TPMDC
Reid Backs Opt Out Plan--Is The Door Still Open To Alternative Measures?
Brian Beutler | October 26, 2009, 1:34PM
Senator Harry Reid (D-NV)
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Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid appears poised today to announce his intent to include a public option with an opt out clause in the bill he brings to the Senate floor.
Policy details will likely be scarce, and the draft bill could still change. What goes to CBO will have different options under certain sections of the legislation, and there are conflicting reports that Reid might ask the CBO to send back analyses of other versions of the public option. Though most on the left would prefer it if public option compromises would simply be suffocated of all oxygen, it's also true that if a public option with an opt-out clause is included in the base bill, it will to a great extent shape the the floor debate. (For instance, 60 votes would be required to strip the public option out of the bill.)
Democrats are being very tight lipped today about exactly what Reid will say, but are suggesting strongly that there will be news.
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Indie Pro
October 26, 2009 1:40 PM
Policy details will likely be scarce, and the draft bill could still change...and there are conflicting reports that Reid might ask the CBO to send back analyses of other versions of the public option.
I smell cya. The question is, "For what?"
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WNCBlue
October 26, 2009 2:20 PM in reply to Indie Pro
When I'm feeling charitable toward the President, I imagine that his aversion to risk and ducking of responsibility is meant to provide a sort of safety net: if stronger versions of reform don't pass, the opprobrium will fall on congressional leadership. He will have kept his hands clean in order to come in at the eleventh hour and introduce "his" version, which will be guaranteed to pass.
I don't feel charitable toward him all that often these days, but if that's the plan, it makes sense to go ahead and get a CBO score on different versions.
Also, though, chances are good that - as we found in the House - more robust reforms will end up costing less money. So maybe Reid is expecting his mark to look better by comparison.
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Indie Pro
October 26, 2009 2:42 PM in reply to WNCBlue
I'd guess the comparison too, but at this stage, who knows.
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The Commenter Formerly Known as NCSteve
October 26, 2009 2:53 PM in reply to Indie Pro
It's pretty clear to me. It means Reid still doesn't have 60 in the bag and he needs the potential Plan B's scored so he can a) show the hold-outs that they cost more (if they do) and b) actually take one of the backups to a vote if that's what he has to do to get a bill passed. (Remember, no score=no vote.)
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cdub
October 26, 2009 1:49 PM
Since he said before that he'll make a decision before sending it to the CBO - I hope it is just the opt out that is included.
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johnmccsf
October 26, 2009 2:03 PM
Democrats are being very tight lipped today about exactly what Reid will say, but are suggesting strongly that there will be news.
Gee ya think so?
Maybe that's why OFA CA just broadcast an email to the list re: same
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sherifffruitfly
October 26, 2009 2:25 PM
Hm. I think you forgot the scare-rumormongering part about how anti-public option Obama is. According to something somebody said somewhere. At some point.
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tomanjeri
October 26, 2009 2:46 PM
Considering Reid is there to REPRESENT THE PEOPLE and the people WANT a public option it matters not what Reid wants or "backs", if Reid doesn't put a public option in and one that the general public is happy with he should be target #1 for replacement next time he's up for election.
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sanssouci0
October 26, 2009 2:51 PM
The word is out. The initial senate bill will have a public option with an opt-out. In theory this bill can only be amended with 60 votes. It would thus appear to be safe. However, if Lincoln, Liebermann, Bayh and Landrieu refuse to vote for cloture, they can still sabotage the bill and force Reid to offer an up and down vote on the trigger. We need to holler to hell's gates, to force these senator's from essentially joining the Republican party....
Moveon, PCCC etc need to fire out the ads hard and fast. This is going to go down to the wire and depend on a few outstanding senators.
Obama had better be working behind the scenes for the public option, if not, the democratic base will never forgive him for a watered-down triggered public option.
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Minne sconsin
October 26, 2009 3:18 PM
I'm not feeling generous today.
Here's what we need from you (these four) if you want to caucus with us - don't block our initiatives. We're not asking you to support the legislation, we're not asking you to vote for it - we're just asking you to not ACTIVELY IMPEDE it!
We need a Lyndon Johnson to help these four along, to have a little talk with them, to let them know that the status of their favorite spending programs in Nebraska, Connecticut, Indiana and Louisiana hang in the balance. Make them an offer that they cannot possibly refuse.
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The Commenter Formerly Known as NCSteve
October 26, 2009 4:58 PM in reply to Minne sconsin
Lyndon Johnson wasn't magic. One of his most important attributes was his sense of timing. It's why we had a Civil Rights Act of 1964 and a Voting Rights Act of 1965, and not a Civil Rights Act of 1958 and a Voting Rights Act of 1959.
And throughout the late 50s, when it simply was not possible for him to hammer anything meaningful through the Senate, he was denounced for not using his magic superpowers to break the Southern filibuster.
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