Will Reid Retreat? Resistance to Government Health Plan Could Force Compromise

In a blow to Reid, Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman, an independent who caucuses with the Democrats, said Tuesday that he would support a Republican filibuster unless the bill is changed. Other key Democratic moderates, including Sens. Evan Bayh of Indiana, Ben Nelson of Nebraska and Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas, also said they were uncertain how they'd vote.

[...] With all 40 Republicans in the Senate opposing his bill, Reid would need unanimous support from the 60 Democrats to cut off debate and bring the measure to a vote. Though he was known to be short of the threshold before Monday's announcement, some Democrats hoped that by calling it a done deal, Reid could convince those lawmakers with reservations about the bill to vote at least to cut off debate -- even if they planned to vote against the bill in the end. Then Reid would need only 51 supporters to pass the bill.

SOURCE: Fox News

Centrists unsure about Reid's public option

Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid's risky decision to bring to the chamber's floor a health-care bill containing a government insurance plan was met with skepticism by moderate Democrats, who said they still do not know whether they could support a public option on a final vote.

[...] Democrats expect Reid to spend the days ahead attempting to secure commitments from all 60 members of his caucus to allow the Senate to begin debate on the legislation...

[...] But lawmakers said that if moderates' concerns do not prevent the Senate bill from advancing next month, the opt-out provision could be ditched on the floor.

SOURCE: Washington Post

Dem moderates challenge Reid on health care plan

WASHINGTON – Democratic moderates who control the balance of power on health care legislation balked Tuesday at a government-run insurance option for millions of Americans, underscoring the enormity of the challenge confronting Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid one day after he unveiled the plan as a consensus product.

Republican opposition stiffened, and party leaders announced they would attempt to strangle the bill before formal debate begins.

SOURCE: Associated Press > Yahoo

Searching For Sixty

Moderate Democrats in the Senate were underwhelmed with the plan of Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid to include a public insurance option in a major health reform bill, as it quickly became obvious that Democrats don't have 60 votes to stop a filibuster.

SOURCE: Jamie Dupree

Senate Health Update

It's a busy day in the hallways off the Senate Chamber, as it's become clear that Sen. Harry Reid does not have 60 votes right now for a health reform bill with a public insurance option.

First, two GOP Senators who Democrats have talked about possibly supporting health reform made clear today that they are not on board.
Both Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME) and Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) expressed their disappointment with Reid's decision to include a public option in an emerging Senate health reform bill.

Meanwhile, reporters besieged Democrats who have been on the fence about reform legislation to see where they stand on Reid's plan.

SOURCE: Jamie Dupree

Lieberman to vote for a filabuster

Liberals have one more reason to love to hate Joe Lieberman.

Politico's reporting that the independent Connecticut senator who caucuses with the Democrats -- and backed the Iraq war and staunchly supported John McCain's presidential bid -- said he would vote with a potential Republican filibuster of Majority Leader Harry Reid's bill because it includes a public option.

Here are the quotes:

"We're trying to do too much at once. To put this government-created insurance company on top of everything else is just asking for trouble for the taxpayers, for the premium payers and for the national debt. I don’t think we need it now."

He'd vote against a plan with a public option “even with an opt-out because it still creates a whole new government entitlement program for which taxpayers will be on the line. ... I've told Sen. Reid that if the bill stays as it is now I will vote against cloture."

SOURCE: MSNBC