Health Care

GOP Touts Parker Griffith On Health Care -- After Previously Accusing Him Of Abusing Cancer Patients (VIDEO)

Eric Kleefeld | March 5, 2010, 6:10PM

Rep. Parker Griffith (R-AL).

Rep. Parker Griffith (R-AL), who switched from the Democrats to the GOP in December, will be delivering tomorrow's weekly Republican YouTube address -- presumably from the standpoint of being a medical doctor who is opposing the Dems on health care. As we've previously noted, there is a huge irony in this particular doctor being embraced by the GOP -- after they openly accused him of some very serious acts of medical malpractice, when they ran against him in 2008

"The fact that a doctor who left the Democratic caucus is delivering the address this week is no coincidence," an anonymous senior GOP aide boasted in an e-mail to news organizations. "This is a shot across the bow of any 'moderate' Democrat in the House who is considering voting for a health care bill loaded with tax hikes, Medicare cuts, and notorious backroom deals."

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Eric Massa

Back to 216! Massa's Resignation Helps Pelosi Pass Health Care

Brian Beutler | March 5, 2010, 5:10PM

Rep. Eric Massa (D-NY)

So Rep. Eric Massa (D-NY)--plagued by health problems and an allegation that he harassed a male staffer--will resign on Monday. What does that mean for health care?

It means that, if the vote were to come next week, the threshold for passage of health care reform would drop back to 216 from its current 217.

Recall that Republicans delayed the retirement of Rep. Nathan Deal (R-GA), simply to boost the vote threshold for health care to 217. Massa's retirement cancels that out.

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NY-29

Massa To Resign Monday

Rachel Slajda | March 5, 2010, 3:31PM

Rep. Eric Massa (D-NY)

Rep. Eric Massa (D-NY) announced today that he will resign, effective Monday at 5 p.m.

Massa, a freshman legislator, announced this week that he would not seek re-election, due to a cancer recurrence scare. The House ethics panel is also investigating Massa, reportedly for allegations of sexual harassment.

In a statement, Massa acknowledged the allegations for the first time.

"After I decided not to run again I was told, for the first time, that a member of my staff believed I had made statements that made him feel 'uncomfortable,'" he said.

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Sunday Shows

The Sunday Show Line-Ups

Eric Kleefeld | March 5, 2010, 1:52PM

Kathleen Sebelius, Secretary of Health and Human Services

Here are the line-ups for the Sunday talk shows this weekend:

• ABC, This Week: Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY).

• CBS, Face The Nation: Sen. Evan Bayh (D-IN), Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC).

• CNN, State Of The Union: Former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-TX), Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Rep. Brian Baird (D-WA).

• Fox News Sunday: Former Gov. Mitt Romney (R-MA).

• NBC, Meet The Press: Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius, Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT), former Rep. Harold Ford (D-TN).

Health Care

Reid Challenger: Govt Run Health Care Is Wrong -- It'll Weaken Medicare! (Video)

Brian Beutler | March 5, 2010, 1:38PM

Sue Lowden (R), NV Sen candidate

Republican Nevada Senate hopeful Sue Lowden is, predictably, blasting away at Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid for pursuing comprehensive health care reform, issuing all the standard warnings: "a bureaucrat between you and your doctor," etc., etc.

But in her most recent ad, Lowden falls into a familiar trap.

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NV-SEN

Polls Show Harry Reid Not Making Any Headway In Nevada

Evan McMorris-Santoro | March 5, 2010, 1:31PM

Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV)

At some point, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's tanking poll numbers have to hit bottom. Despite being among the most powerful men in the government -- well, or maybe exactly because of it -- Reid can't seem to get his constituents back home in Nevada interested in reelecting him.

As the months go on, Reid continues to sink further and further the polls, but a new poll out today shows he hasn't found the bottom yet. With the addition of today's new Rasmussen poll of the Nevada race, the TPM Poll Averages of hypothetical matchups in Nevada now show Reid trailing all three of the likely GOP nominees by double digits, garnering less than 40% of the vote each case.

The message is clear: whatever Reid is doing to boost support in Nevada these days, it's not working.

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PA-SEN

NOW Signs On To Sestak Camp In PA SEN

Evan McMorris-Santoro | March 5, 2010, 1:29PM

Rep. Joe Sestak (D-PA)

The National Organization for Women has taken sides in the Pennsylvania Senate race. The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that NOW will back Rep. Joe Sestak in the Democratic primary which pits him against Sen. Arlen Specter.

According to the paper's interviews with officials from the organization, NOW made its decision "after two interviews and on the strong recommendation of the state leadership of the organization." NOW says Sestak's "support of workplace equality for women and for gay rights" led to its decision to support support his Senate campaign in 2010.

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IL-GOV

Bill Brady Wins GOP Nomination For Illinois Governor, Over A Month After Super-Close Primary

Eric Kleefeld | March 5, 2010, 1:22PM

IL-Gov Republican candidates Kirk Dillard and Bill Brady

It's been over a month since the Illinois primary, but it appears that the Republicans finally have a nominee for governor, to go up against Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn.

The state today certified state Sen. Bill Brady as the winner of the February 2 Republican primary, the Chicago Sun-Times reports. Brady won with 155,527 votes, defeating state Sen. Kirk Dillard, who had 155,334 votes. Each candidate only had slightly over 20% of the vote each, in a primary in which six candidates had significant levels of support.

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Polls

Young Voters' Approval Of Obama Historically High -- Can Dems Keep Them?

Eric Kleefeld | March 5, 2010, 11:57AM

President Barack Obama

A new analysis from Gallup finds that as President Obama's ratings have gone up and down, one constant has remained: A sharply disproportionate level of support among younger voters, with an age gap that simply didn't happen with his two predecessors.

Gallup's data was compiled by analyzing the average approval ratings for Bill Clinton and George W. Bush during their administrations, and comparing these numbers to the Obama administration so far. The numbers were broken down among four age groups: 18-29, 30-49, 50-64, and 65+.

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Health Care

Can The President's Health Care Proposal Survive Reconciliation?

Brian Beutler | March 5, 2010, 11:30AM

President Barack Obama talks with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid in the Oval Office.

Assuming abortion doesn't kill health care reform, the other sine qua non of the process is the sidecar bill. House Democrats won't pass Senate health care legislation unless they're assured that a separate package is moved through the reconciliation process, making a number of amendments.

On that score, the White House put some skin in the game several weeks ago when they unveiled a package of proposed changes to the Senate bill, which administration officials say are designed to survive reconciliation--an esoteric process, which only allows measures with significant budgetary impact to advance.

Are they right? For the most part, yes.

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AZ-SEN

Hayworth Fundraising Ad Depicts 'Conservative Actor' McCain In Avatar-Like Warpaint

Eric Kleefeld | March 5, 2010, 10:21AM

An online ad by former Rep. J.D. Hayworth (R-AZ), against Sen. John McCain (R-AZ)

Sen. John McCain's campaign (R-AZ) is strongly objecting to a new online fundraising ad from his opponent in the Republican primary, former Rep. J.D. Hayworth, depicting McCain's face in blue warpaint.

The online fundraising ad offers up McCain as a potential Oscar winner, as "nominee for best conservative actor." The Arizona Republic speculated that the ad may have been a reference to the movie Avatar. The Hayworth campaign has put up a revised version that changes McCain's skin color to a dark blue, in addition to the lighter blue warpaint, making an Avatar connection more obvious.

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Health Care

Déjà Vu All Over Again: Why Abortion Imperils Health Care One More Time

Brian Beutler | March 5, 2010, 10:00AM

Speaker Pelosi, Rep. Bart Stupak (D-MI), President Obama

For the third time in less than six months, the issue of abortion threatens to kill health care reform. The initiative is fragile enough without abortion, yet more and more it's becoming clear that abortion is the one, final issue that must be resolved if Democrats are to succeed. But this time, there's much less legislative wiggle room than before and Democrats are scrambling to figure out what, if anything can be done.

The logjam is a familiar one, and comes down to simple political arithmetic. For health care reform to pass, he House must pass the Senate bill word for word, then make minor tweaks to it through the budget reconciliation process. But Rep. Bart Stupak (D-MI)--and, if we take him at his word, about a dozen of his Democratic colleagues--say they won't vote for health care again unless the Senate's abortion language is made more restrictive--a demand that seems like a legislative impossibility.

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Polls

Poll: Sharp Jump In Percentage Of Voters Who Think Paterson Should Resign

Eric Kleefeld | March 5, 2010, 9:57AM

Gov. David Paterson (D-NY)

A new Quinnipiac poll in New York finds a sharp increase in the number of people who think that Gov. David Paterson (D) should resign -- and this increase has happened in only the past two days, as more and more scandals have been reported in the press.

Registered voters were asked: "Do you think Governor Paterson should serve his full term until December 31 or should he resign?" The numbers are only 46% for serving his full term, to 42% saying he should resign, with a ±2.7% margin of error. Just two days ago, that number stood at 61%-31% in Paterson's favor.

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Health Care

Rep. Gordon May Switch Health Care Vote To Yes

Rachel Slajda | March 5, 2010, 9:13AM

Rep. Bart Gordon (D-TN)

Rep. Bart Gordon (D-TN), who voted against the House health care bill last year, released a statement saying he is pleased with President Obama's health care proposal -- a signal that he may change his vote.

"Throughout the debate over the past year, I've said any responsible health care bill must do two things: reduce overall health care spending and increase access to affordable care," Gordon said in the statement, according to the New York Times. "I voted against the House bill in November because it expanded coverage but did not do enough to bring down costs. I'm pleased to see the discussion moving in a more fiscally responsible direction now."

Gordon lauded the president for including provisions for medical malpractice reform.

TX-GOV

Poll: Rick Perry Up By Six In TX-GOV Race

Eric Kleefeld | March 4, 2010, 6:51PM

Gov. Rick Perry (R-TX) and Houston Mayor Bill White (D)

A new Rasmussen poll of Texas, the first publicly released poll since Tuesday's primary, gives Republican Gov. Rick Perry a lead of 49%-43% over Democratic Houston Mayor Bill White, with clear potential for a close race this fall.

This number is essentially the same as a 47%-41% result that Rasmussen had two weeks ago, before the primary. White easily won the Democratic nomination on Tuesday, while Perry won with 51% in a three-way race, enough to avoid a runoff. The new poll gives Perry a 54% favorable rating and 46% unfavorable, with White at 54%-34%.

In the TPM Poll Average, Perry leads White by 48.4%-41.0%.

Health Care

Hoyer: Stupak Could Get Separate Vote On Abortion

Brian Beutler | March 4, 2010, 6:16PM

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD)

Abortion is once again turning out to be a--if not the--major obstacle to passing health care legislation in the House of Representatives. Rep. Bart Stupak (D-MI) says he (and about a dozen other pro-life Democrats) will vote against the Senate bill if his concerns aren't met, claiming its abortion provisions allow for federal funding of abortions. And those are votes Speaker Nancy Pelosi can't afford to lose.

Stupak has re-entered negotiations with Democratic leadership, and this evening, emerging from a meeting with Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT), House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer indicated one possible way forward.

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Health Care

Obama to Progressives: 31 Million People--And My Presidency--Are On The Line If Health Care Fails

Brian Beutler | March 4, 2010, 4:26PM

Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-AZ)

President Obama's message to progressives who are dissatisfied with the Senate health care bill is two fold: First: Don't forget about the uninsured. Second: Don't forget what failure to pass this bill would do to the party and my presidency.

In a meeting with House progressives today, Obama made the pitch.

Speaking to reporters in the Speaker's lobby off the House floor, Congressional Progressive Caucus Co-Chair Raul Grijalva (D-AZ) said the President reminded them that "If this opportunity passes, much of our agenda, on the progressive side...it would be difficult, if not impossible for a generation to get back to this issue."

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Health Care

Back to 217! Boehner Says Retiring GOPer Deal Will Stay In The House To Vote 'No' On Health Care

Brian Beutler | March 4, 2010, 4:12PM

House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH)

For the last several days, the magic number to pass health care reform in the House has been 216. Today it went up by one. That's because Rep. Nathan Deal (R-GA) has decided to put off his resignation until after the health care vote.

"In recent days it has become clear to the American people that the House will be the final battleground in their effort to stop President Obama's massive health care takeover from becoming law," reads a typically...restrained...statement from Boehner. "The House is the last line of defense against this 2,700-page big government monstrosity, and the American people need every vote they can get in the effort to stop it from being enacted."

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Abortion

Poll: Pro-Life Dems Face Pressure To Vote No On Health Care Bill

Rachel Slajda | March 4, 2010, 3:57PM

Rep. Bart Stupak (D-MI)

A pro-life group called Susan B. Anthony's List has been trying to pressure pro-life Democrats to vote against a health care bill if it doesn't include Stupak-like abortion language. Their latest effort was to poll voters in eight Congressional districts this week to prove that those pro-life members can either vote no, or face the end of their House careers.

But the poll seems to prove something else: These voters don't want to see a health care bill passed at all -- with or without abortion language.

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Insurance rate hikes

Health Care Showdown: The White House Takes on Insurers

Christina Bellantoni | March 4, 2010, 3:56PM

President Barack Obama and HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius

President Obama and Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today summoned the nation's four largest health insurers responsible for rate increases the administration calls "jaw-dropping." They demanded the insurers - WellPoint, Cigna, Aetna and United Health Group - start disclosing their rate increases on the Internet.

Everyone involved called the talks "constructive," but shortly after the meeting a report surfaced showing the nation's largest insurer would stand to profit substantially if reform fails.

The Washington Post's Ezra Klein got his hands on a report from a consulting firm which evaluated Wellpoint stock and concluded, "Of course, healthcare reform is a double-edged sword for Wellpoint shares. Should reform fail, Wellpoint would be a primary beneficiary."

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AR-SEN

Obama And Blanche Lincoln Agree To Disagree, Gibbs Says

Evan McMorris-Santoro | March 4, 2010, 3:04PM

Press Secretary Robert Gibbs

White House press secretary Robert Gibbs continued to push the administration's support for embattled Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) at the White House's daily briefing with reporters today.

Lincoln has become the focal point of progressive discontent within the Democratic party since Lt. Gov. Bill Halter decided to run against her in the Democratic primary this week. The race has pitted the AFL-CIO, the netroots and other progressive groups backing Halter against the mainstream Democratic establishment, who so far has publicly backed Lincoln. On Monday, Gibbs said the White House is supporting Lincoln, "as an incumbent senator."

Today, Gibbs went farther, defending Lincoln's right to take stances that have angered the left.

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RNC

Steele Won't Defend 'Unfortunate' RNC Presentation (VIDEO)

Eric Kleefeld | March 4, 2010, 2:08PM

RNC chairman Michael Steele

Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele appeared on Fox News this afternoon, and had to answer some tough questions about the recent internal fundraising presentation that included negative depictions of President Obama, Speaker Nancy Pelosi -- and the RNC's own donors.

The fundraising presentation, which was originally reported by the Politico, included the infamous illustration of Obama as the Joker, and also compared Pelosi to Cruella de Vil. It also directed how to appeal to "ego-driven" large donors, and to appeal to small donors through "fear" and "extreme negative feelings" and "reactionary" attitudes against the Obama administration.

Steele said he just became aware of the presentation yesterday, and that the RNC is looking into it through an internal process. When asked by Megyn Kelly how to defend it, Steele responded: "Well you don't defend it. It was unfortunate."

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Health Care

Let's Negotiate: Pelosi Says Dem Health Care Skeptics Are Coming To The Table

Brian Beutler | March 4, 2010, 12:59PM

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)

It's no secret that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi won't have an easy time rounding up the votes to pass Senate health care legislation. She'll almost certainly have to convince members who voted "no" on the House bill last November to change their minds, and a number of in-play Democrats have said they're not likely to budge.

At her weekly press conference this morning, Pelosi suggested that this is all part of the negotiations.

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Health Care

Key Dems Get Face Time With Obama On Health Care

Christina Bellantoni | March 4, 2010, 12:44PM

President Obama with his advisers in the Oval Office.

The White House added something new to President Obama's schedule today - meetings with key members of House Democratic caucus groups who want to have their say on health care.

The conservative Democrats Obama is attempting to woo - several who attended his party last night - to win the needed votes on the final health care plan this month will get to speak with the president in the Oval Office at 2:30.

They are all leaders of the New Democrat Coalition. As we mentioned earlier the group's Health Task Force Co-Chair Rep. Jason Altmire told reporters today he won't change his mind.

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Eric Massa

Pelosi: I Didn't Know About Massa Allegations

Brian Beutler | March 4, 2010, 12:28PM

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)

At her weekly press conference this morning, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told reporters that she had no prior knowledge of allegations that Rep. Eric Massa (D-NY), harassed a junior staffer.

"I asked my staff, has there been any rumors [about this] before," Pelosi said. "There had been a rumor...nobody made a formal notification to our office that anything happened. A one, two, three person rumor that had been reported to Mr. Hoyer's office, and then reported to my staff, which they did not report to me, because you know what? This is rumor city."

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NY-29

Massa Retirement Creates Big Opening In GOP-Leaning District

Eric Kleefeld | March 4, 2010, 11:35AM

Rep. Eric Massa (D-NY)

The sudden retirement of Rep. Eric Massa (D-NY) has created a clear weakness for Democrats, in holding on to a seat that was narrowly carried by John McCain in 2008. The first order of business: Finding a new Democratic candidate.

A Democratic source said that it is far too sudden and early to definitively name new Democratic candidates, but with that caveat some possible names are state Rep. Barbara Lifton, state Rep. David Koon, state Rep. Susan John, Canandaigua Mayor Ellen Polimeni, and Hornell Mayor Shawn Hogan. The source acknowledged that this is a "tough district" for Democrats, but argued that it's too early to assess the state of the race.

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Maria Cantwell

Cantwell Joins Public Option Push: No. 35

Rachel Slajda | March 4, 2010, 11:32AM

Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA)

Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA) became the 35th senator to declare support for passing a public option via reconciliation, her office confirms to TPMDC.

Cantwell told the Huffington Post that she'd vote for a public option under reconciliation, if the Senate parliamentarian OK's it.

"If the parliamentarian says you can and it can all work, yes," she said. "If it works, fine."

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Ethics

Rep. Nadler Tells TPMDC Massa Allegations Came 'Out Of The Blue'

Brian Beutler | March 4, 2010, 11:24AM

Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY)

Rep. Jerrod Nadler (D-NY), told TPMDC today that accusations that he was taken by surprise by allegations that his New York co-delegate, Rep. Eric Massa, harassed a male staffer. He also said Massa's decision not to seek reelection came "out of the blue."

In an interview with me, Nadler (D-NY) said it came to his attention for the first time yesterday, but cautioned that the facts of the situation--which are still not publicly known--would affect how Congress should react.

"And by the way, I don't know the nature of the accusation. Was this an adult or a kid? Remember the situation we had a couple years ago with Foley was an intern--a page. Is the accusation--if it's a consensual sexual relationship with an adult, I'm not sure it's any of our business," Nadler said.

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AR-SEN

Blanche Lincoln Touts Herself As One-Woman Party Of No In First 2010 TV Spot (VIDEO)

Evan McMorris-Santoro | March 4, 2010, 11:10AM

Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-AR)

The air wars have begun in the 2010 Arkansas Democratic Senate primary. A day after Lt. Gov. Bill Halter launched his first TV ad of the race, the woman squaring off against him to keep her job, Sen. Blanche Lincoln, went on the air with her own commercial, aimed squarely at Halter's message.

Lincoln's ad focuses several of her stances that have drawn the ire of national progressives. She touts her decisions to oppose cap-and-trade, the health care public option and other bills as evidence she stands against the norm in Washington.

"Some in my party didn't like it very much," Lincoln says of the votes, "but I approved this message because I don't answer to my party."

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Health Care

Bachmann And Grayson Debate Health Care, Corruption, And 'Weapons Of Mass Distraction' (VIDEO)

Eric Kleefeld | March 4, 2010, 11:05AM

Reps. Alan Grayson (D-FL) and Michele Bachmann (R-MN)

Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL) and Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) appeared last night on Larry King Live, with the two eminently quotable legislators debating health care policy. Bachmann used the opportunity to call for an investigation of the Obama administration.

"I think that we can come together. But I think a big question that has to be addressed right now, Larry, is, what in the world is going on in the White House?" said Bachmann. "Because today, the president offered a judgeship to the brother of a member of Congress. Tonight, the president has that same member of Congress at the White House, pressuring him to change his vote on health care." She then called for an investigation.

Grayson responded: "Well, my esteemed colleague from Minnesota has just deployed another weapon of mass distraction that the Republicans use from time to time to try to change the subject away from health care."

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AR-SEN

Pro-Choice Group Slams Blanche Lincoln: 'She Wasn't There For Us, We Won't Be There For Her'

Evan McMorris-Santoro | March 4, 2010, 10:55AM

Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-AR)

Despite an ever-strengthening primary challenge from Lt. Gov. Bill Halter, Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) still has plenty of powerful friends in Washington. But after today, Lincoln can't count EMILY's List, one of the strongest support networks for pro-choice women candidates in the country, among her allies.

In a strongly-worded rebuke of Lincoln on the the group's blog this morning, EMILY's List chair Ellen Malcolm rejected the woman whom her group once counted among its rising stars.

"Since she wasn't there for us," Malcom wrote, "we won't be there for her."

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GOP Shadow Budget

Dem Campaign Snares Local Candidates In Ryan Budget Question

Christina Bellantoni | March 4, 2010, 10:53AM

Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI)

Republicans jousting in a primary to challenge Rep. Travis Childers are now sparring over a GOP proposal to privatize Social Security and create a voucher system for Medicare.

Support is growing for the Rep. Paul Ryan's plan on Capitol Hill, and he picked up another supporter in Angela McGlowan, a former Fox News analyst and candidate in Mississippi's First Congressional district.

McGlowan backs private Social Security accounts, according to the Commercial Appeal. The newspaper reported last week "McGlowan has been criticized for her suggestion the public should be allowed to invest at least some of the social security money the federal government deducts from paychecks."

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Health Care

Ten Democrats Who Opposed Health Care At White House Party

Christina Bellantoni | March 4, 2010, 9:37AM

A blue dog.

President Obama and Vice President Joe Biden last night hosted a reception for 31 Congressional Democrats to thank them for pay-as-you-go legislation, and 10 members in the group happen to have voted against health care reform the first time around.

As Democrats attempt to shore up enough votes to finish their yearlong push on health care, Obama is helping leaders secure as many wavering Democrats as possible. The White House says he is doing what he can to convince fiscal conservatives the health care measure that passed the Senate is the right choice.

A White House party certainly isn't going to convince the lawmakers who opposed the health care bill last fall but it could help, and Obama made the pitch last night.

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Democrats

Dems Grateful Relieved Over Rangel's 'Exemplary Leadership'

Brian Beutler | March 3, 2010, 6:17PM

Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-NY)

Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-NY) stepped aside as House Ways and Means Committee chairman earlier today, to great fanfare from House Democratic leaders. But reading between the lines of their fond words, it's clear that they're relieved he's decided to take a (for now) temporary leave.

Rangel himself said his decision was rooted in a desire to keep the patina of scandal around him from imperiling the political fortunes of his fellow Democrats. Does leadership agree? After a House Democratic caucus meeting this afternoon, Caucus Chair John Larson told me Rangel's decision was a sign of "exemplary leadership." In other worse, they do indeed agree.

After all, Rangel initially put up a fight. As of last night he was insisting he would retain his chairmanship.

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GOP Shadow Budget

Ryan 'Roadmap' Earns Positive Congressional Testimony And New Co-Sponsors

Christina Bellantoni | March 3, 2010, 6:14PM

Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI)

Rep. Bob Inglis (R-SC) testified today before the House Budget Committee that a proposal to dramatically overhaul entitlement programs is "bold" and signed on as a co-sponsor of Rep. Paul Ryan's budget "roadmap" plan which cuts and then partially privatizes Social Security and creates a voucher system for Medicare.

Inglis said in testimony today that he's "comfortable" with the plan, which he said would help "get our fiscal house in order." The Ryan plan also has new co-sponsors: Rep. Jeff Flake (R-AZ) and Rep. Erik Paulsen (R-MN). (See correction below.)

TPMDC has been tracking where House Republicans stand on the Ryan "roadmap." Yesterday we detailed the lawmakers we've gotten on the record, with nearly a dozen refusing to say where they stand despite repeated requests.

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UT-SEN

Club For Growth Goes After GOP Sen. Bennett In New Ad (VIDEO)

Eric Kleefeld | March 3, 2010, 5:58PM

Sen. Bob Bennett (R-UT)

The conservative Club For Growth has launched a new attack ad against Sen. Bob Bennett (R-UT), who has become a top target for them in their quest each cycle to take out a Republican incumbent they deem to be insufficiently conservative.

Bennett has been in the Club's sights for quite some time. The new TV ad attacks Bennett for such big-spending programs as the TARP bailout and the "Bridge To Nowhere" in Alaska -- and even accuses him of colluding with liberals on health care reform. The ad then exhorts viewers to attend their local Republican Party precinct caucuses on March 23 -- a process that could potentially unseat Bennett, as explained below.

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NY-29

Massa Says Harrassment Story 'Totally False' And Says He's A 'Salty Old Sailor'

Christina Bellantoni | March 3, 2010, 4:41PM

Rep. Eric Massa (D-NY)

TPMDC's Brian Beutler waited outside Rep. Eric Massa's office this afternoon in an attempt to get more than the short statement the Democrat read to reporters on the phone earlier.

Massa (D-NY) read a similar statement about his decision not to seek reelection to reporters staking out his Longworth office, and took no questions. Afterward, Brian chased him down the hallway to ask further about the allegations of harassment from a male staffer. Massa denied it and offered one more comment.

"I made my statement. The allegations are totally false. I'm a salty old sailor. That's that," Massa said.

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NY-29

Rep. Eric Massa Says He Won't Seek Re-Election In 'Final Phase' Of His Life

Christina Bellantoni | March 3, 2010, 4:02PM

Rep. Eric Massa (D-NY)

Rep. Eric Massa told reporters today that as he enters the "final phase" of his life he will not seek reelection to Congress, adding a rebuke to the press. Massa said charges of sexual harassment being publicized by blogs are "unsubstantiated" and are an example of what's wrong with Washington.

"I do not have the life's energy to fight all the battles all the time. I will now enter the final phase of my life at a more controlled pace," Massa (D-NY) told reporters on a hastily arranged conference call. "I'm a very salty guy, a very direct guy and I run at about 100 miles an hour."

He said that after being briefly hospitalized due to his third major cancer scare in December his doctors "made clear" he couldn't keep up his current pace of work.

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Health Care

McConnell Says GOP Will Campaign To Repeal Health Care...But Won't Say Whether They'll Actually Do It

Brian Beutler | March 3, 2010, 3:25PM

Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY)

In his response to President Obama's latest call for Congress to finish off health care reform--a process that will involve invoking a filibuster-proof maneuver called reconciliation--Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell insisted that, if the legislation passes, "every" Republican candidate will campaign this fall to repeal it. However, he would not go so far as to say he'd actually move to repeal it if Republicans take back the Senate next fall.

"There's an overwhelming likelihood that every Republican candidate will be campaigning to repeal it," McConnell intoned at a press conference this afternoon. "I think virtually all Republican candidates will say [the bill] is something they would not have supported."

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Ethics

Rangel: I'm Stepping Down To Help Fellow Dems' Election Chances

Rachel Slajda | March 3, 2010, 2:54PM

Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-NY)

Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-NY), who announced today that he will take a leave of absence from the chair of the Ways and Means Committee, told a group of reporters that he did so in order not to hurt his fellow Democrats' chances this November.

"I had told the speaker last year many months ago that if my issues were going to impede the election of the Democratic party, then I would be glad for her to entertain a leave of absence," Rangel said this afternoon.

"I think that if the Speaker accepts my request to take a leave of absence, politically, I think that that should take care of the political problems."

Read more »

Polls

Poll: Blue Dog Rep. Dan Boren Maintains Strong Numbers In Deep-Red District

Eric Kleefeld | March 3, 2010, 2:12PM

Rep. Dan Boren (D-OK).

A new survey by Public Policy Polling (D) finds that Rep. Dan Boren (D-OK) -- one of the most conservative Democrats in the House, and one of the most outspoken critics of the Democratic leadership -- is doing just fine politically in his conservative district.

Boren has an approval rating of 51%, to only 33% disapproval, at the same time as President Obama's approval rating in the district is a ghastly 27%-65%. In the 2008 election, Boren's district voted 66%-34% for John McCain.

PPP communications director Tom Jensen writes: "On the whole Boren's clearly done a good job of differentiating how his constituents feel about him personally from how they feel about his party. 70% of his district disapproves of the job Congressional Democrats are doing. But most of them are planning to vote for him anyway."

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Health Care

President Obama: Congress Owes Nation 'Final Vote' On Health Care

Christina Bellantoni | March 3, 2010, 1:53PM

President Barack Obama

President Obama today called on Congress to schedule a vote on health care reform legislation this month, saying if lawmakers walk away it's a problem "that will only get worse."

The president said there remain major differences between the two political parties on health care but he doesn't see how "another year of negotiations would help."

"The United States Congress owes the American people a final vote on health care reform," Obama said, urging lawmakers to "finish their work and schedule a vote in the next few weeks."

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Jim Bunning

Inside 'Bunning-Gate': How The Democrats Brought Bunning Around

Evan McMorris-Santoro | March 3, 2010, 12:58PM

Sen. Jim Bunning (R-KY)

Despite outward appearances that Sen. Jim Bunning's (R-KY) filibuster of the unemployment benefits extension was partisan gridlock at its worst, Democratic sources tell TPMDC that the Bunning's one-man government shutdown actually united partisans on both sides toward a common goal: breaking the filibuster. Democrats are calling the affair "Bunning-gate."

According to Democratic sources in the Senate, Republicans were pressuring Bunning behind the scenes to relent on his filibuster -- even as many Republicans seemed uninterested in saying so publicly. But Bunning's relationship with his party isn't exactly rosy, so the Republican appeals had no effect.

In the end, the Democrats ended the standoff by promising Bunning votes they say he knows he will lose: first came his amendment to the unemployment bill, which failed last night. There's more coming, say Democratic sources -- the party agreed to allow more of his legislation to reach the floor, even though everyone knows the bills are doomed to fail.

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AZ-SEN

Can Hayworth Beat McCain? It's A Definite Maybe

Eric Kleefeld | March 3, 2010, 12:49PM

Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) and former Rep. J.D. Hayworth (R-AZ).

With Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) being challenged from the right in the Republican primary by former Rep. J.D. Hayworth (R-AZ), a very important question must be asked: Is it possible that McCain could actually lose, a mere two years after he was his party's nominee for president?

A Rasmussen poll from November 2009 gave McCain only a 45%-43% edge, within the margin of error. McCain began his ad campaign soon thereafter, and by late January he was up by a stronger margin of 53%-41%, the most recent independent data on the race. McCain has also been endorsed by a Who's Who of the Republican Party -- most notably his former running mate Sarah Palin, a hero to many conservative activists.

A Republican source in Arizona told us that McCain is the frontrunner, but it is indeed possible for Hayworth to win. "Absolutely, it's feasible," said the source. "It's a primary, it's the base of the Republican Party. That being said, the independents can vote in the Republican Party. So it should be a very dynamic and energized race in which either can certainly win."

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Ways and Means Committee

Boehner Questions Validity Of Rangel's 'Leave Of Absence'

Justin Elliott | March 3, 2010, 12:48PM

Rep. John Boehner (R-OH)

At a press conference today, House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH) questioned whether Rep. Charles Rangel's decision to take a "leave of absence" as Ways and Means chairman is permitted under House rules.

"There is nothing in the rules of the House that refers to temporarily stepping aside. Either you're the chairman, or you're not," Boehner said in a clip of the press conference shown on Fox.

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Public Option

Kaufman Supports Public Option Via Reconciliation

Rachel Slajda | March 3, 2010, 12:14PM

Sen. Ted Kaufman (D-DE)

Sen. Ted Kaufman (D-DE) has become the latest senator to say he would support passing a public option via reconciliation, his spokeswoman confirms to TPMDC.

Kaufman has become the 33rd senator to do so -- or 34th, if you count Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, who would try to pass the measure if there are enough votes for it.

"I'm for a public option, if there's some way that it can get done," he told the Huffington Post. "If it qualified under reconciliation, then I would" vote for it.

Check out TPM's running list of senators who support passing the public option with a simple majority.

Public Option

Sherrod Brown Will 'Absolutely' Push For Public Option Via Separate Legislation

Rachel Slajda | March 3, 2010, 12:00PM

Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH)

Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) told reporters today that he would push to pass the public option in its own bill if it doesn't pass as part of the overall health care bill, The Hill reports.

"I still hope we get it on this. If we don't get it on this, we can give it a try," he said.

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Climate Change

Kerry's Confident Climate Change Bill Momentum Is Heating Up

Christina Bellantoni | March 3, 2010, 11:22AM

Sen. John Kerry (D-MA), Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) and Sen. Lindsay Graham (R-SC)

Sen. John Kerry today is meeting with the Senate committee chairmen to outline the bipartisan climate change legislation that is taking shape privately on Capitol Hill.

For months Kerry has been huddling with Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) and Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) with backing from the White House and President Obama's Green Cabinet to come up with a bill that passes political muster. Political aides and Kerry declined to give a firm timeline or say whether something could actually get done in midterm election year, but Kerry told reporters Tuesday he feels "very positive" that the details his bipartisan trio is working through could become a specific proposal soon.

"I feel much more confident that we, all the three of us, and others who are engaged in this, have a clear sense of direction. What we're doing now is working through the details," Kerry said. "It's a puzzle, you have to fit all the pieces together."

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AR-SEN

DSCC Chair: 'I Believe Blanche Lincoln Would Be Our Best Candidate' (VIDEO)

Evan McMorris-Santoro | March 3, 2010, 10:50AM

Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ)

The man responsible for electing Democrats to the Senate, DSCC chair Bob Menendez, told MSNBC this morning that he stands with Sen. Blanche Lincoln in the Arkansas Senate primary. Menendez wouldn't say whether the national party will spend money to defend Lincoln against Lt. Gov. Bill Halter, who's running against her for the Democratic nomination with the backing of national progressive and labor groups, saying only that the DSCC is supporting her as it does all incumbent Democrats.

Menendez said Lincoln remains the party's safest bet to keep the seat this fall. "I believe Blanche Lincoln would be our best candidate in the general election," he said. Yesterday, Christina reported that many in the national Democratic establishment feel the same way.

Check out the video after the jump.

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Health Care

For It Before He Was Against It: Arcuri Will Likely Vote No On Health Care

Brian Beutler | March 3, 2010, 10:30AM

Rep. Michael Arcuri (D-NY)

Rep. Michael Arcuri (D-NY) voted for House health care legislation in November. But he says he's almost certain to vote no on the Senate bill when it comes up for a vote in the House later this month, according to a report in the Utica Observer-Dispatch.

"There would have to be some dramatic changes in it for me to change my position," Arcuri said.

Back in November, he was saying somewhat different things. "There are some parts of the Senate bill I like better, and some parts of this bill I like better than the Senate version. I look at this as piece of the whole - this is the first step in a process."

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Census

Bachmann Learns To Support The Census

Eric Kleefeld | March 3, 2010, 10:24AM

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN)

Hmm, Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) seems to be getting more and more supportive of the Census.

The Hill reports that Bachmann will vote yes on a resolution today to encourage Americans to participate in the Census, and promote March 2010 as "Census Awareness Month." "We are where we are right now in 2010, and she hopes the population is counted accurately as the resolution calls for," said Bachmann's communications director David Dziok.

What makes this really interesting is that Bachmann spent a decent amount of time last year repeatedly trashing the Census. Let's take a trip down memory lane.

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Health Care

Clyburn: I Think We're In Good Shape On Health Care Reform (VIDEO)

Brian Beutler | March 3, 2010, 10:02AM

Rep. James E. Clyburn (D-SC)

The top vote counter in the House says he thinks Democrats are in fine shape on health care reform.

On MSNBC this morning, House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-SC) laid out his logic.

"I think we're in good shape on this bill," Clyburn said. "I think that all of us in the House know that 220 people have voted for it, 219 Democrats. Now three of those Democrats who voted for it are no longer part of the body which takes us down to 216, but we've got four vacancies, so it means that what we need is 216 and not 218."

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NY-GOV

Poll: New Yorkers Don't Think Paterson Should Resign

Eric Kleefeld | March 3, 2010, 9:42AM

Gov. David Paterson (D-NY)

A new Quinnipiac poll of New York finds that the state's registered voters overwhelmingly disapprove of Gov. David Paterson's (D) performance -- but at the same time, they don't want him to resign from office over his reported intervention into domestic violence charges against an aide.

Paterson's approval rating has reached an all-time low in Quinnipiac's polling, with only 24% approval and 62% disapproval. This is a sharp decline from his already-terrible ratings from a month ago, when he was at 37%-54%. However, 61% of respondents also said he should serve out his full term, against only 31% who think he should resign. Both of these poll results were spread fairly evenly across partisan lines.

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Health Care

GOP To Obama: Nah, Our Ideas Don't Make It A Better Health Care Plan

Christina Bellantoni | March 3, 2010, 9:15AM

President Obama speaks at a bipartisan White House gathering with Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH) in the background.

President Obama today will offer his final stamp of approval on a compromise health care reform measure that Democrats hope can pass Congress in the coming month. Obama yesterday offered an olive branch to Republicans by telling congressional leaders he will include four GOP ideas in his plan.

But Republicans immediately dismissed the ideas and issued scolding statements saying Obama should scrap a year's worth of work on health care and start over.

House Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-VA) was first, telling Obama that including his party's ideas was just "political cover." Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said the GOP was "disappointed with your latest proposal to simply paper a few of these commonsense proposals over an unsalvageable bill."

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Ways and Means Committee

Rangel: I've Asked For 'Leave Of Absence' As Ways And Means Chair

Justin Elliott | March 3, 2010, 8:57AM

Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-NY)

Less than a week after the ethics panel found he violated House rules by taking corporate-funded junkets to the Caribbean, Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY) announced this morning that he has asked Nancy Pelosi for a "leave of absence" from his duties as chair of the Ways and Means Committee, pending completion of various ethics investigations.

Rangel took no questions from the press, but added that "from the very beginning I have offered this to Speaker Pelosi."

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Blanche Lincoln

Sierra Club Enters The Primary Fray In Arkansas

Evan McMorris-Santoro | March 3, 2010, 8:48AM

Lt. Gov. Bill Halter (D-AR) and Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-AR)

Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) will be the target of a new series of attack ads launched by the Sierra Club in Arkansas today. Lincoln's support for a plan to strip the EPA of its ability to regulate greenhouse gas emissions has drawn fire from environmental groups for a while now, and the new Sierra Club ad campaign is not the group's first on the subject.

But coming on the heels of Lt. Gov. Bill Halter's decision to challenge Lincoln in the Democratic Senate primary, the Sierra Club's new attack on Lincoln puts the group in the company of the AFL-CIO, MoveOn and other national groups pouring money into Arkansas in opposition to Lincoln.

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TX-GOV

Perry Apparently Wins TX-GOV Republican Primary -- And Hutchison Actually Concedes

Eric Kleefeld | March 2, 2010, 11:54PM

Gov. Rick Perry (R-TX)

Gov. Rick Perry (R-TX), who was being challenged in the Republican primary by Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison and Tea Party activist Debra Medina, has won renomination -- not just leading his competitors, but apparently surpassing the 50 percent of the vote needed to win outright and avoid a runoff.

It is not yet official that Perry truly did win more than 50% of the vote -- but it appears very likely. And in any case, Hutchison has conceded the race.

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Jim Bunning

Dem Leadership: Bunning Episode Proves The Need For Reconciliation

Brian Beutler | March 2, 2010, 8:48PM

Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV)

Sen. Jim Bunning's marathon filibuster--which cut unemployment benefits and triggered thousands of furloughs--is over. But it's not forgotten. In a statement provided to TPMDC a Senate Democratic leadership aide notes that the episode highlights the need for the Senate to return to a time when filibusters weren't the norm--and that includes amending comprehensive health care legislation using reconciliation.

"Bunning lifted the curtain on the great lengths that Republicans go to drag out every single action taken by the Senate, no matter how routine," the aide says. "This is why we need to return to an era of more up or down votes and fewer filibusters. It's why all options are on the table moving forward, including reconciliation."

Obviously, Democratic leaders have been building a reconciliation strategy for weeks--it's not as if reconciliation was off the table until Jim Bunning went nuclear. But his filibuster crystallizes why it is Democrats have lost faith in the standard legislative process and help them justify the move.

Charlie Rangel

Report: Charlie Rangel Gives Up His Gavel...Or Does He?

Evan McMorris-Santoro | March 2, 2010, 8:08PM

Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-NY)

It seems last week's admonishment of Rep. Charlie Rangel was the scandal that broke the New York Democrat's teflon coating. NBC news is reporting that Rangel has given up his chairmanship of the House Ways and Means Committee this evening before his fellow Representatives had a chance to take it away from him.

Sources told NBC that Rangel "had been encouraged to step aside" by Democrats "before the House voted on a bill to strip him of his chairmanship."

Late Update: A few minutes ago, Rangel briefed reporters on Capitol Hill. Tweets from the appearance suggest the the situation is more fluid than NBC's original report might suggest.

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AR-SEN

True Blue? TPM Asks Bill Halter: How Progressive Are You?

Evan McMorris-Santoro | March 2, 2010, 7:15PM

Arkansas Lt. Governor Bill Halter

Progressives across the country have been overjoyed with Arkansas Lt. Gov. Bill Halter's decision to challenge Sen. Blanche Lincoln in the May 18 Senate primary. Activists on the left feel that Halter's candidacy offers them a chance to punish Lincoln for taking stands on key issues that run counter to the progressive agenda.

Much of the progressive effort before Halter entered the race was focused on attacking Lincoln, rather than building up Halter. To many on the left, she is the embodiment of the conservative faction in the Democratic Senate caucus that kept many key components of President Obama's agenda -- most notably health care reform -- from sailing smoothly through a Congress the Democrats control. Those angry at Lincoln got their wish Monday when Halter decided to enter the primary. But we wanted to know just how progressive a candidate Halter will be now that he's the standard-bearer for progressive discontent across the country. In a brief interview this morning, we got our answer.

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Jim Bunning

Bunning Relents, Accepts Deal On Unemployment Bill

Rachel Slajda | March 2, 2010, 7:11PM

Sen. Jim Bunning (R-KY)

Sen. Jim Bunning (R-KY) has accepted a deal to drop his one-man filibuster of a bill that would extend expiring unemployment benefits for hundreds of thousands of people.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's office has confirmed to TPMDC that Bunning accepted the deal, but declined to provide details.

Bunning, in exchange for dropping his objection, will get one vote on an amendment to pay for the bill, which will cost an estimated $10 billion. Bunning's amendment to pay for the bill will be the only amendment allowed on the floor. A final vote is scheduled to begin at 8:30 tonight.

Bunning will also get two votes on amendments for another bill which would extend unemployment benefits for one year, according to Roll Call. A spokesman for Reid would not confirm that detail.

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Jim Bunning

Reid's Office: Bunning Holding All Nominees

Rachel Slajda | March 2, 2010, 6:07PM

Sen. Jim Bunning (R-KY)

Sen. Jim Bunning (R-KY), who has become a one-man filibuster of a bill to extend unemployment benefits, apparently placed a hold on all presidential nominees last week.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's office confirms to TPMDC that Bunning has placed the holds.

"It turns out that not only has he been blocking the unemployment insurance bill, he has also been blocking the confirmation of nominees since last week as well," said Reid spokesman Jim Manley.

Bunning's spokesman tells TPMDC that he doesn't know about the holds.

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Democrats

Health Care Follies: Pelosi Mum On Selling Senate Abortion, Immigration Provisions To House Democrats

Brian Beutler | March 2, 2010, 5:58PM

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi held an unexpected press conference today, where she acknowledged--unsurprisingly--that the divide between Democrats and Republicans on health care reform is unlikely to be bridged. But, when asked if and how she can cobble together the votes within her own caucus to pass a bill with controversial abortion and immigration language in it, Pelosi had no answers.

Pelosi acknowledged what has long been known--that neither abortion nor immigration can be dealt with in the budget reconciliation process. The issues, she said, are "not central to the budget--in order for them to be part of the budget bill, they have to be central to the budget."

But she wouldn't say how she plans to overcome the 216-vote threshold she'd likely face if either or both of these issues causes rebellion among members of her caucus. The next step, she said is to send legislation to CBO and, once CBO reports back, to see what the Senate can pass through the reconciliation process. Then it'll be time to sell that to her caucus.

AR-SEN

Little Room On Lincoln's Left As Democrats Prep To Rally Behind Arkansas Conservadem

Christina Bellantoni | March 2, 2010, 3:54PM

Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-AR)

Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) by all accounts is in trouble as her reelection nears, and a primary challenge from her left is unwelcome by even some of her critics. Lt. Gov. Bill Halter's primary started officially today and he's got a surge of progressive organizing, labor union money and online support as left-leaning Democrats attempt to boot Lincoln from office.

TPMDC spoke with several Democratic senators on Capitol Hill today who said the party will close ranks around Lincoln and that she won't have to worry about rogue endorsements. The Lincoln camp and her supporters will frame the challenge from Halter as "liberal, out-of-state Democrats" and sources familiar with the race said Lincoln will soon roll out high-profile local endorsements to shore up her side. The White House is backing Lincoln and already has done fundraising on her behalf. An Obama aide wouldn't say today if that will continue.

National Democrats were even more frank, saying Halter's challenge will force Lincoln to dip into her massive $5.1 million war chest that she will need in the fall against a Republican foe. The Republicans haven't determined who their candidate will be. Lincoln trails all of them, but none are as well known and the GOPer who comes closest to her in fundraising has just $600,000 cash on hand.

The current TPM Poll Average of this race shows Republican Rep. John Boozman with 52.7 percent and Lincoln with 35.7 percent.

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Health Care

Against It Before They Were For It: Who Will Flip From 'No' To 'Yes' On Health Care?

Brian Beutler | March 2, 2010, 3:35PM

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) speak to the press.

Nancy Pelosi has a problem. A bare 220 members of the House voted to pass her health care bill. Only one of those 220 was a Republican--Rep. Joseph Cao (R-LA)--and he's since defected. And several of the 219 Democrats, for one reason or another, won't be there this time around. Reps. Robert Wexler (D-FL) and Neil Abercrombie (D-HI) have abdicated their seats. Rep. John Murtha (D-PA) passed away. Rep. Bart Stupak (D-MI) has promised to bolt over the Senate health care bill's abortion provision, which he views as too lenient, and he's promised to bring other pro-life Dems with him.

That leaves Pelosi at a deficit. Because of vacancies, she'll likely only need 216 votes to pass the Senate health care bill, but she's short by an unknown number of votes. And she'll have to fill that hole with the votes of members who opposed reform the first time around. They're not exactly a willing bunch, but Pelosi has 38 members to mine from.

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Public Option

Mark Udall Joins Call For Public Option

Rachel Slajda | March 2, 2010, 3:00PM

Sen. Mark Udall (D-CO)

Sen. Mark Udall (D-CO) today announced his support for passing a public option via reconciliation.

"As part of reform, [Udall] continues to feel that inclusion of a public option to go head-to-head with private insurers could play a significant role in bringing down costs and offering more affordable options to Coloradans," his office said in a statement. "He thinks it's important that such a plan -- like the one approved in the House bill -- negotiate reimbursement rates while competing on a level playing field with the private sector, and if such a plan comes up for a vote under the reconciliation process, he would vote for it."

Udall joins 31 other senators in supporting passing the measure by a simple majority. Of those, 24 have signed a letter written by Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO) urging the leadership to pass a public option using reconciliation.

Jim Bunning

Grilled, McConnell Takes No Position On Bunning Benefit Blockade

Brian Beutler | March 2, 2010, 2:52PM

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell

In an awkward exchange with reporters this afternoon, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell patently refused to take a position on the actions of his fellow Kentuckian, Sen. Jim Bunning (R), who has been filibustering a bill to extend unemployment insurance and other benefits that expired Sunday.

"We're going to be able to work out the short-term extension in the very new future," McConnell said at a press conference this afternoon. "As soon as we get it worked out we'll let you know."

Reporters pressed, "What's your opinion" on Bunning's move?

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Unemployment benefits

Reid On Bunning: The GOP Has 'Gone Too Far'

Rachel Slajda | March 2, 2010, 2:50PM

Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV)

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid told reporters today that Sen. Jim Bunning's (R-KY) blocking of a bill to extend employment benefits has taken GOP obstructionism "too far."

Bunning's reason for blocking the bill is "without any foundation of fact," Reid said.

"Now [Bunning] is out there lecturing the country on pay-go, something he didn't vote for," Reid told reporters after his weekly lunch with Senate Democrats. Reid also scolded Bunning for supporting tax cuts and two wars that added to the deficit.

Reid said the GOP has "gone too far" and is hurting thousands of Americans with obstruction.

"If there were ever an emergency this is it," Reid said.

Reporting by Christina Bellantoni

AR-SEN

Poll: Both Dems Trail GOP In Arkansas, Though Lincoln's Gaining Ground

Evan McMorris-Santoro | March 2, 2010, 2:44PM

Lt. Gov. Bill Halter (D-AR) and Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-AR)

Arkansas Lt. Gov. Bill Halter (D) may be giving Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D) headaches now that he's officially a candidate for Senate, but a new poll shows that so far, Republicans needn't be any more worried about Halter than they are about Lincoln.

In the first public polling since Halter officially announced his candidacy yesterday, a Rasmussen survey of 500 likely voters in the state shows both Halter and Lincoln trailing the entire Republican field.

But the poll also shows Lincoln is on an upswing, gaining ground against GOP candidates in the past month. Halter, making his first appearance as candidate in general election polling, holds his own but trails the GOP front runner by a significant margin.

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AR-SEN

Dem Primary Challenger Bill Halter Launches TV Ad In Arkansas Senate Race (VIDEO)

Eric Kleefeld | March 2, 2010, 2:01PM

Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) and Arkansas Lt. Governor Bill Halter (D)

Arkansas Lt. Gov. Bill Halter, who just announced his challenge in the Democratic primary against Sen. Blanche Lincoln yesterday, has already launched a TV ad to introduce himself to the voters.

The ad does not mention the incumbent Lincoln, but instead features Halter promoting his own accomplishments. The ad also has a certain Larry The Cable Guy motif, with a depiction of a football coach exhorting Halter: "Get it done!"

"Now, I'm running for the Senate to take on Washington special interests," Halter says. The coach answers back: "Run 'em off the field!"

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Public Option

Casey And Wyden Support Public Option Through Reconciliation

Rachel Slajda | March 2, 2010, 1:43PM

Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Sen. Bob Casey Jr. (D-PA)

Sens. Bob Casey (D-PA) and Ron Wyden (D-OR) both announced their support today for a public option to be passed via reconciliation.

Wyden, in a statement, said, "I've long believed we need a more competitive insurance market. If the House version of the public option came up for a vote in reconciliation I would vote yes."

His office did not immediately say whether he plans to sign the public option letter written by Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO) to send to Senate leadership. That letter now has 24 signatories.

Last week, Wyden sent out a press release saying he was holding off on signing the letter until after the White House summit.

"He intends to first join the President in a good faith effort to see if a bipartisan solution is possible," the release said.

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Health Care

Hoyer On House-Senate Health Care Shuffle: 'I Trust Leader Reid'

Christina Bellantoni | March 2, 2010, 1:34PM

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD), Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer said today that while his Democratic caucus is wary the Senate will live up to a promise to fix problems with the health care bill using reconciliation, he trusts Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to do the right thing.

Hoyer (D-MD) told reporters during his weekly pen-and-pad briefing that House Democrats "want some assurance that those items they have problems with are in fact modified before they vote for the Senate bill."

Reporters asked if House Democrats need a formal promise in writing from 50 senators that reconciliation would pass, and Hoyer insisted "We need an agreement between the two bodies. I trust Leader Reid, if he tells me they can do something I think he'll be able to do it."

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Democrats

Dems United, Republicans Split, By Bunning Benefits Blockade

Brian Beutler | March 2, 2010, 1:22PM

Sen. Jim Bunning (R-KY) has caused no shortage of problems for unemployed Americans, federal workers, and Medicare doctors. The list goes on and on. But he's also put the Republican party in a tricky position--upsetting members of his own caucus who want the benefits restored, but who haven't been able to rein him in--and he's unified Democrats, who are using his filibuster to put a human face on the victims of Republican obstruction.

Republican leadership doesn't have a great deal of leverage over Bunning, who is retiring at the end of the year. But they also don't particularly oppose what he's doing. Senate Minority Whip Jon Kyl (R-AZ) has risen to Bunning's defense, as has NRSC chairman John Cornyn (R-TX), whose job it is to get Republicans elected to the Senate.

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Health Care

Obama Tells Congress He Likes Four GOP Ideas For Health Care

Christina Bellantoni | March 2, 2010, 12:56PM

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), President Obama, and Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV)

President Obama this afternoon wrote a letter to Congressional leadership detailing four areas where he thinks Republican ideas can be included in a final health care compromise and pledging to drop the Medicaid deals for Nebraska and Florida from what he proposes tomorrow.

The White House released the letter which Obama wrote to Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Minority Leader John Boehner summing up his take from the health care summit last week. Obama said he came away from the meeting feeling the group agreed the cost of health care is a massive problem that must be solved.

"I also left convinced that the Republican and Democratic approaches to health care have
more in common than most people think," Obama wrote.

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GOP Shadow Budget

Love It, Lukewarm Or Playing Coy? TPMDC Tracks GOP On Ryan's Roadmap Budget

Christina Bellantoni | March 2, 2010, 12:47PM

Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI)

Republicans have spent weeks sidestepping whether they back a top GOPer's budget "roadmap" plan which includes major cuts to entitlement programs to end the deficit.

We've been trying to pin down whether House Republicans support Social Security cuts and the proposal for creating a voucher system for Medicare as outlined in Rep. Paul Ryan's budget "roadmap."

Will they go on the record supporting deeply unpopular cuts in an effort to claim the mantle of fiscal responsibility heading into the midterm elections this fall? Will they run away from the idea and put forward the broad, non-specific measure they presented as the GOP alternative budget in 2009?

Read more »

TX-GOV

Today's Texas Primary: The Right, The Far Right, And The Really Far Right

Eric Kleefeld | March 2, 2010, 12:24PM

Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX), Gov. Rick Perry (R-TX), and TX-Gov. candidate Debra Medina (R)

Today is a big day in Texas, with voters going to the polls in the primary election for governor and other races. The top-ticket item is the Republican primary, in which incumbent Gov. Rick Perry is being challenged by Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison and Tea Party activist Debra Medina.

Perry enjoys a substantial lead in the polls, but could end up falling short of the 50 percent support needed to avoid a runoff in April. The TPM Poll Average has Perry with 44.4%, Hutchison 28.9%, and Medina 17.6%.

The most interesting part of this race is just how Perry went from vulnerable to being out front, and the rise of the Tea Party narrative in the campaign.

Read more »

Polls

Bad News Bears: Four Dem Senators On The Wrong Side Of The Polls

Evan McMorris-Santoro | March 2, 2010, 12:18PM

Sen. Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO), Sen. Arlen Specter (D-PA), Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-AR)

Most political observers say 2010 is a good year to be a Republican running for office. That's not a huge surprise -- off-year elections are generally better for the party not occupying the White House. But this year has been characterized by an extraordinary anti-incumbent fervor, which makes it even worse for Democrats, who run both houses of Congress in addition to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

It's still early, but the midterm tradition plus the negative view of incumbents could mean some of the Democratic party's best-known Senators could find themselves falling to Republican challengers who can take advantage of their fired-up conservative base (not to mention apathy among Democratic base voters.)

After the jump, we'll look at four Democratic Senators who find themselves behind in polls as spring draws near.

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Filibuster

Bunning Keeps Blocking Unemployment Benefits Bill -- Even Though It Has GOP Support (VIDEO)

Rachel Slajda | March 2, 2010, 12:10PM

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid once again tried to bring a bill to the floor this morning that would extend unemployment benefits, this time enlisting Republican Sen. Susan Collins (ME) to introduce the motion for unanimous consent in an effort to convince Sen. Jim Bunning (R-KY) to drop his filibuster.

But Bunning continued to object.

Collins, introducing the motion, said it has support on both sides of the aisle, and added that Republicans wanted it done last week. Reid added that, "We need to vote," and pleaded with Bunning to drop his objection. Bunning has been holding up a vote on the legislation, which would extend jobless benefits past Feb. 28. The hold is affecting about 400,000 people, according to the Department of Labor.

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RI-GOV

Poll: Lincoln Chafee Ahead As Independent For RI-GOV

Eric Kleefeld | March 2, 2010, 10:36AM

Former Sen. Lincoln Chafee (R-RI), independent candidate for governor of Rhode Island

The new Rasmussen poll of Rhode Island gives former Sen. Lincoln Chafee, an ex-Republican and now independent candidate for governor, a solid lead in the race against his Democratic and Republican opponents.

Chafee was tested against Republican John Robitaille, a businessman and former aide to term-limited GOP Gov. Don Carcieri, and against two Democrats, Attorney General Patrick Lynch and Treasurer Frank Caprio. With Lynch as the Democratic nominee, Chafee has 38%, Lynch 24%, and Robitaille 22%. With Caprio as the Democratic nominee, it's Chafee with 37%, Caprio 27%, and Robitaille 19%.

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Former Reconciliation Supporter Hatch Attacks Reconciliation As Unconstitutional

Brian Beutler | March 2, 2010, 9:47AM

Sen Orrin Hatch (R-UT)

On April 16, 2001, Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) took to Fox News to boast about the GOP's first major use of the budget reconciliation process in the Bush-era. "I think we can do a reconciliation bill that'll have an overwhelming number of senators and congresspeople voting for this $1.3 trillion to $1.6 trillion tax cut," he said.

Today, he has a somewhat different take.

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Obstructionism

Who's Hurt Most? Bunning's Filibuster Affects More Than 400,000

Christina Bellantoni | March 2, 2010, 9:26AM

Sen. Jim Bunning (R-KY)

The Department of Labor calculates that 400,000 people will lose unemployment benefits if the Senate isn't able to break Sen. Jim Bunning's blockade of a measure that would extend the benefits.

The Labor tally says Bunning has "blocked the process each time" and Secretary Hilda Solis complained that "[t]he consequences of partisan obstructionism could not be clearer."

"If the extension is not approved immediately, millions of Americans could lose the safety net programs they deserve and desperately need," she said.

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Budget Reconciliation

Is The Real Problem For The Public Option In The House?

Brian Beutler | March 2, 2010, 9:18AM

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD)

Progressives are doubling down on their push to have the Senate pass a public option via reconciliation. But are they underestimating the extent to which the House may be as much the problem as the Senate?

The House is currently shy of the votes needed to pass the Senate health care bill, and, according to House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, they're looking to make up the difference among public option foes in the Democratic caucus.

"I think the Senate bill, which is now the center of the President's consideration, I think you had a lot of people who indicated they'd like the Senate bill better," Hoyer said after an event at the Brookings Institution yesterday in response to a question from TPMDC. "It doesn't have the public option that gave a number of people concern. But there's still a way's to go."

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IN-SEN

Memo To Progressives: If You Disliked Bayh Just Wait Til You See Ellsworth

Eric Kleefeld | March 2, 2010, 9:16AM

Sen. Evan Bayh (D-IN) and Rep. Brad Ellsworth (D-IN)

The retirement of Sen. Evan Bayh (D-IN), who was often criticized by progressive Democrats, presents a certain ironic outcome -- that the likely new Democratic nominee to replace him, Rep. Brad Ellsworth, is actually somewhat to Bayh's right.

The various rating systems, and the two legislators' voting records, shows that Ellsworth is generally in the same territory as Bayh on most issues. The difference comes on three key social issues: Abortion, gay rights, and gun control.

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Unemployment benefits

Asked To Shame Bunning's Obstruction Gibbs Tells Press 'I'm Trying As Best I Can' (VIDEO)

Christina Bellantoni | March 2, 2010, 9:03AM

Press Sec. Robert Gibbs at the White House Press Briefing, March 1, 2010

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs told reporters during his daily briefing Monday that he's tried to shine a light on Republican obstruction and hypocrisy.

Veteran scribe Helen Thomas asked Gibbs why he doesn't "shame" Sen. Jim Bunning (R-KY) for holding up unemployment benefits.

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PA-SEN

Poll: Specter Surge In Pennsylvania

Evan McMorris-Santoro | March 2, 2010, 7:31AM

Sen. Arlen Specter (D-PA)

A new poll out this morning shows Sen. Arlen Specter on top for the first time in a while in the Pennsylvania Senate race. The new Quinnipiac poll shows Specter ahead of GOP nominee Pat Toomey by a 7 points, 49-42.

The new poll is good news for Specter, but internal numbers inside the poll show he still faces a tough road to reelection. The TPM Poll Average for the Specter-Toomey race shows Toomey ahead 43.8-41.7.

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AR-SEN

AFL-CIO Backs Halter In Arkansas, Commits $3M To Defeat Lincoln

Evan McMorris-Santoro | March 1, 2010, 9:57PM

Arkansas Lt. Governor Bill Halter

A labor source confirmed to TPMDC tonight that the AFL-CIO voted to back new Senate candidate Lt. Gov Bill Halter over Sen. Blanche Lincoln in the May 18 Democratic primary in Arkansas. Three unions within the umbrella group have committed to a $3 million independent expenditure on Halter's behalf.

In the day since he officially announced his intention to take on Lincoln in the primary, Halter has lined up the support from Democratic base groups, including progressive groups MoveOn.org and the Progressive Change Campaign Committee. Those two, among others, raised nearly $500,000 for Halter from progressives across the country in less than 24 hours.

Lincoln still enjoys the support of at least one prominent national progressive though. The White House says President Obama backs Lincoln as he would any Democratic incumbent.

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Jim Bunning

Leading Republicans Rush To Bunning's Defense (VIDEO)

Brian Beutler | March 1, 2010, 7:16PM

Sen. Jon Kyl (R-AZ) on the Senate floor, March 1, 2010

Two of the Senate's top Republicans have now publicly come to the defense of Sen. Jim Bunning (R-KY), whose implementation of the Senate filibuster rules has led to the discontinuation of unemployment and COBRA benefits for thousands of Americans, and has resulted in a 21 percent fee cut for doctors seeing Medicare patients.

"My colleague from Kentucky made a good point," said Senate Minority Whip Jon Kyl (R-AZ) on the floor today. Bunning says he's holding up the bill because he wants it to be paid for with stimulus dollars, during a recession. Kyl agrees.

Likewise, Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX)--who runs the Senate GOP's re-election committee--said he sympathizes with his beleaguered colleague.

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Health Care

Obama's New Health Care Plan To Have Both Substance And Process

Christina Bellantoni | March 1, 2010, 5:59PM

Press Secretary Robert Gibbs

President Obama Wednesday will detail both the substance of his final health care reform legislation proposal and the process for getting it through Congress once and for all.

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs told reporters during his daily briefing today that Obama will offer the pathway to final passage by outlining the "next steps." But Gibbs also dodged questions on specifics or how the president would help Speaker Nancy Pelosi or Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid secure enough votes in their chambers.

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Senate

Did Senate Obstructionist Bunning Flip Reporters The Bird This Afternoon? (VIDEO)

Brian Beutler | March 1, 2010, 4:17PM

Sen. Jim Bunning (R-KY) doesn't want to answer any questions about his continuing obstruction of legislation to extend unemployment and COBRA benefits to out of work Americans, and keep Medicare doctors fees from dropping significantly. But according to a producer for ABC News, he's so mad he's giving reporters the middle finger--literally.

Here's the video of the exchange that supposedly included the...unfriendly...gesture.

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CA-SEN

DeVore Campaign Gimmick: 'Demon Sheep Hunting Spree'

Eric Kleefeld | March 1, 2010, 3:54PM

A still from Fiorina's "FCINO" web video.

California state Rep. Chuck DeVore, a candidate for the Republican nomination for Senate, has a fun online activity going on today: Asking visitors to go a special Web site and hunt the demon sheep!

The site is a takeoff on an infamous Web video that was put out a month ago by the campaign of his Republican rival Carly Fiorina, who was attacking the third candidate in the race, former Rep. Tom Campbell, as a "fiscal conservative in name only." The video depicted Campbell as some sort of monstrous creature with glowing red eyes -- perhaps a wolf, perhaps a demon -- in sheep's clothing.

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Senate

Bunning Blockade Leads To 21 Percent Fee Cut For Doctors

Brian Beutler | March 1, 2010, 3:22PM

Sen. Jim Bunning (R-KY)

Sen. Jim Bunning (R-KY) is already infamous for blocking a temporary extension of unemployment and COBRA benefits for out of work Americans. But included in that package is legislation to prevent a mandatory pay cut for doctors--and by standing in its way, he's triggered a 21 percent fee reduction to doctors seeing Medicare patients starting today.

Republicans say they support a temporary measure to avoid the cuts, but they have been unable to rein in Bunning, and, as such, the Senate has failed to act on a House bill that staves them off.

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Jim Bunning

Democrats On Unemployment Blockage: Thank You, Jim Bunning

Evan McMorris-Santoro | March 1, 2010, 3:16PM

Sen. Jim Bunning (R-KY) at a news conference

A trio of Democratic lawmakers took to the phones this afternoon to call out Sen. Jim Bunning (R-KY) for his decision to block a month-long extension of federal transportation and highway funds, a move government officials say will leave thousands out of work for the foreseeable future (not to mention the thousands of doctors that will see their income drop.)

Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) joined House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn (SC) and DCCC chair Chris Van Hollen (MD) on the call. All three slammed Bunning for blocking the extension, but Van Hollen's take was a bit more nuanced. He began his comments to reporters by thanking Bunning for blocking the bill.

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IN-SEN

Dem Rep. Baron Hill Not Running For Senate, Endorses Ellsworth

Eric Kleefeld | March 1, 2010, 2:54PM

Rep. Brad Ellsworth (D-IN) and Rep. Baron Hill (D-IN)

Rep. Baron Hill (D-IN) announced over the weekend that he will not run for the the Senate seat of retiring Democratic Sen. Evan Bayh, and that he has endorsed Rep. Brad Ellsworth to be the new Democratic nominee.

"I believe my friend and colleague, Congressman Brad Ellsworth, is the right man to fulfill the task of ensuring a Democrat is elected to succeed Senator Bayh," Hill said in a statement.

As we have reported, the fact that nobody filed the petitions necessary to appear on the Democratic primary ballot -- Bayh announced his retirement the day before the signatures were due -- means that the state Democratic Party's central committee has the authority to name a new candidate. That meeting of the committee will come some time after the May 4 primary, and before a June 30 deadline.

GOP Shadow Budget

You Can Run, But You Can't Hide: Hoyer Ties GOP To Medicare-Cutting Ryan Plan

Brian Beutler | March 1, 2010, 2:36PM

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD)

Leading House Republicans have been at pains to distance themselves from legislation sponsored by their top budget guy, Paul Ryan, that would partially privatize Social Security and turn Medicare in to a voucher program. But speaking at an event at the Brookings Institution this afternoon, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer insisted that if the GOP is interested in eliminating deficits, they're stuck with the Ryan plan.

"As much as his party's leadership tries to distance itself from his plan, Paul Ryan's program, or something very much like it, is the logical outcome of the other party's rhetoric of cutting taxes and deficits at the same time," Hoyer said.

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AR-SEN

White House Backs Lincoln In Arkansas Primary

Christina Bellantoni | March 1, 2010, 2:33PM

Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-AR)

President Obama is sticking with Sen. Blanche Lincoln in the May 18 Democratic primary in Arkansas.

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs confirmed today that Obama will keep with his trend of supporting the sitting senator in party primaries, as he's done with Sen. Arlen Specter over Rep. Joe Sestak in Pennsylvania and in supporting Sen. Michael Bennet in Colorado.

"We support Senator Lincoln as an incumbent senator," Gibbs told reporters today during his daily briefing.

Tea Party

Tea Party's First Birthday Highlights Divisions In Movement

Christina Bellantoni | March 1, 2010, 2:25PM

Dick Armey of FreedomWorks speaks with a tea party enthusiast

The tea party movement officially turned one over the weekend, drawing various celebrations, laudatory statements from Republican leadership and boastful emails about all the group has accomplished since 2009. But even those anniversary milestones highlight deep factions within the movement and how Republicans are bending over backwards to be associated with the tea partiers.

For example, the Tea Party Express organizers cited several odd accomplishments, including a political race that ended up with a Democratic victory and a Senator's retirement that had nothing to do with the tea party at all.

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AZ-SEN

Hayworth Campaign: McCain Falsely 'Claims That He Was A Patsy' On TARP

Eric Kleefeld | March 1, 2010, 1:38PM

Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) and former Rep. J.D. Hayworth (R-AZ).

We asked the campaign of former Rep. J.D. Hayworth (R-AZ), who is challenging Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) in the Republican primary, for comment on McCain's statement on Meet The Press that Americans were "misled" on the TARP bailout, and that it wasn't known beforehand that the money would be going to firms on Wall Street. Their answer: McCain "simply claims that he was a patsy."

"Now that he is getting roundly criticized by conservatives in Arizona and across the country, he has found a convenient bogeyman that he didn't mention at the time. And it's yet another example of his transparent election-year conversion to try to fool Republican primary voters in this state," said Hayworth spokesman Jason Rose. "On one hand, he is selling himself, as we speak, in campaign ads, for his experience in Washington as being an incredible asset for Arizona. Well, is there any better example of such an erroneous claim than this statement that he made yesterday on Meet The Press?"

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2010 elections

MoveOn Backs Halter In Arkansas Primary Challenge

Christina Bellantoni | March 1, 2010, 12:35PM

Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) and Arkansas Lt. Governor Bill Halter (D)

MoveOn.org today endorsed Lt. Gov. Bill Halter in a Democratic primary challenge against already embattled Sen. Blanche Lincoln in Arkansas.

MoveOn announced in an email that 92 percent of their more than 4 million members voted to support the primary. It's no real surprise since the progressive group has long targeted Lincoln, but their support could catapult the already tight race to become a repeat of Sen. Joe Lieberman's Democratic primary in Connecticut in 2006.

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Health Care

Former Senate Parliamentarian: 'I Would Never Use The Term Illegitimate With Regard To Reconciliation' (VIDEO)

Brian Beutler | March 1, 2010, 11:51AM

Former Senate Parliamentarian Robert Dove

The man who served as Senate parliamentarian on and off from 1981-2001 has news for Senate Republicans, who say the Democrats are way out on a limb using the majority-vote budget reconciliation process to amend health care legislation.

"Reconciliation has been used a lot," said Robert Dove on MSNBC this morning. "And I would never use the term illegitimate with regard to reconciliation."

"It has been used starting in 1980 for very large, major bills. And it is a way, of course, of getting around the problem of the Senate filibuster," Dove went on.

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NV-SEN

Poll: Reid's Still In A Deep Hole, But The Tea Party Could Save Him

Evan McMorris-Santoro | March 1, 2010, 11:08AM

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV)

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is still way behind a slew of GOP candidates in his bid to win a fifth term in the Senate, according to a new poll. But there's a glimmer of hope for Reid contained in the numbers -- if the Tea Party (which appears to be a real thing in Nevada) mounts a serious candidate in the race, Reid could find himself back in a competitive fight.

The details are all contained in the newest Mason-Dixon poll of Nevada, published in the Las Vegas Review-Journal this weekend.

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Health Care

Four Empty House Seats Mean Pelosi Only Needs 216 Votes to Pass Health Care

Brian Beutler | March 1, 2010, 11:03AM

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)

Most of the time, the magic number for passing significant legislation in the House is 218--a simple majority of the lower chambers' 435 members. So that's the number House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is looking at to pass the Senate health care bill, right? Try 216.

Come March 8, when Rep. Nathan Deal's (R-GA) resignation goes into effect--and barring any surprises--there will be four vacancies in the U.S. House: Deal's seat, along with the seats of retired Reps. Robert Wexler (D-FL) and Neil Abercrombie (D-HI), and deceased Rep. John Murtha (D-PA).

The four empty seats brings the number of serving House members down to 431. Which means that--if everybody's present and voting, a health care bill can pass the House on a paper-thin 216-215 margin. That may sound like good news for Pelosi--and in some ways it is. But recall that all three of those Democrats--Wexler, Abercrombie, and Murtha--were "yes" votes. She needs two fewer votes than she'd need if the House was fully seated. But she's lost three.

AZ-SEN

Hayworth Disavows Birtherism: I Believe Obama Was Born In Hawaii (VIDEO)

Eric Kleefeld | March 1, 2010, 10:17AM

Former Rep. J.D. Hayworth (R-AZ)

Former Rep. J.D. Hayworth (R-AZ), who is challenging Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) in the Republican primary, appeared on The O'Reilly Factor on Friday, and disavowed ever having any belief in the Birther movement, after the McCain campaign attacked him for his prior Birther-friendly statements.

"Hey Bill, I view this entire debate as esoteric. It's as esoteric as arguing about the eligibility of Chester Alan Arthur well over a century after he served as president," said Hayworth, referring to the 19th-century president whose detractors would spread rumors that he was born in Canada. "Look, Barack Obama's the 44th president of the United States. His election was certified. I believe he was born in Hawaii. I made certain statements on the air to -- to provoke conversation. That's what happens in broadcasting."

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Democrats

30! Five More Democrats--Including Durbin--Say They Support a Public Option Through Reconciliation

Brian Beutler | March 1, 2010, 10:08AM

Senator Harry Reid (D-NV), Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL)

Five leading Democrats--including Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin--have publicly announced that they will vote for a public option if it's offered up during the budget reconciliation process, where legislation can pass with a majority vote.

"Sen. Durbin has long been a supporter of the public option," reads a statement from Durbin spokesman Joe Shoemaker to the progressive groups Progressive Change Campaign Committee, Democracy for America, and Credo. "I don't know whether the votes exist in the Senate right now, but if the House version of the public option came up for a vote in reconciliation Sen. Durbin would vote yes."

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AR-SEN

Lincoln: I'm Not Worried About Bill Halter

Evan McMorris-Santoro | March 1, 2010, 9:59AM

Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-AR)

Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) got a primary challenger this morning, but she says she's not worried about squaring off against members of her own party ready to spend money to prevent Lincoln from being reelected.

In an interview with the AP over the weekend, Lincoln was asked about a Lt. Gov. Bill Halter -- the man who progressive groups hope will defeat her in the Democratic primary -- and said she wasn't sweating the primary. Lincoln said what she called a record of being one of the Senate's few true bipartisans will see her through to victory.

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Health Care

Known Unknowns: Why The Fate Of Health Care Reform Hangs On Two Big Questions

Brian Beutler | March 1, 2010, 9:29AM

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), President Obama, and Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV)

Much is known about how Democrats hope to finish off health care reform. Later this week, President Obama will submit yet more proposed changes to the Senate's health care bill. Those changes--with some tweaks--will almost certainly be moved through the majority-vote budget reconciliation process in both chambers. And that will likely happen after the House passes the Senate's more comprehensive package. But there are at least two significant unknowns--and truly the fate of health care reform depends on the answer to those questions: Can the House muster the votes for a major health care bill again? And how much, substantively, can the Senate pass through reconciliation.

The first question is obviously the big one. Due to expected vacancies, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi will likely need only 216 votes to pass the Senate bill. Recall, though, that when she moved her own health care bill through the House, only 219 Democrats voted for it. It's almost certainly the case that she had more votes in her pocket than that, and that she allowed certain vulnerable Democrats to vote no even though they were willing to vote yes. But over the last several months, the party as a whole has become more reluctant to take risky votes on unpopular legislation. In other words, it's hard to imagine that more "no" votes have become "yes" votes since November. More likely, the opposite is true.

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Presidential fitness

Since Taking Office Obama's Cholesterol And Blood Pressure Have Increased

Christina Bellantoni | March 1, 2010, 9:20AM

President Barack Obama

President Obama has chronic tendinitis and his cholesterol has increased, according to his first presidential physical exam performed yesterday at Bethesda Naval Medical Center.

The bottom line is Obama, 48, is "fit for duty," Chief White House Physician Dr. Jeff Kuhlman wrote in his report. But Obama's overall cholesterol of 209 needs to come down, Kuhlman wrote.

That's up from overall cholesterol of 173 in spring 2008. Obama's other cholesterol stats: 46 Triglycerides, 62 HDL and 138 LDL. Kuhlman recommended a healthier diet to reduce the LDL number to below 130.

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2012 elections

GOP To Pick '12 Convention Spot - Arizona, Florida And Utah In Final Three

Christina Bellantoni | March 1, 2010, 8:51AM

RNC chairman Michael Steele

The Republican National Committee has narrowed down possible locations for the 2012 presidential nominating convention, with Phoenix, Tampa and Salt Lake City making the final three.

A 12-member team of top Republican officials will visit the cities in late March and early April to prepare for a July vote by the full RNC membership. Each city is fraught with political meaning. Florida is a longtime battleground while Utah is solidly Republican.

Democrats have long said Arizona will be their top new battleground, and the Obama campaign even made a last-minute play for the state in 2008 despite it being Sen. John McCain's home turf.

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AR-SEN

Blanche Lincoln Gets A Democratic Challenger In Arkansas

Evan McMorris-Santoro | March 1, 2010, 7:26AM

Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) and Arkansas Lt. Governor Bill Halter (D)

After months of speculation, Arkansas Lt. Gov. Bill Halter made it official this morning, announcing he'll challenge Sen. Blanche Lincoln for the Democratic Senate nomination in Arkansas.

"Enough is enough," Halter said in a video announcing his candidacy posted this morning. "It's past time to put more Arkansas values in Washington."

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Education

Administration Announcing New Program To Reduce Drop-Out Rate

Christina Bellantoni | March 1, 2010, 6:00AM

President Obama today will detail the money in his budget proposal for a national effort to turnaround the nation's worst schools and a new plan aimed at reducing the drop-out rates among high schoolers.

The plan is built upon the idea that engaging students from as early as sixth grade can make sure they stay on track, and identifying troubled teens early and devoting alternative resources to those students will help keep them there. It looks to better prepare students for both college and going directly to a career.

Obama will outline the plan at an America's Promise Alliance Education event today at the Chamber of Commerce with Colin Powell and Alma Powell. The White House said Obama will talk about the need to reform the worst schools, and in some cases shut them down or take them over.

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John McCain

McCain: It Wasn't Just Me -- America Was 'Misled' On TARP (VIDEO)

Evan McMorris-Santoro | February 28, 2010, 12:54PM

Sen. John McCain (R-AZ)

Speaking on NBC's Meet The Press this morning, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) repeated his claim that he -- and the entire country -- was lied to about the TARP program in 2007.

Asked about the claim by host David Gregory, McCain was adamant. "We were all misled" by Bush administration Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson, McCain said.

Video of the exchange, and the transcript, after the jump.

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