Super Committee

Sherrod Brown Hugs Rob Portman -- Claims He's Open To Closing Deficit With Taxes

Brian Beutler | August 10, 2011, 5:32PM

Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH)

Surely Super Committeeman Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH) will appreciate his fellow Ohioan Sherrod Brown (D-OH) vouching for his willingness to compromise.

"Rob has shown a willingness to find common ground by looking at both tax reform and spending cuts in order to reduce the deficit," Brown said in a statement after GOP leaders announced their six appointees.

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Balanced Budget Amendment

It's A Trap! The Hidden Pitfalls Of GOP's 'Cut, Cap, And Balance' Plan

Brian Beutler | July 18, 2011, 1:24PM

House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY)

Tuesday, the House of Representatives will vote on, and likely pass, a conservative Republican plan called "Cut, Cap, and Balance." The package will include some immediate, as-yet unspecified spending cuts, a statutory cap to keep spending below 18 percent of GDP, and a promised separate vote on a Constitutional amendment that requires Congress to maintain a balanced budget, but essentially forbids any future tax increases.

It would also raise the debt ceiling through 2012 -- an ancillary benefit for Republicans who are looking for any way to pin the consequences of a debt default, should one happen, on Democrats. Indeed, the GOP feigned shock and anger Monday when the White House, as expected, issued an official veto threat -- turns out President Obama's the one threatening to wreak havoc on the country.

Of course, later in the week, the Senate will follow suit, and there Cut, Cap, and Balance is expected to fail.

For Republicans, it's the perfect alignment of popular sounding policies -- "spending cuts" a "balanced budget" and, finally, an end to this debt limit brinksmanship -- minus the a scintilla of accountability or transparency. And for Republicans trying to make nice with conservative activists, it will give them cover to later vote for a much more modest plan to cut some spending, raise the debt limit, avoid default. But the details have been intentionally obscured by most conservatives, and they reveal the plan to be the most radical fiscal policy the GOP has aligned behind in years -- one that makes the Republican's current budget proposal to phase out Medicare appear moderate by comparison.

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OH-SEN

GOP Challenger To Sherrod Brown Raises Big Bucks

Evan McMorris-Santoro | July 13, 2011, 9:42AM

Ohio State Treasurer Josh Mandel

Progressive Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) may have a harder time getting reelected than some observers thought. Ohio state Treasurer Josh Mandel (R), a 33 year-old Iraq War vet and former state Representative in his first year of statewide elected office, raised $2.34 million in the last fundraising quarter, significantly more than the $1.5 million Brown hauled in between April and June.

Brown still has an impressive $3.5 million cash on hand for his reelection bid, and Mandel still has a Republican primary to deal with. In fact, Mandel has not yet made an official campaign announcement, though he's been raising money for a Senate races and gathering up endorsements for months.

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Medicare

Senate Dems Call On GOP To Abandon Ryan Medicare Plan

Susan Crabtree | June 6, 2011, 1:28PM

Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD), Sen. Charles E. Schumer (D-NY), Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH)

With Republicans on the ropes when it comes to defending their proposal to privatize Medicare, a group of Senate Democrats is hoping to deliver a body blow to GOP plans to push for the proposal in talks about reducing the nation's spiraling debt.

Sens. Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Ben Cardin (D-MD) and Charles Schumer (D-NY) on Monday called for Republicans to take Rep. Paul Ryan's (R-WI) plan for Medicare off the table in ongoing bipartisan deficit-reduction talks.

"We owe it to our children and our grandchildren to pay down the debt but not at the expense of our seniors' healthcare," Brown told reporters on a conference call. "Ending Medicare as we know it should not be part of our debt-reduction negotiations."

Ryan's Medicare proposal has sparked a backlash with the public and has been roundly panned in national polls. Some Republicans are already distancing themselves from the plan, but GOP leaders and most of the party's presidential contenders remaining strongly committed to it.

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Medicare/Medicaid

Poll: Voters Ready To Penalize Democrats Who Mess With Medicare

Evan McMorris-Santoro | May 24, 2011, 8:40AM

Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO)

Voters in key Senate swing states don't want cuts to Medicare and Medicaid benefits -- and they're prepared to exact revenge on politicians who vote in favor of them.

That's according to new Public Policy Polling (D) numbers from Ohio, Missouri, Montana and Minnesota, where Democratic Senators face what could be tough reelection fights. The polling, published first by TPM, was sponsored by a coalition of progressive groups.

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Sherrod Brown

Senate Dems To Cantor: Walking Away From Medicare Plan Is The Right Move

Brian Beutler | May 5, 2011, 3:40PM

Sherrod Brown (D-OH)

Forty-eight Senate Democrats, led by Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) sent a letter to House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) on Thursday, urging him to stick with the conclusion that the GOP's plan to privatize Medicare is a non-starter with Democrats.

"Your conclusion was correct that House Republicans "need to look elsewhere" after President Obama "excoriated" the proposal you and your Republican colleagues adopted to privatize Medicare through a voucher system," the letter reads.

Americans don't want to destroy Medicare in order to give even more tax cuts to millionaires.

While I am sure you are under pressure from your caucus to defend that misguided vote rather than to move away from it, I urge you to maintain the position you took yesterday as reported by The Washington Post. The two parties can and must work together to reduce the deficit, but not if Republicans maintain their demand to end Medicare as we know it. If you need further proof that the House Republican plan is a non-starter, I urge you to review the enclosed letter.

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Hypocrisy

Republican Governors Quietly Accept Federal Dollars -- While Attacking Federal Spending

Brian Beutler | April 20, 2011, 9:17AM

Govs. Rick Perry, John Kasich (R-OH), Chris Christie (R-NJ) and Tom Corbett (R-PA)

Republican governors stormed into state houses this January after campaigning against federal spending, and various so-called state bailouts. They won in part by painting a slanted picture of fiscal mismanagement by their Democratic predecessors.

That rhetoric -- and the rhetoric of their more senior Republican peers -- continues to this day, and occasionally translates into genuinely puzzling acts of malgovernance. Florida Governor Rick Scott, for example, turned down $2.4 billion in federal funds to build a high-speed rail line from Orlando to Tampa.

But in other ways, their failure to publicly embrace additional federal commitments during tough economic times has left them behind the eight ball, politically. As the costs to their states of providing needed social services has risen, and their revenue has fallen, they're looking for sub rosa ways to take the money without catching flak from their bases.

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Joe Biden

Biden: Republicans 'Totally Out Of The Closet' With Plan To End Medicare

Brian Beutler | April 19, 2011, 4:55PM

Vice President Biden

At a fundraiser for Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) in Cleveland on Tuesday, Vice President Joe Biden used a colorful metaphor to describe Republicans' forthrightness about their plans to cut and phase out entitlements.

"This is not your father's Republican Party," he said. "The Republicans this time are totally, and I don't mean this in a pejorative sense, are out of the closet. They are laying out for the
first time what they are for and how they think they are going to deal with the problem. That's a debate I can hardly wait for - hopefully with Donald Trump."

Speaking extemporaneously to a group of Democratic donors and Brown supporters, Biden explained that Democrats are grateful that Republicans have laid out their controversial plans so clearly.

The budget House Republicans passed last week, Biden said, will translate in election season into "things as simple as bumper stickers and as profound as the future of the country."

Medicare

Sherrod Brown Letter Urges President Obama to Challenge Paul Ryan on Medicare

Benjy Sarlin | April 12, 2011, 6:49PM

Sherrod Brown (D-OH)

Ahead of President Obama's speech on Wednesday, Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) is collecting signatures for a letter to the President urging him to stand up to Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) and his proposal to privatize Medicare.

"The House Republican budget for Fiscal Year 2012 would end Medicare as we know it and throw seniors into the private market with no more than an insufficient voucher to offset the rising cost of private health insurance," a draft of the letter, which was first reported by Greg Sargent, reads. "So-called 'premium support' - giving seniors a voucher of approximately $8,000 as proposed by the Republican budget - is a reckless and irresponsible way to address the health care needs of older Americans."

In addition to warning of the effect the proposal is projected by the CBO to have on seniors, many of whom would see much higher medical costs and potential difficulty finding insurance at all, the Brown letter condemns GOP efforts to repeal "the only credible means of restraining health care costs - the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act."

Brown's effort comes as some on the left are fretting that the White House could propose its own significant cuts to Medicare in Obama's speech tomorrow.

OH-SEN

As Kasich Sinks, Dem. Senator's Reelection Odds Get A Big Boost

Jon Terbush | March 16, 2011, 12:26PM

Gov. John Kasich (R-OH) and Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH)

Just two months ago, Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) looked vulnerable to defeat heading into 2012. But now, amid a state-level showdown over union rights that has energized voters and sent Republican Gov. John Kasich's approval rating into a tailspin, a new PPP poll of registered voters finds Brown suddenly dominating a slate of potential Republican challengers.

In December, polls showed Brown in a precarious position, barely leading relatively unknown Republicans in hypothetical 2012 contests. But in the latest survey, Brown has suddenly shot ahead of his GOP rivals, such that he now leads each of them by double-digit margins; his lead over one challenger exploded from a miniscule 2 points in December to 19 in the latest poll.

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Progressives

New Report Ranks 'Most Liberal', 'Most Conservative' Members of Congress

Evan McMorris-Santoro | February 25, 2011, 9:40AM

Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Sen. John McCain (R-AZ)

Democratic Senators Sherrod Brown (OH), Barbara Mikulski (MD) and Harry Reid (NV) were among "the most liberal" Senators last year, according to new rankings by National Journal. Republican Sens. John McCain (AZ), Jim DeMint (SC) and John Thune (SD) were among the most conservative.

National Journal is out with its annual congressional voting record rankings, which track the voting patterns of the 535 members of the House and Senate. The takeaway? Congress in 2010 was the most polarized it has been in close to 30 years. Parties in Congress are increasingly working in "virtual lockstep," which the magazine's political guru, Ron Brownstein described as the "decline of individualism in Congress" and the rise of a "a more top-down, parliamentary-style institution."

But there are still members on both sides who represent the outer edge of the party's ideological leanings. Here are National Journal's top conservative and liberal leaders in each chamber.

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Manufacturing

Sherrod Brown: Obama Is Disappointing On Manufacturing

Brian Beutler | February 22, 2011, 9:36AM

Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH)

President Obama will arrive in Cleveland Tuesday for a series of small business events with entrepreneurs and members of his own cabinet.

But the Democratic senator from that state is unhappy with Obama's performance on this score thus far -- particularly when it comes to promoting manufacturing. And he's taking his critique public.

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Sherrod Brown

Sherrod Brown Backs Dems In Wisconsin -- And Encourages Hardball In Ohio

Brian Beutler | February 18, 2011, 1:49PM

Sherrod Brown (D-OH)

Ohio's senior senator praised state Democrats in Wisconsin on Friday for taking a firm stand against legislation to roll back public worker rights. And he said he expects to see similar opposition from Dems in his own state to legislation making its way through the Ohio legislature that mirrors the controversial Wisconsin bill.

"I think they're going to fight back, and I think they're figuring right now what to do," Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) told me during an interview in his Capitol Hill office.

Brown, a progressive, and committed supporter of organized labor, said that the only way for Democrats to beat back Republican plans to end collective bargaining for public sector workers is by maximizing their leverage.

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Health Care

Republicans Hide Health Care Law Benefits From Their Constituents

Brian Beutler | February 2, 2011, 10:22AM

House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY)

Two days after a Republican Florida federal court judge voided the entire health care law, the multi-front Republican war against it continues in the Senate, where members will vote today on whether or not to just repeal it, full stop.

Simultaneously, Republican members are trying to sneak grenades into the heart of the law, crafting modifications which they admit are meant to destroy it.

But that presents them with a conundrum when they head back to their states and districts and face constituents who stand to benefit from the law right now -- seniors who are entitled to free checkups, and young adults, who can now stay on their parents' insurance until they turn 26, for example. Republicans can chose to help those constituents navigate the law -- answer their questions constructively, encourage them to seek those benefits -- or they can let their political agendas interfere.

Different strokes for different folks.

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Social Security

Democrats Identify Tea Party Caucus As Key Threat To Social Security

Brian Beutler | January 27, 2011, 2:05PM

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT)

A group of Senate Democrats has identified the new Tea Party caucuses in the House and Senate as existential threats to Social Security, and are aligning to create a bulwark against them. They're pressing President Obama to re-engage and get on their side of the issue, and they have some muscle in the form of their message guru, Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY).

"We're not crying wolf here," Schumer told reporters in the Dirksen Senate office building after a meeting of liberal members. "This is a serious movement to undo the most successful government program in the 20th century."

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2012 elections

PPP Poll: Sherrod Brown Faces Tough Reelection Fight In Ohio

Jon Terbush | December 15, 2010, 3:13PM

Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH)

Is Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) in big trouble in 2012?

In a PPP poll released today, Brown is tied in a hypothetical rematch with Mike DeWine, whom he beat by 12 points four years ago. Perhaps more concerning for Brown, he barely edges three other potential challengers despite the fact that they are each virtually unknown to over 60% of the electorate.

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Bernie Sanders

Sanders Ends Daylong Filibuster Of Tax Cut Compromise

Brian Beutler | December 10, 2010, 1:47PM

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT)

Updated 7:22 p.m. ET

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) finally yielded the Senate floor Friday evening after nearly nine hours of speaking against the Obama tax cut plan. He was spelled briefly by Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA) but otherwise had the floor to himself for the bulk of a day when there was no other Senate business pending.

Original Story:

About three hours ago, just as he took the Senate floor, Sen. Bernie Sanders' (I-VT) staff, tweeted: "You can call what i am doing today whatever you want, you it [sic] call it a filibuster, you can call it a very long speech..."

And he's been speaking, almost uninterrupted, ever since.

[TPM SLIDESHOW: Block That Bill! A History Of The Filibuster]

It's a filibuster as filibusters were originally intended -- and, as such, makes a mockery of what the filibuster's become: a gimmick that allows a minority of senators to quietly impose supermajority requirements on any piece of legislation.

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Bush Tax Cuts

Schumer: Large Appetite To Fight Even If All Bush Tax Cuts Expire

Brian Beutler | December 4, 2010, 12:09PM

Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY)

At a press conference this morning after Senate Republicans blocked a bid to let Bush tax cuts for wealthy Americans expire, Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said a large number of Democrats are prepared to continue this fight into next year, even if it means all the Bush tax cuts sunset as scheduled.

In response to a question from TPM, Schumer acknowledged, "there are lots of people in our caucus who do have that appetite. There are some who don't."

As he said that, several members joining him on stage -- Mark Begich (D-AK), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Al Franken (D-MN), and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) -- nodded in agreement.

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Financial Reform

Progressives Drive Hard Bargain On Wall Street Bill

Brian Beutler | May 11, 2010, 1:27PM

Sen. Ted Kaufman (D-DE)

At just about every stage of the Senate financial reform process, the changes to the bill have trended towards the left--and that may well be borne out again if Democrats successfully add provision to the bill that will, among other things, ban big banks from using their own capital to engage in market speculation.

The provision is called the Volcker Rule--named after former Fed Chair Paul Volcker who now heads the President Obama's Economic Recovery Advisory Board. Currently, two Democratic senators--Carl Levin (D-MI) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR)--are pushing to add the rule to the Wall Street reform legislation and have built up quite a head of steam. That development was not a sure thing even a few days ago but with the political climate so anti-Wall Street even progressives' failures can turn into successes, which is what sort of happened with the Volcker Rule.

Last week, Sens. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Ted Kauffman (D-DE) pushed hard to get their very progressive 'too big to fail' amendment passed. Even though it failed it helped pave the way to enshrining the Volcker rule in the bill.

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Financial Reform

The Top 4 Things To Watch In The Senate Floor Debate On Financial Reform

Brian Beutler | May 3, 2010, 9:04AM

Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA), Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) , Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Sen. Christopher Dodd (D-CT)

The next few days will likely determine how smoothly the White House's push to strengthen the rules governing Wall Street will go down. Starting early this week, the Senate will begin voting on amendments to the Democrats' proposed financial regulatory reform bill. Republicans will get a chance to pull the legislation to the right. Progressives will try to tighten it in a few key ways. And the results of those votes will clarify a). how strongly, if at all, Republicans will fight the bill; b). how pleased the White House will be with the final product; and c). how easy it will be to reconcile with the House legislation, which passed last December.

There will be many votes on many amendments, but here are four to keep an eye on:

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Financial Reform

No Deal Yet But Dems And GOP Sound Hopeful On Sunday Shows

Christina Bellantoni | April 25, 2010, 11:12AM

Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT) speaks with Sen. Richard Shelby (R-AL) on Capitol Hill.

Despite round-the-clock talks between Sen. Chris Dodd and Sen. Richard Shelby there's no bipartisan deal on financial regulatory reform, but leaders on both sides said Sunday they are hopeful they can come together.

In a sharp contrast from the rancorous tone on last week's Sunday shows, Republicans and Democrats alike said today there is good momentum to agree on legislation soon, even though everyone agreed they aren't there "yet."

"It might be later this week, it might be next week, but the main thing is to get a good bill," Shelby (R-AL), the ranking member of the Banking Committee, said today on NBC's "Meet the Press." Shelby and Dodd made a rare joint appearance on the show, a move that Capitol Hill aides thought would lead to the announcement of a final agreement allowing the Senate to move forward Monday as planned.

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Sunday Shows

The Sunday Show Line-Ups

Eric Kleefeld | April 23, 2010, 3:29PM

Austan Goolsbee, Chief Economist on the Economic Recovery Advisory Board

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

• ABC, This Week: White House Economic Adviser Austan Goolsbee, Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Sen. Bob Corker (R-TN).

• CBS, Face The Nation: National Economic Council Director Lawrence Summers.

• CNN, State Of The Union: Gov. Jennifer Granholm (D-MI), Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-GA), Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ).

• Fox News Sunday: National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform Co-Chairs Alan Simpson and Erskine Bowles.

• NBC, Meet The Press: Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT), Sen. Richard Shelby (R-AL).

Health Care

Dems: It Will Improve! Party Promises To Build On Watered-Down Health Care Reform

Christina Bellantoni | March 11, 2010, 1:23PM

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV)

Senate Democrats are trying to reassure progressives and House members that voting for the more conservative Senate health care bill doesn't mean things can't be improved later. They point to major historic policy changes such as Social Security and Medicare when the bills were passed with their most watered-down provisions and later bolstered, drawing parallels between those battles and the health care fight.

The public option is the most frequently cited regret for many senators, some who continue to press for it to be included in a final package. But Democrats acknowledge that while they might not get it this go-around, they aren't giving up. Several progressives in recent days have cited the late Sen. Ted Kennedy, who said the battle for health care reform "never ends."

"We're not done," Sen. Sherrod Brown told reporters, pundits and bloggers at the Progressive Media Summit yesterday.

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2010 elections

Progressives: Punish Lincoln! Sen. Sherrod Brown: Stay Tuned!

Christina Bellantoni | March 10, 2010, 4:22PM

Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH)

Senate Democrats attempted to reassure riled up progressive pundits today that conservaDems might indeed pay a price next January when the caucus decides who will - and won't - keep their leadership positions.

TPMDC and other news outlets are in attendance at the Progressive Media Summit on Capitol Hill, hosted by the Senate Democrats. Some here, including John Aravosis and MSNBC's Ed Schultz, are treating it as a forum to tell the Senators what they are doing wrong.

Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) told the group he understands frustration that some Democrats "don't have the backbone we wish they had." After the Democrats were asked why the leadership doesn't strip Sen. Blanche Lincoln of her Agriculture Committee chairmanship, Brown chimed in and said that might be coming next year.

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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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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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Public Option

How Outside Groups And Vulnerable Dems Gave The Public Option A New Pulse

Brian Beutler | February 23, 2010, 10:37AM

Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO), Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV)

The public option has been alive, then dead, then alive, then dead so many times now it's enough to make your head spin. Right now it's somewhere in between--an undead public option, still beloved by a large majority of Democrats, but, for now, lacking the political leadership needed to usher it through the legislative process. Nevertheless, the fact that it has a pulse is remarkable in and of itself...so how did we get here all over again? Though the latest action is all in the Senate, the momentum re-emerged in the House.

"We had heard on the House side that [Colorado Rep. Jared] Polis was talking behind the scenes with folks about why a public option wasn't being pushed," says Adam Green, co-founder of the Progressive Change Campaign Committee--one of several progressive pressure groups (including Democracy for America, and Credo) pushing the public option.

That touched off a symbiotic relationship. If Polis, and fellow public option supporter Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-ME) would work the inside game in the House, the groups would build pressure from the outside, and together they could build a formidable list of signatories to a letter.

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Budget

Brown Hits Back On White House Spending Freeze Push

Brian Beutler | January 26, 2010, 4:11PM

Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH)

Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) isn't mincing words about the White House's push to freeze domestic discretionary spending. The Ohio progressive took direct aim today at the idea and its supporters, who he suggested are largely the reason the country faces such major fiscal imbalances in the first place.

"I don't think much of it," Brown told reporters.

Start with this: The people who have been most outspoken about debt are the people most responsible for it.... The people, as I said, who have been most outspoken against the budget deficit have been those that voted for the Iraq war, and charged it to our kids, those who voted for the giveaway to the drug and insurance industry in 2003 and charged it to our kids, and those who voted who tax cuts for the rich and charged it to our kids, and those who ignored infrastructure needs in this country for a decade and charged that to our kids. And they come and they're screaming the loudest about the balanced budget. And that disturbs me.

His statements reflect the mood of many progressives, who have reacted poorly to yesterday's news.

Health Care

Can They Get It Done? With Health Care Reform On The Line, The Senate Waffles

Brian Beutler | January 26, 2010, 3:56PM

Sen. Kent Conrad (D-ND)

The clear consensus among leading Democrats is that the only true way forward on health care is for the House to pass the Senate's bill with a separate, guaranteed bill, or bills, making major changes to key aspects of it. And with Democrats down to 59 votes in the Senate, those changes would have to be passed via the budget reconciliation process, which circumvents the filibuster.

Progressives support the idea, but key questions remain--including whether the Senate can, or will take the necessary steps to make that happen.

Already, a number of conservative Democrats have come forward to say they oppose the proposed solutions outright. Others, including Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE) and Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) have said they prefer different approaches. And for the plan to hold, Democrats could lose no more than 9 members.

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Health Care

Sherrod Brown: Still No Health Care Reform Strategy

Brian Beutler | January 22, 2010, 5:23PM

Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH)

Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) is engaged with House progressives, trying to tease out a solution to the health care reform impasse--but he says that at the highest levels of the Senate and the White House, there's still no plan, and he doubts whether President Obama will insert himself forcefully into the process.

Brown, who traveled with Obama today in Ohio, tells me "I've talked to Reid, I've talked to Obama. Unclear yet what the strategy is, but clear interest, strong interest in getting as strong a bill as we can get."

One of the problems with the so-called Plan B approach, wherein the House passes the Senate bill, and then an amendment package is advanced through a filibuster-proof process, is that it's unclear whether the entire fix bill can survive the so-called budget reconciliation process.

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Health Care

Brown: Public Option Or No, I'm Voting For This Health Care Bill

Brian Beutler | December 15, 2009, 8:04PM

Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH)

Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) says he's in for health care reform, even though his key initiative--the public option--and all of its alternatives, have been swept into the dust bin.

"I'm going to vote for it," Brown told reporters. "I can't imagine I wouldn't. I mean there's too much at stake. And it's not at me, it's not about any senator, it's not about Lieberman, it's not about Harry Reid."

I asked Brown if he'd challenged Lieberman on his opposition to the public option and the buy-in.

"In the meeting with the President, I just made a direct appeal to him...I answered the arguments I've heard him make from your reporting: that it's revenue neutral, that it doesn't hurt Medicare," Brown said.

So what of the fact that Lieberman supported the buy-in as recently as three months ago?

"That's for him and his...that's for him to figure out.

Health Care

Senators Mum On Public Option Negotiations

Brian Beutler | December 6, 2009, 4:05PM

Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE), Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY)

The jury is still out on whether President Obama has cinched 60 needed votes for health care legislation. But before there's any clarity liberal and conservative Democrats will have to reach accord on the public option--an issue Obama eschewed in his presentation to the caucus this afternoon. So where are things now?

With the blessing of leadership, and the help of Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY), liberal and conservative Democrats are continuing to meet to find a solution. "I called and personally asked five moderates and five progressives to work things out and the issues that they care a lot about: Public option, small business," Reid said at a press conference after a rare Sunday caucus meeting. "And they've had, I don't know how many meetings, but many."

"Progress is being made and that's not just talk. They've made a lot of progress."

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Harry Reid

Face Off: Liberal And Conservative Democrats Huddle To Reach Public Option Compromise

Brian Beutler | December 4, 2009, 6:32PM

Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE), Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY)

It's crunch time! In a rare face-to-face meeting between conservative and liberals members, a number of key Democrats huddled behind closed doors tonight to discuss the public option in the hopes of reaching some sort of compromise in time to salvage the health care bill.

On hand were Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY)--who's been trying to broker a compromise between competing factions for months--Sen. Tom Carper (D-DE)--who's been floating a potential compromise modeled on Olympia Snowe's trigger--and Sens. Jay Rockefeller (D-WV), Russ Feingold (D-WI), Tom Harkin (D-IA), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Mark Pryor (D-AR), Mary Landrieu (D-LA), and Ben Nelson (D-NE).

According to Rockefeller, the range of views is an indication that things are coming down to the wire.

"There's no question about that," Rockefeller told reporters. "This should have started a long time ago and thankfully Harry Reid caught it in time to put us together."

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Health Care

Landrieu: Public Option Skepticism Rooted In Fierce PR Campaign

Brian Beutler | December 4, 2009, 9:36AM

Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA), Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-AR), Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE)

Conservative and moderate Democrats met with Sen. Tom Carper (D-DE) last night to discuss possible changes to the Senate health care bill, including the potential need for a public option compromise.

Attending the meeting were key health care swing votes Sens. Ben Nelson (D-NE), Mary Landrieu (D-LA), Joe Lieberman (I-CT) and Blanche Lincoln (D-AR), and a number of freshman Democrats, including Kay Hagan (D-NC) and Mark Begich (D-AK).

The meeting resulted in few revelations, or major developments--"Generally speaking I didn't hear anything that changes my mind," Lieberman told reporters. But afterwards, I asked Landrieu whether she's concerned that Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH)--a public option stalwart--might not be willing to compromise on the public option any further.

"Senator Brown knows what we know, that we've just got to try to find a way forward, and we're going to continue to work with him," Landrieu said. "He's put in a tremendous amount of time and effort."

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Health Care

Brown: No Negotiations On The Public Option, As Far As I'm Concerned

Brian Beutler | December 3, 2009, 4:22PM

Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH)

One of the most dogged public option advocates in the Senate--and a key liaison between progressives and leadership--says no way, no how to yet another compromise.

"There's no negotiations as far as I'm concerned," insisted Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH). "We've compromised the public option three times, maybe four, depending on how you define it. This bill is not going to continue to become more pro-insurance company."

So the opt out is where you draw the line?

"Yeah, the opt out was not our first choice. Delinking from Medicare was not our first choice," Brown said.

Several conservative Democrats have entrenched their positions against the public option, and have threatened to filibuster the health care bill if it's not further compromised

"I think in the end that none of my colleagues want to be on the wrong side of history," Brown said. "I think that no Democrat wants to kill the most important bill in their political lives--in their careers--on a procedural vote."

That creates some complicated math. With Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) insisting that he'll filibuster any bill that includes public option of any kind--even a trigger--Reid has a maximum of 59 votes in his caucus for a health care bill. That means to retain a public option at all Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME) must be brought aboard, and she's said the measure must be changed to a trigger of some sort.

Brown says he won't be helping in that effort: "I'm not drawing a line in the sand. I am not part of any effort to give the insurance companies more."

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Health Care

With Health Reform At Stake, Senators Scramble To Reach Public Option Compromise

Brian Beutler | December 3, 2009, 2:12PM

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

Key Democrats in the Senate, accompanied by party leadership, are bearing down on a solution to the public option problem that has dogged the caucus for months now. They're holding a constant series of meetings, bringing liberals and conservatives together to reach a compromise--seemingly modeled on a trigger--that can garner 60 votes. And interestingly, one key public option supporter seems pleased.

"There's sort of a new initiative on the public option, which is highly useful, without saying anything more about it," said Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-WV). "There's going to be a group of people representing various points of view who are going to just closet themselves and try and resolve this so we can have something on the floor that can pass," he said.

"It's been taking place, it's ongoing, several different rooms, several different groups," said Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin.

Included in the meeting, according to Durbin, are the well-known public option skeptics, and, on the other side of the party, Sens. Sherrod Brown (D-OH), and Bernie Sanders (I-VT).

"I'm doing my best to do what I can do," Sanders said.

"It's one of the two, i think, really critical issues remaining, with the issue of abortion," Durbin said.

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Ben Nelson

Carper: With Blessing From Leadership, We Will File A Public Option Amendment

Brian Beutler | December 1, 2009, 4:25PM

Sen. Thomas Carper (D-DE)

On the Saturday before Thanksgiving recess, the Senate agreed to debate a health care bill, which includes a public option with a state opt-out clause, and Democratic leaders were in early discussions with moderates--who have made their objections to the opt-out perfectly clear--on an alternative proposed by Sen. Tom Carper (D-DE). With the Senate back in session, it seems those negotiations are continuing.

Carper will soon be meeting with conservative Democrats to discuss the progress of the alternative. "[Senator Carper] got something set for tomorrow night," Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE) told me. "we'll know more then, hopefully."

Carper demurred on the exact date and time of the meeting, but indicated that discussions continue apace, and that he will move ahead with an amendment once leadership gives him the high sign. "I'm not sure that there's a meeting tomorrow--I lose track of these things," Carper said in response to a question from TPMDC. "We'll certainly file an amendment--if encouraged by our leadership."

"I think--at the end--the reason why we're going through this effort is to try to find a way to get to 60," Carper said.

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Harry Reid

What Did We Learn From Saturday's Health Care Vote

Brian Beutler | November 23, 2009, 11:50AM

Senators Nelson (D-NE) and Lieberman (I-CT)

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid got his 60 on Saturday, and when the Senate returns from Thanksgiving recess next week, they'll be debating and amending a major piece of health care legislation. However, the vote, and its aftermath exposed or clarified the cleavages within the Democratic party that will have to be bridged if Reid hopes to keep his caucus in line on the next cloture motion--to end a Republican filibuster and hold a simple majority vote on reform.

If you thought the opt-out compromise was a silver bullet for the public option, you may have gotten a bit ahead of yourself. It held up for a while, and could still survive, but that's going to require some interesting gymnastics from Democratic leaders. Leading up to Saturday's vote, and in its immediate aftermath, conservative Democrats entrenched their opposition to the public option in the Senate bill. Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) repeated his threat to support a health care filibuster if it includes a public option of any kind, and, despite her earlier support for the provision, Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) took to the Senate floor Saturday and announced, "I'm promising my colleagues that I'm prepared to vote against moving to the next stage of consideration as long as a government-run public option is included." That gives her a bit more wiggle room than Lieberman's left himself, and Sens. Mary Landrieu (D-LA) and Ben Nelson (D-NE) have a bit more still, but that makes 60 for the opt out a tough climb. On the other side of the caucus, though, Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), and Roland Burris (D-IL) have inched closer to threatening to block a health care bill from the left if the public option is weakened further. If reform is to pass, one side of the caucus will have to hold its collective nose and vote for something they don't like.

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