by Mark Silva
The fulfillment of the president's promise that the health-care debate would be shown on C-SPAN is one of the mistakes that leaders have made in a stalled debate, the president has allowed, but that doesn't mean they're airing it all now.
The Hill's report on that televised encounter of President Barack Obama and Senate Democrats at the Newseum yesterday -- televised by a few, but not all, cable news networks, that is -- suggests that the president's party saved the tougher questions for later, after the cameras were rolling and pool reporters were in the room.
The president put an impassioned plug in for his health-care reform while the cameras -- he didn't come to Washington not to fight for what's right, Obama told his party's senators -- but afterward, as The Hill's Alexander Bolton tells it, senators were pinning the White House down for failing to get the bill "from Point A to Point B.''
"It wasn't a discussion about how to get from Point A to Point B; it was a discussion about the lack of a plan to get from Point A to Point B," a person who attended the meeting told The Hill. "Many of the members were frustrated, but one person really expressed his frustration."
"There was a vigorous discussion about that afterward with some of his top advisers and others," said Sen. Evan Bayh (D-Ind.). I think people were probably aware that there was no easy answer and this is being broadcast on live national television and didn't want to put him on the spot.''
Democratic leaders had planned their public question time with Obama well in advance: ""In the leadership meeting we talked about it," said Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.), who was called on for a question and is among the most endangered Democratic senators up for reelection this year. "I think the majority leader did take a list early on."
In that open session, the president said: "As we think about moving forward, I hope we don't lose sight of why we're here. We've got to finish the job on healthcare.''
But House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's plan for finishing the job isn't sitting so well with all of the senators who voted the Senate bill out by 60-39. The speaker has proposed letting the House pass the Senate-passed plan and then resolve their differences in a separate measure handled as a budget reconciliation, which would require only 51 votes in the Senate, not the 60 necessary to overcome a GOP filibuster.
"I'm not for using reconciliation for healthcare -- I'm just not." said Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.), one of the Democrats who was wooed to support the Senate bill with a boost in health-care funding for Louisiana. "If we couldn't get a bill through the Congress that had broad support, I said we shouldn't have a bill."
Comments
Health care reform is not dead, but anything comprehensive is out of the question. But a stalemate is surely coming because Dems need some sort of reform bill to pass to have a chance in the fall while the GOP cannot allow that to happen.
http://www.political-buzz.com/
Posted by: matt | February 4, 2010 8:01 AM
"I'm not for using reconciliation for healthcare -- I'm just not." said Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.)
Huh. I think Mountain Mary missed the part where her support is simply not required for a majority vote.
Posted by: Applecake | February 4, 2010 9:39 AM
Dear Dems in the House,
On Reconciliation...if you are counting on the silly "pledge letter" that Nancy is supposed to get from Reid with 52 Dem senators pledging to enact all your socialistic pipe dreams, after you pass the senate version for obama to sign . . . you can't count on that silly "pledge letter" . . . here is why you can't:
Guess what...we've found a loophole in your budget ploy. The loophole in the budget reconciliation process will allow us to offer an indefinite number of amendments. Experts on Senate procedural rules, from both parties, note that filibuster by amendments (not debate) is possible. While reconciliation rules limit debate to 20 hours, senators lack similar constraints on amendments and will continue offering them until 60 members agree to cut the process off (senators do have a life).
The former Senate Parliamentarian, Robert Dove, has said that while its absurd to think it’s a “free for all” for amendments it is nevertheless TRUE that amendments can in fact be proposed and requested as long as they are germane - “All I can tell you is that reconciliation limits debate to 20 hours, and amendments have to be germane.”
Oh...yes...you will say there may be ways that Reid can stop this or maybe the Parliamentarian could make a ruling....but you don't get it...you see you will have already voted on the bill you don't want....Nancy and Reid will have played you like a fiddle....so you must ask yourself if you can really count on the silly "pledge letter". Have a nice day.
Posted by: bywhatright | February 4, 2010 10:08 AM
So, what you are saying here, Mark, based on The Hill's article is that the REAL news of this event took place AFTER the media portion, which was basically a dog and pony show? And you had your panties in a bundle over that?? Seems like Fox News had it right.
Posted by: John D | February 4, 2010 10:12 AM
John D., exactly. The televised portion is campaign style BS. The real work is done behind closed doors, and the American public is not allowed to see that.
Posted by: Herbie H. | February 4, 2010 10:52 AM