PrintOn "Meet the Press" just now, Howard Dean took a few steps back from the ledge. He said that Harry Reid's manager's amendment improved the bill, by requiring insurance companies to spend more money on patient care and by restoring a little power to the independent Medicare commission.* And while he's still not happy with the Senate health care bill, he focused his remarks on the need to improve it conference committee, even opening the door (ever so slightly) to the possibility of supporting a bill with no public option.
My position is let’s see what they add to this bill and make it work. If they can make it work without a public option, I’m all ears. I don’t think that’s possible. … I hope this isn’t the compromise that’s been achieved. I think we have yet to see the compromise that we could achieve.
This strikes me as a far more sensible position, similar to the one Andy Stern took earlier in the week. The Senate bill isn't going to change while it's on the Senate floor. But it can change, at least a little bit, when it goes to conference committee. The way to make that happen is to talk up the House bill, which gets far too little respect in Washington, and to demand that the conference report reflect its influence.
*For more on what happened with the commission, read Karen Tumulty.
COMMENTS (9)
Dean is right-on. This near-disaster of a Senate bill need be fixed sooner (November 2010) than later, if Democrats are to avoid serious loss of House and Senate seats. If the current Senate version were to be the final bill sent to Obama, insurance costs will probably immediately go up for most Anmericans --- and most cost-reductions are only possibilities to come after 2003. A mandate to purchase more expensive insurance for those that don't get subsidies??? Good luck with selling that. If some of the political and policy disasters can begin to be fixed at this time in Conference, go for it. If not, Progressives need take a page from the "pro-life" page book of tactics -- tack health-c ... view full comment
Dean is right-on. This near-disaster of a Senate bill need be fixed sooner (November 2010) than later, if Democrats are to avoid serious loss of House and Senate seats. If the current Senate version were to be the final bill sent to Obama, insurance costs will probably immediately go up for most Anmericans --- and most cost-reductions are only possibilities to come after 2003. A mandate to purchase more expensive insurance for those that don't get subsidies??? Good luck with selling that. If some of the political and policy disasters can begin to be fixed at this time in Conference, go for it. If not, Progressives need take a page from the "pro-life" page book of tactics -- tack health-care amendments onto every conceivable bill. You want $100B for partial funding of a non-winnable Afghan war?? Fine-- and here's $100B also for Medicare Part E(verybody). What sources of funds are you going to use?? Use the funds for US as well as Afghani citizens. Progressives should start seriously use of reconciliation --or better yet, the nuclear option. Both take a bare majority to implement. If Republicans were in power at present, and wanted something badly, they'd surely be using one or both parliamentary maneuvers. Fire any Parliamentarian that doesn't agree on a point-- that's what Tom Delay did. You think Republicans would not go to a nuclear option if they wanted to repeal health care??.You're in LaLa land if you think they wouldn't.. Repeal is NOT difficult if the bill is not an obvious success. It takes a majority in both houses. Republicans may be insane and not know how to govern, but they do have guts that Democratic Progressives have not shown to date in the Legislative or Executive branches (with the possible exception of Pelosi).
gdbitner, sorry, but no way. I hope they simply ram the Senate bill through the house and avoid committee entirely, and get the bill on Obama's desk before SOTU.
And like there is not enough gridlock in Washington without so called progressives acting infantile. There is a reason why the Republicans didn't push through the nuclear option, and it is because they knew the Democrats could shut the Senate down.
Look, we live in a Democracy, this bill is about as good as we can get. I simply don't understand the delusion of the move onners that there is somehow a progressive majority in the United States. There isn't, not even close, so I hope these people get their head out of their asses and sto ... view full comment
gdbitner, sorry, but no way. I hope they simply ram the Senate bill through the house and avoid committee entirely, and get the bill on Obama's desk before SOTU.
And like there is not enough gridlock in Washington without so called progressives acting infantile. There is a reason why the Republicans didn't push through the nuclear option, and it is because they knew the Democrats could shut the Senate down.
Look, we live in a Democracy, this bill is about as good as we can get. I simply don't understand the delusion of the move onners that there is somehow a progressive majority in the United States. There isn't, not even close, so I hope these people get their head out of their asses and stop pretending that they understand the legislative process better than the people in power.
I agree with Hacker in the other posting, sometimes you have to take it or otherwise we will get worse than nothing, hell keep up this nonsense and we might get Republicans back in the White House in 2012.
While I don't agree that the process should stop here (some good things can come out of conference), I agree with blackton that the anger and histrionics of progressives will end up hurting the cause. The Repubs pay no price if all of the discussion is about how the dems failed. The message needs to be that Joe Lieberman and others cared little about a majority of Americans who support a public option and that many will be hurt by an ideologically bankrupt party that obstructed the process for obstruction's sake. Obama should not insult us with false praise of the end result. The message needs to be this was all that could be done given political realities and that the effort must continue.
While I don't agree that the process should stop here (some good things can come out of conference), I agree with blackton that the anger and histrionics of progressives will end up hurting the cause. The Repubs pay no price if all of the discussion is about how the dems failed. The message needs to be that Joe Lieberman and others cared little about a majority of Americans who support a public option and that many will be hurt by an ideologically bankrupt party that obstructed the process for obstruction's sake. Obama should not insult us with false praise of the end result. The message needs to be this was all that could be done given political realities and that the effort must continue.
Blackton. Give up every chance you can-=-- and you will geatly assist a Republican recovery.
Blackton. Give up every chance you can-=-- and you will geatly assist a Republican recovery.
gdbittner, I understand your frustration, I think a mandate without a public option is horrible, but do you really believe after all of this past year, with all of the misrepresentations by the Republicans, that throwing in the towel and pretending that next time things will be all right is realistic? As jabrib pointed out, this will devolve into Republicans becoming more entrenched, and after the midterms, wherein the Dems are going to lose seats pretty much no matter what now and only now is the time.
And spare me the progressive whine how this is a huge payoff to insurance companies, so is Food stamps to Agribusiness but at the end of the day the important thing is people in need get fed ... view full comment
gdbittner, I understand your frustration, I think a mandate without a public option is horrible, but do you really believe after all of this past year, with all of the misrepresentations by the Republicans, that throwing in the towel and pretending that next time things will be all right is realistic? As jabrib pointed out, this will devolve into Republicans becoming more entrenched, and after the midterms, wherein the Dems are going to lose seats pretty much no matter what now and only now is the time.
And spare me the progressive whine how this is a huge payoff to insurance companies, so is Food stamps to Agribusiness but at the end of the day the important thing is people in need get fed and with this bill people in need will get health insurance. Now are you prepared honestly to screw over people over your theory of what might be if everything goes according to what you believe is possible?
So blackton, what about caucus members that seemed to want to torpedo this deal just for kicks? I'm talking about Lieberman. There has to be some kind of return of his "favor". He acted too often out of spite and got nothing but a pat on the head so far. Shouldn't he pay some kind of price? The GOP would have never allowed that to happen in their ranks. Why should the Democrats? Differences in the caucus yes, but that kind of show?
So blackton, what about caucus members that seemed to want to torpedo this deal just for kicks? I'm talking about Lieberman. There has to be some kind of return of his "favor". He acted too often out of spite and got nothing but a pat on the head so far. Shouldn't he pay some kind of price? The GOP would have never allowed that to happen in their ranks. Why should the Democrats? Differences in the caucus yes, but that kind of show?
tnmats, I feel the same way as you, and there hasn't been anyone better here in asking tough questions than you, but if Lieberman votes yes on cloture and yes on final passage then in my book all is forgiven (except in 2012 when I will donate to whatever Dem. wins the primary since I am sure he is arrogant enough to stay independent). If he sinks it, then I agree we have to run him out, strip him of every committee seat and let him caucus with the Republicans and be lowest man in the Senate. This is literally a once in a lifetime kind of bill, one that will have generational impacts and will move us to be a society where health care is considered a right and not a privilege. If it means kiss ... view full comment
tnmats, I feel the same way as you, and there hasn't been anyone better here in asking tough questions than you, but if Lieberman votes yes on cloture and yes on final passage then in my book all is forgiven (except in 2012 when I will donate to whatever Dem. wins the primary since I am sure he is arrogant enough to stay independent). If he sinks it, then I agree we have to run him out, strip him of every committee seat and let him caucus with the Republicans and be lowest man in the Senate. This is literally a once in a lifetime kind of bill, one that will have generational impacts and will move us to be a society where health care is considered a right and not a privilege. If it means kissing Lieberman's ass for another month, then so be it.
For whatever reason Democrats don't have the discipline of Republicans, maybe because Democrats are too diverse. It must be fairly easy to enforce discipline in a party that is overwhelmingly white and Christian. A Pa. democrat in Allentown is a hell of a lot different than one in Manhatten and it is only 75 miles away. Will Rogers once said he wasn't a member of any organized political party, he was a Democrat. That is still right.
My concern is the "centrists" now control the entire agenda after all of this as no repercussions will follow. And do not discount a lot of the base, the ones that knock on doors, the ones who contribute, sitting on their hands this November.
I don't care if you agree with them or not, perception is reality here. A candidate that promised hope and change didn't seem any different than same ol' same ol'. A lot of newbies that helped Dems get elected will be jaded quite seriously as they'll take it as having been shafted. Some of the goodies that were awarded the likes of Nelson will make it open season on the next bill, making Congressional pork worse than ever.
My concern is the "centrists" now control the entire agenda after all of this as no repercussions will follow. And do not discount a lot of the base, the ones that knock on doors, the ones who contribute, sitting on their hands this November.
I don't care if you agree with them or not, perception is reality here. A candidate that promised hope and change didn't seem any different than same ol' same ol'. A lot of newbies that helped Dems get elected will be jaded quite seriously as they'll take it as having been shafted. Some of the goodies that were awarded the likes of Nelson will make it open season on the next bill, making Congressional pork worse than ever.
Cross-posting:
It's called taking what the defense gives you. Not every touchdown comes off a 70-yard bomb. Most of the time, you have keep grinding out first downs.
Cross-posting:
It's called taking what the defense gives you. Not every touchdown comes off a 70-yard bomb. Most of the time, you have keep grinding out first downs.