Taxes

CHART OF THE DAY: These Are The 47 Percent

Brian Beutler | October 14, 2011, 5:45AM

1971yes / Shutterstock

If the left and the right are proxies in a class war, then they're currently fighting to win a battle of public perception. Each side wants the public to see them as on the side of the beleaguered many against the powerful few.

Democrats are vying for victory by supporting tax increases on millionaires and the "Buffett Rule," which posits that all millionaires should pay at least the same effective tax rates as the middle class. The Occupy Wall Street protesters have turned "We Are The 99 Percent" into a rallying cry.

How do you argue against that? By obscuring what the fight's really about, and perpetuating the sense that hundreds of millions of people are gaming the system. To do this, conservatives and Republican elected officials are citing recent data to create the impression that a small majority of people in the country pay all the taxes, and nearly half (a large minority) pay nothing at all. It's a false impression, and when you break down who comprises this now-famous "47 percent" -- the poor, the disabled, and the elderly -- it makes you wonder why anybody thought it was a good idea to pick a public fight with them.

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2012

Rick Perry Condemns Federal Farm Regulation -- That Doesn't Exist

Benjy Sarlin | August 16, 2011, 3:06PM

Gov. Rick Perry (R-TX)

Rick Perry pulled a Michele Bachmann on Tuesday, passionately condemning a policy that does not actually exist.

This time round it was over farming issues. "If you're a tractor driver, if you drive your tractor across a public road, you're gonna have to have a commercial driver's license. Now how idiotic is that?" perry told a Des Moines crowd. "What were they thinking?"

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Iowa caucus

Grassley: Daniels Could 'Show That People Who Don't Have Charisma Could Be Elected President'

Eric Kleefeld | May 18, 2011, 4:17PM

Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Gov. Mitch Daniels (R-IN)

With friends like these...

As the Des Moines Register reports, Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) has some nice things to say about possible Republican presidential candidate, Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels:

"Sometimes I hear Mitch Daniels and I thought, maybe I oughta back him because it would be an opportunity to show that people who don't have charisma could be elected president," Grassley joked in a conference call with reporters today.

Grassley, who was asked about the importance of personal magnetism as opposed to policy in a presidential race, later made a point of saying his comments were "tongue in cheek."

Grassley also added to his "tongue in cheek" comment, with some praise for Daniels. "He seems to be a very, very good governor, has a good record. He had a good record as OMB director," Grassley said. "He is a person of substance and substance matters ... particularly at a time of 9 percent unemployment."

Chuck Grassley

Grassley Likes Mueller, But Calls Obama's Plan To Extend His FBI Term Unusual and Risky

Ryan J. Reilly | May 12, 2011, 1:50PM

Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA)

Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said Thursday that President Barack Obama's plan to seek a two-year extension of FBI Director Robert Mueller's 10-year term was unusual and would set a bad precedent.

"This is an unusual step by the President, and is somewhat of a risky precedent to set," Grassley said.

"Thirty-five years ago Congress limited the FBI director's term to one, 10-year appointment as an important safeguard against improper political influence and abuses of the past," he said, referring to former FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover, who headed the bureau for nearly a half century until his death in 1972.

"There's no question that Director Mueller has proven his ability to run the FBI. And, we live in extraordinary times," Grassley said. "So, I'm open to the President's idea, but I will need to know more about his plan to ensure that this is not a more permanent extension that would undermine the purposes of the term limit."

Obama's plan does have the backing of Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT) who said that he was "delighted when President Obama informed me that he has asked Director Mueller to stay on at the Bureau for an additional two years."

"The Bureau has seen significant transformation since September 11, 2001, and Director Mueller has handled this evolution with professionalism and focus," Leahy said. "The FBI plays a critical role in our efforts to protect national security. I appreciate Director Mueller's continued service to the nation, and I am fully supportive of this decision."

Health Care

How The Health Care Repeal Push Marks The End Of The Universal Health Care Consensus

Brian Beutler | January 18, 2011, 8:51AM

Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA)

Here's one case for the individual mandate in the health care law boiled down to two sentences -- both fairly elegant considering they were spoken extemporaneously.

"There isn't anything wrong with it, except some people look at it as an infringement upon individual freedom. But when it comes to states requiring it for automobile insurance, the principle then ought to lie the same way for health insurance, because everybody has some health insurance costs, and if you aren't insured, there's no free lunch. Somebody else is paying for it." -- June 14, 2009

A corollary to that argument is that you can't have a functioning private health care system that treats the sick unless it also draws money from the healthy. In this regard, the individual mandate actually marries two distinctly American priorities -- an obsession with private markets, and the core belief that nobody should go without health care.

Considering just how cacophonous the health care debate has become, it might surprise you to learn that the mystery reformer quoted above is Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA), the Republicans' health care point man in the Senate who, during the same interview, with great authority, claimed "I believe that there is a bipartisan consensus to have individual mandates."

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Chuck Grassley

Snowe, Hatch Poised To Take Top GOP Slots On Major Committees In January

Brian Beutler | November 10, 2010, 12:14PM

Republicans didn't pick up the Senate last week. But they did pick up six seats and will have several new members coming to town next year, which means the committees will be rejiggered -- and the leaders of those committees will play the biennial game of musical chairs.

According to top aides, the reshuffling won't be too dramatic this time around. On any particular committee, Democrats adhere to a seniority system to determine who moves up the ladder. Republicans let the members choose who gets the top spot.

With that in mind, here's one likely reshuffling scenario.

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IA-SEN

Grassley Ad Features Twitter, Texting -- And Nose-Piercing (VIDEO)

Eric Kleefeld | September 13, 2010, 2:57PM

Check out this fun new ad from Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA), who is expected to easily steamroll to a sixth term this year. It really does seem to be a truly rare instance of an older man trying to look cool for the younger generation -- and maybe just succeeding.

The ad opens with two older women worrying that Grassley has something called a "twitter," possibly believing it be some kind of dire medical condition -- when in fact, of course, it refers to the 76-year-old Senator's well-known usage of the popular website, complete with the shorthand and slang used by teenagers.

"I like to use new technologies like Twitter and Facebook, just to keep in touch -- and meetings in 99 counties, every year," Grassley says to the camera, along with visuals of his fingers working on a BlackBerry. "I'll tweet, I'll text, I'll do whatever it takes. I work for you."

The ad then closes with a visual that might never have been seen before in a Republican ad -- a young woman with a nose-piercing, depicted in a positive manner, declaring that Grassley works "for us." Remember that infamous Club For Growth ad in Iowa in 2004, ridiculing Howard Dean's supporters as a bunch of body-piercers? We've come a long, long way.

The TPM Poll Average gives Grassley a lead of 55.1%-34.6% over Democratic nominee Roxanne Conlin.

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Birthright citizenship

Grassley Agrees With Having Hearings On Ending Birthright Citizenship

Eric Kleefeld | August 4, 2010, 1:39PM

Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA)

Yet another high-ranking Republican is eyeing the notion of changing the 14th Amendment to eliminate birthright citizenship for children who are born in the United States but whose parents are illegal immigrants. And this time it's a very senior name -- Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa.

Grassley's communications director Jill Kozeny told the Iowa Independent: "For the past few years, Sen. Grassley has told constituents he's concerned about the number of births in the United States by illegal immigrants wanting only to secure citizenship and benefits, and that he'd consider legislation to clarify the 14th amendment, especially if a comprehensive immigration bill is put forward. He'd agree that a hearing with legal experts and other parties of interest would help determine if changes are warranted."

Grassley joins the ranks of other top Republicans in calling for a review of this as an issue, including Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Senate Minority Whip Jon Kyl (R-AZ), and possibly -- depending on some ambiguity -- Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY).

Supreme Court vacancy

Grilling Ms. Kagan -- The 7 Toughest Questioners At SCOTUS Hearings (VIDEO)

Christina Bellantoni | July 1, 2010, 5:47PM

(Clockwise from top left) Senators Arlen Specter (D-PA), Tom Coburn (R-OK), Russ Feingold (D-WI) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) question Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan (center, inset).

It wasn't quite a supreme grilling, but some of the Judiciary Committee's members were surprisingly tough on Solicitor General Elena Kagan this week. Although at first the Republicans spent their time deriding Thurgood Marshall as a so-called "activist judge," by day three they took up all the hot button social issues they had largely ignored in the first round of questions.

Since Kagan's testimony is complete -- Chairman Pat Leahy told her it was "The last time you'll ever have to be in a public hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee." -- TPM rounded up the toughest questioners. They might just surprise you, since some Democrats gave Kagan as hard a time as their colleagues across the aisle.

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Supreme Court vacancy

Kagan Dodges Gay Marriage Question (VIDEO)

Christina Bellantoni | June 30, 2010, 2:52PM

kagan confirmation hearing with Grassley

Social issues were noticeably absent from the first round of questions at the confirmation hearings, but it's been abortion and gay marriage hour so far in round two. A telling exchange came between Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Elena Kagan as he asked her if states can decide marriage issues.

Kagan said she didn't want to talk about something that may very well appear before the Supreme Court. "I want to be extremely careful about this question and -- and not to in any way prejudge any case that might come before me," she said.

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Elena Kagan

Grassley Asks Kagan: Didn't God Give Us The Right To Bear Arms? (VIDEO)

Megan Carpentier | June 29, 2010, 5:42PM

Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA)

Usually, in a confirmation hearing for a Supreme Court nominee, the discussion of the Second Amendment comes down to a debate over whether the amendment guarantees an individual or collective the right to bear arms. One might think the matter was settled in Congress since Supreme Court rulings in Heller and McDonald leave the individual right to bear arms, as Elena Kagan said earlier today, "settled law." However, having a settled constitutional question left Sen. Charles Grassley (R-IA) with an opening to question whether the right to bear arms come from more than just the constitution. He wanted to know, in fact, whether it came straight from God.

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Financial Reform

He's Out! Brown Says He's A No On Financial Reform

Brian Beutler | June 29, 2010, 12:16PM

Sen. Scott Brown (R-MA)

Sen. Scott Brown is no longer undecided. He says he'll certainly vote against the Wall Street reform conference report unless it is changed to remove a fee on big banks added during final negotiations.

"I am writing you to express my strong opposition to the $19 billion bank tax that was included in the financial reform bill during the conference committee," Brown wrote today in a letter to Senate Banking Committee Chairman Chris Dodd, and House Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank. "This tax was not in the Senate version of the bill, which I supported. If the final version of this bill contains these higher taxes, I will not support it.

Here's the thing, though: They can't change the conference report. It's unamendable. To accommodate Brown, the House and Senate would have to reconvene the conference committee, which could easily imperil their plan to get the bill to President Obama by the end of the week, ahead of the July 4 recess.

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Robert Byrd

Collins Pulls Back Support For Wall Street Bill Over Bank Tax

Brian Beutler | June 28, 2010, 9:00PM

Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME)

Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) joined Sen. Scott Brown (R-MA) this evening, putting herself back into the undecided column on Wall Street reform legislation, after House and Senate negotiators added new fees on banks to the final bill late last week.

"It was not part of either the House or Senate bill and was added in the wee hours of the morning. So I'm taking a look at the specifics of that and other provisions as well," Collins told reporters this evening outside the Senate chamber.

If both she and Brown oppose financial reform over bank fees, it could stall or even kill the legislation. Democrats would have to sweep the remaining swing votes--Sens. Olympia Snowe (R-ME), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), and Maria Cantwell (D-WA)--to pass the legislation. They want to pass the bill this week, but the death of Sen. Robert Byrd has thrown into doubt whether they'll have the votes lined up before the fourth of July recess.

Robert Byrd

In Passing, Byrd Leaves Dems One Vote Shy Of Wall Street Reform

Brian Beutler | June 28, 2010, 9:50AM

The late Sen. Robert Byrd (D-WV)

Today the Senate will mourn the passing of its longest serving member in history, Robert Byrd (D-WV). But by week's end, Democrats want to pass final -- and unamendable -- legislation, rewriting the rules that govern Wall Street. And they have no margin for error -- or for losing a colleague.

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Blanche Lincoln

Down To The Wire: Democratic Leaders Scramble To Keep Financial Reform From Unraveling

Brian Beutler | May 19, 2010, 9:06AM

Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT)

What had been a fairly non-contentious debate over Wall Street reform legislation nearly came off the rails on Tuesday after Republicans--tacitly backed (or at least unimpeded) by top Democrats--used Senate rules to block votes on far-reaching, consumer-friendly amendments, portending a potential progressive revolt.

This afternoon at 2 pm, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid will attempt to bring debate on the financial reform bill to a close, though it remains unclear whether he has the 60 votes he'll need to prevail.

A big reason for that? A number of Democrats--most vocally, Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-ND)--have threatened to vote against ending debate until their flagship amendments get a vote on the floor. But Republicans are standing in the way, saying they'll filibuster those amendments, subjecting each to a 60 vote requirement, and, more importantly, several days' worth of delay. Faced with a choice between picking a fight with Republicans over those amendments and simply moving ahead with the bill, Democratic leadership has, for now, chosen the latter.

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Joe Lieberman

Nobody's Showing Up To Joe Lieberman's TEA Party

Brian Beutler | May 7, 2010, 12:38PM

Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT)

It's probably a safe bet that if House Republican Leader John Boehner backs away from a conservative, terrorism-related bill called "TEA," the legislation both goes too far, and isn't going anywhere.

Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) captured big headlines, and interesting supporters, when he proposed the Terrorist Expatriation Act, which would amend current law to allow the State Department to revoke the citizenship of Americans they deem to be members of foreign terrorist organizations. Sen. Scott Brown (R-MA) joined his push. So did House Democrat Jason Altmire, who hails from a competitive district in Pennsylvania.

But that's about all she wrote.

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Financial Reform

Why The GOP Suddenly Let Up On Financial Reform

Brian Beutler and Christina Bellantoni | April 21, 2010, 3:18PM

Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT), Sen. Bob Corker (R-TN), and Sen. Richard Shelby (R-AL)

Within 48 hours, the Republican line on financial regulatory reform went from "filibuster" to "we're very close to a deal." Why the shift? Republicans and Democrats will offer up spin all day, chalking up the progress to their own doggedness, but in the end it comes down to a simple reality. Key Republicans, sincere about passing new rules for Wall Street, but intimidated by the notion of blocking financial regulatory reform, let it be known to their leadership that, at some point, they would side with Democrats to break a filibuster. Maybe not on round one, or even round two. But eventually.

"Folks on our side of the aisle want a bill," Sen. Bob Corker (R-TN) told TPMDC and a few other reporters Monday night. "I know that. I just [had a] discussion with some of our leadership on the floor. You know, we want a bill."

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Chuck Grassley

Dems Rip Grassley Over Pro-Health Care Reform Bill Statement

Evan McMorris-Santoro | March 24, 2010, 4:26PM

Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA)

The DSCC had strong words for Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA), who issued a press statement today taking credit for a provision of the health care bill about charity hospitals he authored.

"Chuck Grassley has been in Washington for too long if he thinks Iowans did not notice his strenuous, strident, and spirited opposition to health care reform," DSCC spokesperson Eric Schultz said in a statement. "This is someone who did everything he could to stop the bill, but now thinks it is worth touting."

A Grassley spokesperson told me that those criticizing Grassley's press release today are making much ado about nothing.

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Health Care

Grassley: Look How Great This Health Care Bill Is

Evan McMorris-Santoro | March 24, 2010, 12:58PM

Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA)

Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) has long been a vocal critic of the Democrat's health reform efforts, but today he started taking credit for some provisions of the bill, and talking up his own role in crafting the legislation.

In a release sent out by his staff to reporters today, Grassley says the bill will "hold tax-exempt hospitals accountable for the federal tax benefits they receive" thanks to his work.

The full text of his release is after the jump.

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Health Care

Viagra, ACORN and Gay Marriage: The 10 Most Ridiculous GOP-Proposed Health Care Amendments

Brian Beutler | March 24, 2010, 12:04PM

Clockwise: Sen. David Vitter (R-LA), Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK) and Sen. Bob Bennett (R-UT); inset: viagra pills

As I noted here, the GOP strategy for reconciliation is pure hardball. Democrats want to pass a clean bill, so Republicans will make Dems vote down politically charged amendments, including one--introduced by Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK)--to prohibit insurance companies for covering Viagra costs for rapists, and another--also introduced by Coburn--to fire one government employee each time the health care bill requires a new bureaucrat be hired.

Once the votes are cast, of course, they become fodder for attack ads come election season.

So far, the GOP has filed 32 amendments. But these 10 are our picks for the most ridiculous:

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Barack Obama

Tenthers Grassley And Boehner Claim Mandate Unconstitutional

Brian Beutler | February 25, 2010, 3:49PM

Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA)

Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA)--the Republicans point man on health care reform in the Senate--has flirted with the idea that requiring people to purchase health insurance is unconstitutional. But he fully joined the "Tenther" fringe at today's health care summit.

"The high cost of this bill comes from a non-constitutional mandate," Grassley said in an exchange with President Obama.

It wasn't too long ago that Grassley not only supported the mandate, but also claimed there was bipartisan agreement on the issue.

That time has clearly passed--moments later Grassley got back up from House Minority Leader John Boehner.

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Harry Reid

So Much For That! Bipartisan Jobs Agreement Falls Apart Almost Instantly

Brian Beutler | February 11, 2010, 5:08PM

Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT) and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV)

Bipartisan agreement on jobs lasted all of a few hours. This afternoon, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus announced he'd reached accord with ranking member Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA). They unveiled what was supposed to be a final jobs package. But the agreement didn't sit well with many Democrats, and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has pulled it out of their hands, and announced he'd move ahead with a smaller bill.

"I think Reid saw the writing on the wall," said one top Senate Democratic aide. "This was about to get bogged down again so he pulled it back."

Liberal Democrats were not pleased with the Baucus-Grassley compromise. Among other things, Baucus and Grassley said that jobs could only move forward if the Senate agreed to take up a bipartisan "reform" (a.k.a. slashing) of the estate tax. They registered their dissatisfaction at a weekly caucus lunch this afternoon, and when it was over, Reid emerged to make the announcement.

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Health Care

Been There, Done That? Why This Year's Health Care Summit Will Be Different From Last Year's

Brian Beutler | February 8, 2010, 5:55PM

Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY), President Obama, and Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV)

About a year ago, President Obama kick started the health care debate by hosting a bipartisan summit designed to build momentum for what he hoped would be his signature domestic policy initiative. The March 5, 2009 meeting was marked by pleasantries, and engagement between Republicans and Democrats--and that figured. Republicans were facing a popular President, pushing a popular initiative, in the aftermath of a big victory on the stimulus bill.

Fast forward to February 2010, and a lot of people in Washington--liberals, Democrats, even some pundits--are asking a question: Why is President Obama wasting his time with yet another summit. After all, he tried this a year ago and...well, just look how well that's paid off.

Times have changed, though. And now Democrats see an opportunity not so much for bipartisan co-operation, but for the President to magnify the differences between his own party, and the hell-bent-on-obstruction GOP. Whether they're right or wrong, though, the politics have simply changed. After a year of smears and bad faith, with Republicans locked into opposition, this month's summit simply won't be a redux of the same event.

Take Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA)--ranking member on the Senate Finance Committee. Here's what he said to Obama at the time: "I think you served with us in the Senate long enough to know that Max Baucus and I have a pretty good record of working out bipartisan things."

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Health Care

#HealthCareFAIL: How The Dems Botched Their Signature Legislation

Brian Beutler | January 29, 2010, 3:37PM

Clockwise from top left: Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV) and Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT); MA Sen. candidate Martha Coakley (D); Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA); Former Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA) and President Obama

Talk about fits and starts.

A year ago Democrats committed to passing comprehensive health care legislation; six months ago, it became clear that their project wouldn't go smoothly; one month ago it was full speed ahead; and a week and a half ago it all fell apart.

Health care reform is now on life support. To mix metaphors, it's on life support and the back burner at the same time. How the Democrats' signature agenda item went from a foregone conclusion to a prospect in peril is a tale of missteps and bad luck. No single player or event brought us to where we are today. But if any of the below episodes had gone...more smoothly, this might've been a done deal.

You know how the saying goes: Success has a thousand fathers, but failure is an orphan. And you can be sure that if health care reform fails, the people below will make like John Edwards--quick-like.

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Health Care

GOP Leaders & Chamber Of Commerce: 'This Bill Is A Job Killer'

Evan McMorris-Santoro | December 9, 2009, 2:50PM

Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA)

Senate GOP leaders and the leadership of the U.S. Chamber Of Commerce joined forces today to paint the Senate health care reform bill as a "job killer."

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and Sens. Mike Enzi (R-WY), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and John Cornyn (R-TX) addressed reporters with dozens of Chamber members lined up behind them, led by Chamber president Bruce Josten.

"This bill is a job killer," Grassley said, summarizing the group's complaints, mainly that the mandates and revenue streams found in the bill would prevent small buisness owners from hiring new workers for fear they'll be forced into a maze of government bureaucracy.

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Chuck Grassley

Chuck Grassley: 'I've Lived Off The Public Tit All These Years'

Evan McMorris-Santoro | December 1, 2009, 5:35PM

Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA)

The news: Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) said "tit" on national television earlier today.

(Also, he admitted to enjoying government subsidies as a farmer for decades while calling government subsidies for health care "socialism." But, c'mon: "tit"!!)

The transcript of Grassley talking farm subsidies with a caller on C-SPAN's Washington Journal today (h/t ThinkProgress):

GRASSLEY: For the first 16 years I made $3,000 every other year as a state legislator. Now do you expect me to live on $3,000 every other year? No I was a factory worker for 10 years and I was a farmer for that period of time and I farm with my son now. So if you're trying to make a case that I've lived off the public tit all these years, I think you're saying correctly in the years I've been in the Congress but not the years before I came to Congress.

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Chuck Grassley

Bob Dole Goes After Czars, ACORN In Letter For Grassley

Christina Bellantoni | November 23, 2009, 3:43PM

Former Sen. Bob Dole (R-KS) Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA)

Bob Dole may like the health care bill, but Bob Dole has plenty to criticize in the Obama administration.

Dole has signed on to be Sen. Chuck Grassley's national finance chairman for his reelection campaign. In a letter to Grassley supporters, Dole blasted Obama has hiring "30 of his cronies as 'czars' over massive new bureaucracies with billions of dollars in budgets and thousands of employees."

Dole also said MoveOn and ACORN are trying to unseat Grassley (R-IA), who he believes has been instrumental in standing up to Obama. Grassley, Dole argued, is "good for America."

Grassley has been one of Obama's loudest detractors, and especially opposes the health care plan. Dole has argued for the plan's passage, though last month sparred with Democrats over use of his support in a political ad.

Dole takes aim at health care in this letter, saying Grassley is trying to block "an attempt to allow government to take over health care and for Washington bureaucrats to decide which patients sees which doctor and what limits and access there will be on their treatments, drugs and therapies."

That's a far cry from Dole's statement last month:

The American people have waited decades and if this moment passes us by, it may be decades more before there is another opportunity. The current approaches suggested by the Congress are far from perfect, but they do provide some basis on which Congress can move forward and we urge the joint leadership to get together for America's sake.

Oh yeah, and Dole says liberals are trying to please Castro and Chavez.

Read Dole's full letter to Grassley fans after the jump.

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Abortion

Flip Flop? Republicans Attack Reid's Abortion Language Even Though Gang Of Six Endorsed It

Brian Beutler | November 19, 2009, 5:08PM

Sen. Olympia J. Snowe (R-ME)

Earlier today, I had an interesting exchange with Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME) about the abortion language in the Senate health care bill. She seemed to think Harry Reid made the right call--that the provision is similar in many ways to the provision passed by the Senate Finance Committee, which she supported. Interestingly, though, she also said the notorious Group of Six health care negotiators--including staunch conservatives Chuck Grassley and Mike Enzi--also thought that language was acceptable.

"We discussed that for an extensive period of time within the Group of Six and what approach to take that would work, and be consistent, with codifying current law, and we thought that the approach that was embraced in the Senate Finance Committee did that."

Now, of course, Republicans are all up in arms. I asked Snowe whether Grassley and Enzi believed at the time that Reid's approach--segregating federal and private funds to prevent tax payer dollars from financing abortion--was sufficient.

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Chuck Grassley

Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Ventures Into Tentherism

Brian Beutler | November 13, 2009, 9:02AM

Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL)

Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL)--the highest ranking Republican on the Judiciary Committee--is unclear about the Constitutionality of current health care legislation, and he's turning for clarity to the Federalist Society.

"I think that's a good question," Sessions said on a panel at the Federalist Society's National Lawyers' Convention. "Matter of fact I met with my staff...we were talking about, and you know what I said Leonard? I said we ought to ask Federalist society folks what they think too. I said let's begin to think about that question and what's the constitutional thing...can the government require to do what we think is in your best interest if you don't think it's in your best interest?"

Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA), who also sits on the Judiciary Committee, once said there was a bipartisan consensus in favor of individual mandates. But he too seems to have joined the tenther fringe.

You can see the video here. The exchange occurs about 27 minutes in.

IA-SEN

Christie Vilsack Not Running For Senate Against Grassley

Eric Kleefeld | October 26, 2009, 11:25AM

Fmr. Iowa First Lady Christie Vilsack (D)

Former Iowa First Lady Christie Vilsack has announced that she will not run for Senate against five-term incumbent republican Chuck Grassley in 2010, the Des Moines Register reports.

A recent Daily Kos/Research 2000 poll had shown Vilsack trailing Grassley by a margin of 51%-40% -- which was actually pretty good, considering that Grassley has never been re-elected with less than 66% of the vote.

Vilsack said in her statement: "Committing to a campaign for the US Senate next year requires more than the confidence that I have the right experience, the necessary support and the resources to be successful. It must come with an understanding that it is the best way for me serve our State and my fellow Iowans in the most effective way possible at this time."

IA-SEN

Christie Vilsack Considering Run For Senate Against Grassley

Eric Kleefeld | October 14, 2009, 3:48PM

Fmr. Iowa First Lady Christie Vilsack (D)

Former Iowa First Lady Christie Vilsack, wife of former Gov. Tom Vilsack, now says she's considering a run for Senate in 2010 against Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley.

"I think I'm qualified to serve, so time will tell." Vilsack told WHO-TV, the central Iowa NBC station.

"You know, I've spent the last 12 years traveling around the state, developing a relationship with the people of Iowa," she explained, "and I just really appreciate the fact that people have been so supportive in suggesting this. But, as I said, time will tell."

Grassley was first elected in the 1980 Reagan landslide, and has been re-elected by comfortable margins ever since, winning 70% of the vote in 2004.

(Via The Political Carnival.)

Health Care

LIVEBLOG: Senate Finance Committee Votes On Health Care Reform Bill

Brian Beutler | October 13, 2009, 10:01AM

Check in here for continuous updates until the vote, which may not come until the afternoon.

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Kent Conrad

Conrad Mum On New Opt-Out Public Option Proposal

Brian Beutler | October 8, 2009, 12:56PM

Sen. Kent Conrad (D-ND)

I just caught up with Sen. Kent Conrad (D-ND) and asked him about a new idea floating around the Hill that would give states the choice to opt out of a national public option. Just, how nascent is the idea?

Here's what he said: "I've heard about it, I've not seen one...I was in a group like this somebody talking to somebody else, kind of raising it."

Does it sound like something that you could support?

"Honestly, I just don't know enough about it," he said.

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Health Care

Finance Committee Wraps Up Hearing on Health Care Bill--Vote Next Week

Brian Beutler | October 2, 2009, 8:43AM

The Senate Finance Committee worked until the wee hours of Friday morning to vote on amendments to its health care bill before adjourning until Tuesday when, after the Congressional Budget Office weighs in on the spending implications of the package, it will hold a final vote.

The delay was baked into the cake several days ago when the committee agreed not to hold a vote on a bill that hadn't received a preliminary analysis from the CBO.

The progress prompted a statement from the White House, which you can read here.

If the panel advances the legislation, Senate health care leaders, White House officials, and Majority Leader Harry Reid will meet to merge it with the more liberal HELP Committee bill, and introduced on the Senate floor later this fall.

Health Care

Rockefeller Says His Public Option Would Save $50 Billion Over 10 Years

Brian Beutler | September 29, 2009, 10:25AM

Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) and Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT)

Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) has introduced his public option amendment before the Senate Finance Committee. In making the pitch to the panel's skeptics, he's noted that it will save the federal government about $50 billion over 10 years, and would be, as its name implies optional--i.e. it's not a "government takeover" of health care.

Late update: To the chagrin of chairman Max Baucus, Rockefeller is lambasting the insurance industry, and citing a number of ways other health care reform bills do a better job at reining in their excesses. He cited insurance industry whistleblower Wendell Potter, who said that, without a public option, health care reform legislation might as well be named the "Insurance Industry Profit Protection Act."

The House bill, Rockefeller noted, would place strict limits on the so-called medical-loss ratio (i.e. percentage of each premium dollar that can go to profits, administrative costs, and other non-health care related activities.)

Late, late update: It's worth mentioning that you can follow the hearing at this link.

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Chuck Grassley

Grassley Looks For A New Gang

Rachel Slajda | September 24, 2009, 10:17AM

Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA)

On a conference call with Iowa reporters yesterday, Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) said he's looking to assemble a new bipartisan group to work on health care reform.

Grassley said he's reaching out to have senators from both parties -- and from neither of the committees that are currently working on reform, the Finance Committee and the HELP Committee, The Hill reports.

The hypothetical group would offer amendments to whatever bills come out of those committees.

"I think, though, that it'd be very helpful for people who aren't on the Finance committee or even the HELP committee...would kind of take the bull by the horns themselves and try to coalesce around something that could eventually become more bipartisan," he said.

Health Care

Will Senate Finance Dems Undo Damage Done By Grassley, Enzi?

Brian Beutler | September 18, 2009, 9:11AM

After courting Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Mike Enzi (R-WY) for months--making concession after concession and coming up empty, and angering Democrats who were shut out of negotiations--Senate Finance Committee chairman Max Baucus may be preparing to make amends by undoing some of the damage he made in the name of consensus.

A new report out from Roll Call suggests the new goal is a bill that can win each of the panel's Democrats plus, perhaps, Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME).

"I think there's a view on the part of the chairman and on the part of just about everyone who was there to try and come up with a consensus that every Democrat, and perhaps Olympia Snowe, could support," after meeting with committee Democrats. "I would say, just about everyone in the room thought it's doable."

Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) opposes the bill as it stands from the left, and has said that other Democrats on the panel were infuriated by the length and failure of the process. Snowe, meanwhile, hasn't said one way or another what she'll do. Democrats were initially skeptical that she'd sign on, but a number of signs yesterday suggest that she's leaning toward supporting the bill as it moves out of committee.

If Snowe opposes the bill, Baucus can afford to lose no more than one Democrat. So consensus--or near consensus--within the party will be critical for him.

Health Care

Dems, Republicans Begin Tussle Over Baucus Bill

Brian Beutler | September 15, 2009, 9:28AM

Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT)

The Senate Finance Committee will soon begin debating a health care bill that will likely be unveiled this week, and already, a tug of war is emerging between committee Democrats who want to bolster a number of measures and Republican negotiators who want to see the bill get smaller.

Democrats are largely concerned that the plan won't offer uninsured Americans the sufficiently generous subsidies they'll need in order to afford the health insurance they'll be required to buy.

Addressing that issue, though, seems mutually exclusive from meeting the goals of ranking member Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Sen. Mike Enzi (R-WY), both of whom want the price of the bill to be significantly lower than it is, and also object to a plan to pay for it by imposing fees on insurance companies.

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Health Care

Baucus: I'll Move Forward on Health Care Without Republicans if Necessary

Brian Beutler | September 9, 2009, 1:05PM

Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT)

Senate Finance Committee chariman Max Baucus (D-MT) told reporters today that he's moving forward on his health care proposal with or without Republicans. He said that the trigger concept hasn't really been discussed in his panel's negotiation, and that he's increasingly of the belief that a public option can not pass the Senate.

"I will move forward anyway," Baucus said. "We have to move forward. I told Chuck Grassley that."

Grassley is the Finance Committee's ranking member, and the Republican leader on health care negotiations in the committee's so-called "Gang of Six"

Baucus said the proposal he unveils next week will be similar to the draft he released yesterday, which mandates subsidized coverage and expands Medicaid, but only provides for the creation of private co-ops--not for a public option.

"It is similar to the proposal I issued on Sunday night. I think that is close to a measure that will pass both the committee and Senate," Baucus said.

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