TPMDC
Dick Durbin

The Sunday Show Line-Ups

Eric Kleefeld | November 20, 2009, 5:51PM

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

• ABC, This Week: Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK), Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE), Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL).

• CBS, Face The Nation: Senate Minority Whip Jon Kyl (R-AZ), Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY).

• CNN, State Of The Union: Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Senate candidate Carly Fiorina (R-CA).

• Fox News Sunday: Guest list not yet announced.

• NBC, Meet The Press: Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX), Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT).

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Topics: Ben Nelson, Carly Fiorina, Chuck Schumer, Debbie Wasserman-Schultz, Dianne Feinstein, Dick Durbin, Joe Lieberman, Jon Kyl, Kay Bailey Hutchison, Mitch McConnell, Sherrod Brown, Sunday Shows, Tom Coburn

OOPS! Durbin Walks Back Statement Suggesting Lincoln's Health Care Vote Is In The Bag

Brian Beutler | November 20, 2009, 12:28PM

Earlier today, Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) told reporters that Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-AR)--a vulnerable incumbent, and a key health care swing vote--had confided in Majority Leader Harry Reid that she'd made up her mind about tomorrow's test vote on health care reform.

That must've touched off some nerves, because he's now issued a statement walking back that contention.

"In a conversation with reporters earlier today, some of my remarks regarding Senator Lincoln were unclear and have been incorrectly interpreted," Durbin's statement reads. "Let me be clear: Senator Lincoln has had a number of conversations with Sen. Reid about the health care reform legislation. She has asked important questions and there has been a positive and healthy give and take. But Sen. Lincoln has not yet signaled her intention as to how she will vote on tomorrow's cloture motion."

Back on the fence, I guess? You can read the entire statement below the fold.

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Topics: Blanche Lincoln, Dick Durbin, Health Care, Senate

Dick Durbin

Durbin: We're Struggling To Round Up 60 Votes For A Public Option

Brian Beutler | November 17, 2009, 11:00AM

Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin isn't inflating anybody's expectations about Harry Reid's chances for passing a health care bill with a public option on the Senate floor. On MSNBC last night, Durbin said it would be a hard slog.

"We're working on it, struggling," he said

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Topics: Dick Durbin, Filibuster, Harry Reid, Health Care, Progressives, Public Option, Senate

Health Care

GOP Brings Back Health Care Town Halls

Evan McMorris-Santoro | November 11, 2009, 8:59AM

Rep. Jim Moran (D-VA) town hall.

For Republicans battling Democratic-led health care reform, there's August -- and then there's everything after. Starting in a couple of weeks, the GOP hopes to take the country back to the heady days of the health care town halls.

The late summer was the high-water mark for the GOP on health care, when poll support for Democratic reform lagged after an August full of raucous town hall meetings with members of Congress across the country. The town halls caused the reform debate to shift from "public options" and "mandates" to "death panels" and "socialized medicine." President Obama gave a primetime address before a joint session of Congress to address the fears raised by the town halls, and polls began to shift back toward support for Democratic reforms.

Now, the GOP wants to capture some of that August magic again as the Senate takes up a reform bill.

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Topics: Dick Durbin, Health Care, Lamar Alexander, Town Hall Meetings

Health Care

Timeline: Dem Leaders Differ On Likelihood Of Health Care Debate Before Thanksgiving

Brian Beutler | November 10, 2009, 12:21PM

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

During a news conference today regarding Republican obstruction of a Veterans bill, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) told reporters that he's confident he will be able to bring his health care bill to the Senate floor next week, after Congress returns from a brief Veterans Day recess, and then pass the bill by Christmas. But the number two man in the caucus, Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) was far more cautious, suggesting that debate on the bill may have to wait until after Thanksgiving.

A reporter asked Reid whether he believes his hoped-for time line to begin and end debate on the bill is reasonable. Reid responded, "yes, and yes."

Earlier today, Reid met with Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT)--a key holdout on the bill, who says he'll filibuster it if it includes a public option. Reid says he's "confident [he and Lieberman] work something out."

Durbin shares that confidence, but isn't so certain about the time line.

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Topics: Dick Durbin, Harry Reid, Health Care, Senate

Health Care

Dem Leaders Lobbying Centrists One By One, Durbin Says

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 27, 2009, 1:35PM

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

Senate Majority Leader's deputy, Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL), says his boss has been holding one-on-one meetings with centrists in order to ensure a 60 vote majority for the health care reform package he announced yesterday.

The Hill reports:

"Harry has been literally sitting down face to face with senator after senator, working through these differences," [Durbin] said.

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Topics: Dick Durbin, Harry Reid, Health Care, Public Option

Health Care

Schumer: We Prevailed On White House That Public Option Was The Way To Go

Brian Beutler | October 26, 2009, 7:41PM

Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY)

So how did we go from a White House at loggerheads with the Senate leadership last Thursday night over a public option, to a deal today that's exactly what the leadership wanted?

This evening I spoke with Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY), who was in that infamous Thursday night meeting with President Obama and other Senate leaders--and who has been one of the most persistent advocates of a public option on Capitol Hill. As Schumer explains it, the disagreement between the White House and Senate wasn't substantive so much as it was tactical: The White House had its doubts that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid could really get 60 votes for a public option with an opt out for states.

"The President listened very carefully," Schumer said in an interview moments ago. "He wanted to make sure that the strategy upon which we were embarking had the ability to carry through."

Schumer has been at the center of the fight over the public option from the earliest days of the health care debate--always there to pull it back from the brink when it at times seemed on the verge of collapse. This situation was no different. After the Thursday meeting, four sources in different Democratic offices told me that the White House had suggested they believed a strategy of pursuing Sen. Olympia Snowe's preferred compromise--a triggered public option--might be an easier path to 60 votes. In the end, though, Schumer and the rest of leadership seem to have prevailed upon President Obama that they've picked the right strategy.

"I think substantively the White House probably preferred a stronger public option than a trigger," Schumer said. "We talked about this for a while in leadership and the White House wanted to hear our thoughts--and when they heard them they thought that this was the right strategy to get our caucus together."

Today, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said the President stands behind Reid as he builds support for the public plan.

"A lot of people around here have faith in Harry Reid's abilty to count votes," Schumer told me.

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Topics: Barack Obama, Chuck Schumer, Dick Durbin, Harry Reid, Health Care, Public Option, Senate, White House

Dick Durbin

Durbin: Progressives Forced Our Hand On The Public Option

Brian Beutler | October 26, 2009, 5:56PM

A helpful data point for liberal legislators and progressive activists: Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL)--the Democrats' main vote counter in the Senate--says that the public option-plus-opt out clause was a pragmatic choice. Liberals wouldn't have supported anything less.

Durbin told Ryan Grim of Huffington Post and a handful of other reporters that Reid may very well have chosen to put Olympia Snowe's trigger compromise in the bill "[i] we thought that just putting the trigger in meant that we'd end with 61 votes."

But they, apparently didn't. Some in the party made clear that they "felt that that just didn't go far enough moving toward a public option," said Durbin.

Undoubtedly progressives will see today's development as a validation of their intense activism--pressure that wasn't always appreciated by Democratic party elders.

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Topics: Dick Durbin, Harry Reid, Health Care, Public Option, Senate

Roundup

TPMDC Morning Roundup

Eric Kleefeld | October 15, 2009, 9:00AM

Obama Making First Presidential Visit To New Orleans
President Obama is making his first trip as President to New Orleans today, to review the continued reconstruction process from Hurricane Katrina. While this is the first trip by Obama himself, there have also been 17 other trips by administration officials to the city, and a total of 35 trips to the Gulf Coast region overall since March.

Obama's Day Ahead
President Obama will depart from the White House at 9:25 a.m. ET, arriving in New Orleans, at 12:25 a.m. ET. He will visit with students at the Dr. Martin Luther King Charter School at 1 p.m. ET, and he will hold a 2:15 p.m. ET town hall at the University of New Orleans. He will depart from New Orleans at 4:10 p.m. ET, arriving in San Francisco at 8:20 p.m. ET, speaking at a 10:20 p.m. ET DNC fundraising dinner and a 10:35 p.m. ET reception.

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Topics: Barack Obama, Dick Durbin, Fox News, Medicare, New Orleans, Roundup, Social Security, Ted Kennedy

Health Care

Reid Dismisses Schumer's Insistence That Public Option Is In His Hands

Brian Beutler | October 14, 2009, 2:54PM

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV)

Speaking to reporters just outside the Senate chamber this afternoon, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid scoffed at the suggestion--articulated last night by Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY)--that the public option is simply in his hands.

"He would rather say anything so it wasn't up to him," Reid said, before departing for a meeting with White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, and Sens. Max Baucus (D-MT) and Chris Dodd (D-CT). The four will hold the first meeting about how to shape a health care bill that will soon be introduced on the Senate floor.

Other senators have been significantly less vocal than Schumer (at least in public) with respect to what steps Reid should take to include the public option. I caught up with Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin and asked him whether he agreed with Schumer. He said, "I'm definitely for the public option, I want it included in the final bill. I'm gonna leave it up to the Majority Leader's judgment and the vote of the Senate as to when that's going to take place."

Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE) was less forthcoming. "I never second guess the leadership on what kind of procedural moves they make," he said. "I just vote as I choose. I don't comment on their decisions."

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Topics: Ben Nelson, Chris Dodd, Chuck Schumer, Dick Durbin, Harry Reid, Health Care, Max Baucus, Public Option, Rahm Emanuel

Barack Obama

TPMDC Sunday Roundup

Eric Kleefeld | September 13, 2009, 12:45PM

Joe Wilson: "I Am Not Going To Apologize Again"
Appearing on Fox News Sunday, Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC) said he would not apologize again for his "You lie!" outburst during President Obama's speech to Congress, setting up a likely censure vote in the House. "This is playing politics," Wilson said. "This is exactly what the American people do not want to see, do not want to hear." He also defended the substance of the original incident: "I believe in the truth. What I heard was not true."

Obama: "One This Bill Passes, I Own It"
In an interview set to air on 60 Minutes, President Obama said:"I have no interest in having a bill get passed that fails. That doesn't work. You know, I intend to be president for a while and once this bill passes, I own it. And if people look and say, 'You know what? This hasn't reduced my costs. My premiums are still going up 25 percent, insurance companies are still jerking me around, I'm the one who's going to be held responsible. So I have every incentive to get this right."

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Topics: Barack Obama, David Axelrod, Dick Durbin, Health Care, Howard Dean, Joe Wilson, Nullification, Public Option, Susan Collins, Tenthers, Tim Pawlenty, VA-GOV

Barack Obama

Obama To Durbin: Pass A Bill--Any Bill--I'll Work It Out In Conference

Brian Beutler | August 12, 2009, 8:51AM

Dick Durbin (D-IL), the number two Democrat in the Senate, says President Obama wants to move forward with some form of health care bill quickly, and then fight the fight over particulars in negotiations with the House of Representatives.

"We're negotiating with three Republican senators to try to get this bill through the Senate, and they do not support the public option," Durbin told small businessmen in Illinois.

So we are trying to walk this tightrope to get this bill through. The House [of Representatives] is likely to include it. The Senate may not. Then we go into conference committee and President Obama has to roll up his sleeves and see if he can bring us all together. And when I've spoken to him about this a couple times, all he's said is: 'Get me to a conference committee. Let me bring these folks into a room, and let me work and get it done.'"

That statement's obviously vague on a couple levels: Who will lose out on the merits--progressives or conservatives--if Obama can't "bring us all together"? And how far will Obama stray from his own vision of health care reform if it's a choice between getting it done and not getting it done?

But it's also a pretty clear indication that he thinks now is not the right time to settle the dispute between liberal Democrats, and the "gang of six" members of the Senate Finance Committee who are trying to piece together a consensus bill.

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Topics: Barack Obama, Dick Durbin, Health Care, Public Option, Senate, Senate Finance Committee

Howard Dean

TPMDC Sunday Roundup

Eric Kleefeld | August 9, 2009, 12:56PM

Dean: Palin "Just Made That Up" About The Death Panel
Former DNC Chairman Howard Dean told CNN that Sarah Palin's line about President Obama establishing a "death panel" was simply wrong. "About euthanasia, they're just totally erroneous. She just made that up," said Dean. "Just like the 'Bridge to Nowhere' that she supposedly didn't support.

Gingrich Defends Palin On The Death Panel
Appearing on This Week, former Speaker Newt Gingrich defended Palin on the "death panel" talk, even though George Stephanopoulos pointed out multiple times that the health care bill does not promote euthanasia. "You are asking us to trust turning power over to the government," said Gingrich, "when there are clearly people in American who believe in establishing euthanasia, including selective standards."

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Topics: Afghanistan, Barack Obama, Birth Certificate, Death Panels, Dick Durbin, Health Care, Howard Dean, Lindsey Graham, Mitch McConnell, Newt Gingrich, Sarah Palin, Tea Party

Health Care

Durbin: Obama Will Have To Take Lead During August

Brian Beutler | July 29, 2009, 4:13PM

Democratic Senate Whip Dick Durbin says Obama will have to take the lead to keep support for health care reform afloat during August.

"The president is in the driver's seat in August," Durbin told reporters today. "Congress is gone and scattered to the winds with personal family and constituent service. And the White House is still there, generating a message and activity. So I think the president will have a chance to tell the American people a little bit more about why this process is so important."

For its part, Obama's political arm, Organizing for America, is raising money from its supporters to sustain its campaign for health care reform through a fraught recess. That'll surely help local organizing events and message distribution, but it still leaves a major role for Obama himself.

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Topics: Barack Obama, Dick Durbin, Health Care

Dick Durbin

Durbin: Going Into Overtime Still A Possibility

Brian Beutler | July 23, 2009, 11:12AM

After saying a health care vote before August was all but hopeless yesterday, Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) just said it's possible--though not certain--that the Senate will 'go into overtime' to pass a bill. In other words, to delay recess.

Yesterday, President Obama was silent on the question of the August recess, but said that deadlines--even if not officially met--can be key to making progress. In other words, this could be a push to meet interim goals, or to actually get work done.

Durbin said he hopes the Senate Finance Committee finishes work soon, but Democrats are growing increasingly frustrated with the secrecy and lack of access they're getting from chief negotiator Max Baucus--especially compared to their Republican counterparts, who seem much more keyed in.

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Topics: Dick Durbin, Health Care, Max Baucus, Senate, Senate Finance Committee

Dick Durbin

Durbin: I Don't Think A Vote On Health Care Will Be Possible Before Recess

Brian Beutler | July 22, 2009, 5:21PM

For the last couple weeks, health care reformers have been grasping at a thin reed of hope that the Senate would vote on a reform bill before adjourning for August recess. That reed might have just disappeared altogether.

"We're going to take a little longer to get it right," said Assistant Majority Leader Dick Durbin according to The Hill. "Initially we had hoped for a full vote by then, but I don't think it's going to be possible."

As I noted earlier today, the Senate schedule--which will likely include a four day debate over the confirmation of Sonia Sotomayor--leaves precious little room to complete a lengthy debate over health care legislation. Unless Democrats decide to delay recess, it looks like the Senate will not be voting on a complete bill until September.

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Topics: Dick Durbin, Health Care, Senate

John McCain

TPMDC Sunday Roundup

Eric Kleefeld | July 12, 2009, 1:20PM

Palin Plans To Stay Involved In Politics
Gov. Sarah Palin (R-AK) told the Washington Times that she'll be staying involved in politics: "I will go around the country on behalf of candidates who believe in the right things, regardless of their party label or affiliation." She did not rule out a presidential campaign in the future. "I'm not ruling out anything - it is the way I have lived my life from the youngest age," she said. "Let me peek out there and see if there's an open door somewhere. And if there's even a little crack of light, I'll hope to plow through it."

McCain: Palin Will Continue To Be A Major Factor
Appearing on Meet The Press, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) was asked about Sarah Palin's resignation. "Obviously I was a bit surprised, but I wasn't shocked," said McCain. "I love and respect her and her family, I'm grateful that she agreed to run with me." He added: "I'm confident that she will be a major factor in the national scene and in Alaska as well."

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Topics: Dianne Feinstein, Dick Cheney, Dick Durbin, Health Care, Jeff Sessions, John Cornyn, John McCain, Kathleen Sebelius, Sarah Palin, Sonia Sotomayor, Supreme Court

Health Care

Senate Democratic Leaders Want Party Unity Against Filibusters--Can They Get It?

Brian Beutler | July 8, 2009, 6:11PM

Al Franken is now officially a senator. And with a 60-member caucus, Democrats have the power to circumvent every Republican filibuster--at least in theory. Two members are battling serious health conditions and often unable to vote at all. And even if that weren't the case, Dems would still need to be united to guarantee an up or down vote on every bill. But that's exactly what party leaders want to see.

After a caucus meeting on Tuesday, Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) said he told members, "Don't let the Republicans filibuster us into failure." Here's how he characterized his position:

If they will stick with us on the procedural votes, we at least know that we can move forward.... They may vote against final passage on a bill, they may vote with Republicans on an amendment. That's entirely their right to do. But this idea of allowing the filibuster to stop the whole Senate.... We ought to control our own agenda.

Sources on the Hill have been fairly mum about how the message came across. Was it more of a pep-talk? An attempt to rally the troops? Or was it a warning to conservative Democrats, who've extracted more than a pound of flesh from the President's agenda already, and who stand poised to do so again as the health care debate moves forward? It's a bit unclear.

But there are a couple of interesting data points.