Maine (now we know why Snow doesn't want a public option); Missouri has two; Nebraka (Ben Nelson) has one or two (I can't remember) but it spelled NO COMPETITION.
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jackie
October 22, 2009 11:01 PM
Nothing is impossible.
gucci shoes
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Laurel2
October 23, 2009 1:12 AM
October 23, 2009 1:08 AM
Amazing gall - Ins. companies pulling out all stops. Now spending $7,000,000.00/WEEK against meaningful reform with funds from OUR health insurance premiums!
We made 330,000 phone calls to legislators last week. Now look what's happening!
Let's not let 'em win this time.
Copy, cut, paste, fwd, fax and phone, without delay.
3 calls = 6 minutes.
Whitehouse switchboard 202-456-1414
Find your legislator: www.votesmart.org
Fax free from 1payer.net
Scare 'em to death...talk Single Payer.
Facts at pnhp.org
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