Bob Casey

Senate Leadership To House: Health Care's On You

Brian Beutler | January 20, 2010, 10:39AM

Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV) and Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY)

After an early morning meeting today, members of the Senate Democratic leadership said outright what many suspected after last night's election: The fate of health care rests with the House.

I asked Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), chair of the Democratic Steering Committee, whether there was any chance Senate Democrats would embark on another round of health care votes if the House sent a modified bill back their way.

"I think at this point, given the new senator from Massachusetts' position, I think that that would be tough to do," she said.

Asked whether the fate of reform rested with the House, Democratic Conference Secretary Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA), said, "I think so."

So what's next for the Senate? Leaders and rank and file members say: Jobs, jobs, jobs.

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Dick Durbin

Senate Dem's New Year's Resolution: Jobs, Jobs, Jobs

Brian Beutler | January 5, 2010, 9:34AM

Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL)

Though health care dominated the headlines in 2009, Senate Democrats were quietly working behind the scenes on a jobs bill for much of the second half of last year. And they hope to unveil a package soon after the winter recess comes to an end.

In a squeaker of a vote last month, the House passed its own $154 billion jobs bill. The margin was 217-212, with all Republicans and a number of conservative Democrats voting no. But, as always, the Senate is a slower, more recalcitrant beast, and passing a bill that can have a real impact before November will be a tough haul.

That's why, monthas ago, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid tasked his number two, Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL), and Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-ND) with authoring legislation. And they've come a long way, fielding input from across the party in the hopes of avoiding the time-consuming snafus that plagued the year-long fight over health care.

"Initially [discussions involved] a smaller group of senators--Durbin, Brown, Casey, and Dorgan," said a keyed in Democratic source, "and they extended it beyond that...it became many, many senators involved, in the late summer or fall."

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