THE PLANK SEPTEMBER 4, 2009
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For a late Friday afternoon on the cusp of Labor Day, there's actually a lot of meaty health care reform news today.
Item #1: Chuck Todd reports that President Obama is likely to embrace a compromise on the public option: a trigger, under which it would go into effect "in any state where fewer than 95 percent of people have access to affordable coverage." My reaction: I'm okay with the policy, love the politics. This is Olympia Snowe's idea, and politically speaking, any Olympia Snowe idea is a good idea.
Item #2: Max Baucus -- again! -- has told his fellow members of the Gang of Six that it's time to either make a health care bill or not. Here's the New York Times:
The chairman of the Senate Finance Committee told colleagues on Friday that he would soon lay down a proposal for a sweeping overhaul of the nation’s health care system.
The chairman, Senator Max Baucus, Democrat of Montana, signaled his intentions in a telephone conference call with five other committee members who have been struggling for months to forge a bipartisan bill, according to an official familiar with the call.
The official said Mr. Baucus had told the group that he was going to present some sort of formal chairman’s mark, or proposal, as early as Saturday. In doing so, he would taking a big step toward forcing a final decision by the group as to whether it sees any realistic prospect of a bipartisan agreement.
“I am committed to getting health care reform done — done soon and done right,” Mr. Baucus said in a statement. ...
The official familiar with Friday’s conference call said there was a clear sense that Mr. Baucus was trying to move to an endgame, and that Republicans would have to decide whether to go to the next stage of the legislative process. In that stage, known as a mark-up, the full committee can debate, amend and rewrite legislation before it goes to the Senate floor.
I've been fooled before by Baucus moving toward closure and then wimping out. This report from the Washington Post, though, seems a bit more definitive:
A bipartisan team of Senate negotiators trying to craft a compromise health reform package aimed at winning support from both parties held a "productive" discussion Friday, their leader said, and will convene again next week to determine whether they can reach a deal or will have to abandon their efforts. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) made clear that he is committed to moving forward with health reform legislation "in the near future" with or without an agreement among the six negotiators, according to a source close to the discussions.
Will Baucus actually follow through this time?
7 comments
- No comments? Is this thing working? On Item #1: "This is Olympia Snowe's idea, and politically speaking, any Olympia Snowe idea is a good idea." Yes sir but I think the Snow strategy is more than '1 vote'. She's running a sort of interference for both Republicans and Democrats who are hanging in the center. The hinge of this sort of legislation is always in Finance and I can't imagine Baucus (in Item #2) letting this slip away easily after accepting the risk over a year ago. Further, all the ugliness we saw last month was bound to be on display at both extremes in reaction to any bill so in a sense we know the strategy for the longer assault which will go on as long as Obama is in. On Item #2: "Will Baucus actually follow through this time?" If not "this time", no, I don't see Baucus bailing on about the only thing he'll be known for. Again, Snowe isn't the only Republican or recalcitrant Democrat who has a price for some level of cooperation. Final legislation is going to be a bandwagon for the future, it's the nature of conservatives to be late to the party and join in with the "For He's A Jolly Good Fellow". So, I'm still betting on Obama.* Wednesday night could be anti-climatic or premature because the critical mass looks as though it's down to Finance and a compromise. Oh, I do not think Nate Silver's baseball analogy (the Democrats are down 5-4 in the 9th) is as fitting as basketball analogy: We're down to the final few possessions and the Republican defense has kept Obama out of his game. But they've had to foul him in the process and he'll have a clearer path to the basket or end up at the free throw line so his team should get him the ball. Ultimately we will see how gut wrenching the next three years will be. Re-read "The Audacity Of Hope" and see how often his solutions mean pissing people off is probably a given, on the road to success. Neither the primary nor the Autumn run was a display for the faint of heart. * Do not bet against Barack Obama. -
- michael
September 5, 2009 at 11:46am
- _______________ Sep 5 10:39 AM US/Eastern By RICARDO ALONSO-ZALDIVAR Associated Press Writer In a call from Camp David, the presidential retreat in the Maryland, Obama spoke to leaders of the Congressional Progressive Caucus and other liberal-leaning House groups. The caucus leader, Rep. Lynn Woolsey, D-Calif., said the lawmakers expressed their commitment to creation of a government-run plan to compete with private health insurers. On Thursday, they sent Obama a letter saying they could not support a health bill that lacked such a public option. Woolsey said Obama listened, asked questions and said discussions should continue. She said a follow-up meeting will occur next week at the White House. Another participant said the president was noncommittal about the government-run plan. ________________ Heh, "Obama listened, asked questions and said discussions should continue." I think that's a polite way of saying, "I'm sort of tied up with Finance...I'll let you know how that turns out." #1. I really am amazed how stupid most of the house seems to be when it comes to how the senate works. #2. Am I the only person who believes Hillary would have had more value than "One Vote" and poses and interesting what-if, had she stayed to fight this battle? -
- michael
September 5, 2009 at 12:27pm
yeah, interesting question Kevin, but the political upside of Hillary at State has been huge. I also agree with you that the chances of their being a bill passed are higher than not. Part of my reasoning is I watched Bill Kristol on Fox this morning saying how this bill is dead, and considering how wrong Kristol has been about just about everything I actually felt better about the prospects. He seems to have no idea that Democrats know if they don't pass it the Republicans will pummel them next year, it is as though he can't imagine Dems learned anytheing from 1994.
- blackton
September 6, 2009 at 7:57pm
- blackton wrote, "yeah, interesting question Kevin,..." Kevin? On my machine, I didn't see a question from Kevin... -
- michael
September 7, 2009 at 9:22am
sorry Michael, a co-worker by the name of Kevin was in my office when I was typing this and I had a mind fart, so there is a logical explanation for it. But still, sorry.
- blackton
September 7, 2009 at 11:08am
- RE: Kevin Konfusion That's a relief! The new design here combined with my fast track to paranoia had me wondering if I wasn't seeing all the replies. And to add to your comment, it appears Kristol and Dick Morris hope that combining their brains results in more wattage. But we all know what happens when one tries 0 + 0 ..... -
- michael
September 7, 2009 at 11:31am
yeah, I don't like having to open another window just to reply, it was so much easier to scroll up to what people wrote. In fact, in all the tubes that have reply functions this is the only one that requires a new window to reply (that I obviously know of). Beyond Snowe I think Collins might be another Republican on board, essentially they and the blue dogs are all that represent the loyal opposition to the regular Democrats. I just hope Obama can pass most of his agenda by next year because 2010 won't be that pretty. (not a disaster but enough to end any progressive agenda).
- blackton
September 7, 2009 at 2:53pm