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Specter: I Will Support Reconciliation On HCR As A Last Resort

By Big Tent Democrat, Section Other Politics
Posted on Tue Oct 27, 2009 at 05:28:05 PM EST
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I was on a call with Senator Arlen Specter today and I asked him if the Senate did not invoke cloture for a health care reform bill with a public option, would he support the use of reconciliation for passage of budget germane items while leaving non-budget germane items for passage through regular order.

Senator Specter stated that while he did not think it would come to that he would, "as a last, last, last resort," support the use of reconciliation for passage of health care reform with a public option.

Other matters were covered, in particular regarding the Supreme Court. I will write a detailed post on that later.

< Sherrod Brown: Obama Now Owns HCR | Tuesday Evening Open Thread >

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    Specter: I Will Support Reconciliation On HCR As A Last Resort | 15 comments (15 topical)

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    I think that (5.00 / 2) (#4)
    by lentinel on Tue Oct 27, 2009 at 06:09:59 PM EST
    we should focus our efforts on expanding the public option so that it will mean something.

    I am referring to Sen. Ron Wyden's efforts.

    Wyden said (quoted on C§L) : "The bottom line is that the public option can't really hold private insurers accountable if it is only competing for 10 percent of the insurance market, because private insurance companies aren't going to change their business practices if 90 percent of their customers can't take their business elsewhere.

    Simple and true.

    The fight has only just begun. Harry and Barry still need considerable pressure.

    But . . (none / 0) (#6)
    by SOS on Tue Oct 27, 2009 at 06:17:24 PM EST
    This is what we are up against . .

    The White House also has gone out of its way to cultivate another corporate group, the Business Roundtable, which is much smaller than the chamber but represents chief executives of many of the nation's largest corporations.

    "Our strategy is to reach out directly to the business community," said Valerie Jarrett, the president's liaison to the corporate world. "This is a shift. Previously, the chamber had served as the sole intermediary for business. That's not our approach."

    (Business Roundtable Opposes Public Plan Option    October 26, 2009)  

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    Great question. (none / 0) (#1)
    by lilburro on Tue Oct 27, 2009 at 05:51:46 PM EST
    Now...it's Obama's turn.

    No (5.00 / 1) (#2)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Tue Oct 27, 2009 at 05:52:49 PM EST
    It's Harry Reid's turn.

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    No (5.00 / 2) (#3)
    by lentinel on Tue Oct 27, 2009 at 06:03:25 PM EST
    It's the stomach's turn.

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    It's Obama's (none / 0) (#5)
    by SOS on Tue Oct 27, 2009 at 06:10:44 PM EST
    Business Roundtables turn

    http://www.businessroundtable.org/about/members

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    So how will there be a Public Option (none / 0) (#7)
    by SOS on Tue Oct 27, 2009 at 06:19:11 PM EST
    if this group opposes it?

    Jarrett praised the Business Roundtable, saying that it brings member CEOs to White House meetings in addition to Washington lobbyists.

    Can anyone explain the logic behind this?

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    Re-election. (none / 0) (#10)
    by Cream City on Tue Oct 27, 2009 at 06:57:32 PM EST


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    Reid says (none / 0) (#15)
    by lilburro on Wed Oct 28, 2009 at 10:04:35 AM EST
    (HuffPo)

    "Sure, it's always an option," Reid said after leaving his press conference Monday, when he announced that he'd be pushing forward with a public health insurance option with an opt-out provision that would give states the right not to participate.

    Durbin also is down with reconciliation.  That makes 4 Senators, at least, and certainly many more would fall in line.

    I'm glad they are not boxing themselves in here.

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    Reid statement (none / 0) (#8)
    by magster on Tue Oct 27, 2009 at 06:32:23 PM EST
    "It would be ironic if Sen. Lieberman has indeed taken this position, as it would mean under budget reconciliation rules that an even stronger public option will now have to be enacted and it would come at the price of Sen. Lieberman's committee assignments and his presence in the Democratic caucus."

    and then I woke up....    

    Actual Reid action (none / 0) (#9)
    by magster on Tue Oct 27, 2009 at 06:45:22 PM EST
    in the form of a petition.

    Can't hurt.

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    Hey, at least he can build his (none / 0) (#11)
    by andgarden on Tue Oct 27, 2009 at 07:16:59 PM EST
    fundraising list!

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    Contested primaries work (none / 0) (#12)
    by andgarden on Tue Oct 27, 2009 at 07:17:33 PM EST


    No doubt about it (none / 0) (#13)
    by domer5000 on Tue Oct 27, 2009 at 09:41:39 PM EST
    the last dem who thought they would be a coronation procession was sorely disappointed

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    Category error (none / 0) (#14)
    by Spamlet on Tue Oct 27, 2009 at 11:44:01 PM EST
    The comment to which you replied is obviously referring to primaries in which the progressive base pushes a candidate to the left, whereas the Obama Fan Base, joining forces with Republicans and right-of-center independents, moved the party to the right by backing the less progressive of the two major contenders in the 2008 Democratic presidential primaries. But gratuitous Hillary-bashing is always in style among the OBF, so enjoy.

    Parent
    Specter: I Will Support Reconciliation On HCR As A Last Resort | 15 comments (15 topical)

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