Senate Democrats are riven, in a way, over the question of whether the 60-member caucus ought to stick together on procedural motions, to block the Republican minority from preventing key legislation from receiving an up or down vote. With a floor debate on health care reform around the corner, liberals are insisting that Democrats not kill their own bill by supporting an expected Republican filibuster. But moderate and conservative Senate Democrats tend to demure. Case in point, Sen. Jim Webb (D-VA).
Speaking to constituents, Webb said that, while he's inclined to let a health care bill have a debate on the Senate floor, he's making no promises regarding his willingness to kill the bill in the end.
Loosely translated, Webb is saying he won't block Senate health care legislation from having a debate on the floor. But as for when it comes time end debate and give the bill an up or down vote? Webb isn't making any promises just yet. That doesn't mean he's a potential liability for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. But yet another sign that Democrats are split over whether to give their own agenda a majority vote.

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jeffgee
November 13, 2009 11:12 AM
Is Jim feeling the hot breath of the Tea Partiers on his neck?
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parisblues
November 13, 2009 11:15 AM
This brings to 100% the percentage of Democrats whose campaigns my significant other and/or I have volunteered for who have failed to support the Democratic agenda. Way to fire up the base, guys!
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Indie Pro
November 13, 2009 11:30 AM
even I think all democrats should fall in line on such things.
Let the bill be debated. Why fear debate?
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GillesDeleuze
November 13, 2009 11:50 AM in reply to Indie Pro
Indie, its not debate that is feared, but a filibusterer: that is, never ending debate which effectually tables the legislation.
If the Senate never closes debate (cloture) for a vote, they can't pass the legislation.
Its a way to kill reform.
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Indie Pro
November 13, 2009 12:15 PM in reply to GillesDeleuze
Yes. I understand the two places prior to the conference report where one can filibuster. I'm saying bare minimum, Dems should allow debate.
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mophan
November 13, 2009 12:03 PM
Jeesh, you'd think he may have learned a thing or two from the recent landslide election of McConell in VA. Democrats cannot win by ignoring the base, except maybe in Mass. or Vermont. Even then, you have an uphill climb. The majority drop in approval towards Democratic legislatures is coming from progressives feeling ignored. I am not advocating a left wing purge in the fashion of what is being played out with the tea party/Republican party. More of a lets have a debate play out and lets have a vote, or else you are shooting your own party in the foot. What's wrong with that?
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Cool Blue Reason
November 13, 2009 12:49 PM in reply to mophan
What's wrong is that well-funded interests are exercising outsized influence over their political calculations, and even over their thinking on the issues.
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converse
November 13, 2009 12:51 PM
It's completely ridiculous that Dems who just last year were considered as Obama VP picks, like Webb and Bayh, now won't even commit to voting for cloture. Jerks.
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Barry Ragin
November 13, 2009 12:59 PM
When did Bart Simpson take over the Senate Democratic Caucus?
It's like these guys are totally incapable of learning from anything that's ever happened before.
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Middleclassvotingbloc
November 13, 2009 1:11 PM
I think that once again the statement made by Webb and others in the Democratic party against the health care bill, proves that President Obama has not put the law down about loyalty and disloyalty and the consequences. They all seem to have little respect for their party or their President. President Obama is too nice--he needs to put his foot down.
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rbeats
November 13, 2009 1:27 PM
Wow if Webb goes against the bill it would be a huge detriment to the Netroots.
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mrdrewed
November 13, 2009 1:30 PM
Sounds like yet another elected official who has had health care courtesy of the American taxpayer most of his adult life, but who doesn't think others deserve the same.
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Tyche
November 13, 2009 3:00 PM in reply to mrdrewed
Too bad none of the bills before Congress right now offer Americans the type of health insurance options that Congress has.
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sunnysteve
November 13, 2009 3:49 PM
Well, you wouldn't want to sneak anything by on a simple majority. Like Webb got elected with over 60 per cent of the votes......
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