Claire McCaskill: I'll Vote No On Health Care If It Increases Deficit

[The Northerner]

Source: Huffington Post

WASHINGTON — Senators are awaiting new cost estimates on the latest overhaul proposal from Majority Leader Harry Reid.

The Congressional Budget Office is expected to release its analysis this week on the revised bill's cost, and one senator says she "absolutely" would vote "no" if the overhaul increased out-of-pocket costs for people and drove up the nation's red ink.

But Democrat Claire McCaskill of Missouri also says she doesn't think that would happen because President Barack Obama would reject such a bill too.

The results of the cost projects are expected to determine how many Democrats would support it – with 60 votes needed for passage – and whether party leaders would have to revise the legislation.

McCaskill appeared on Sunday on "Fox News Sunday."


Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/12/13/claire-mccaskill-ill-vote_n_390231.html

[patrice]

1. And yes on ______________________ (?) even if it increases the deficit?

[gtar100]

22. Exactly!

Seems a standard practice of our horribly corrupt congress.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

37. what is war absolutely nothing

[hobbit709]

2. Did she vote no on other things that increased the deficit?

Of course not.

[proud2BlibKansan]

20. Well, she does SAY she won't vote when the deficit goes up

[jtrockville]

3. Does Claire vote NO on everything that increases the deficit?

Or just things that are essential?

[benld74]

4. But Claire, in the email your office sent me, it stated you were FOR Health care for all

[No Elephants]

40. She is for health care for all, as long as it doesn't cost anything.

:eyes:

[sharp_stick]

5. Isn't a health care bill that reduces deficits

a major plank in what Obama wants too? If they can't reduce the deficit with it the bill is as good as dead. They'll lose at least a dozen Dems in the Senate.

[Judi Lynn]

6. Hope she's just grandstanding. She's very ambitious, probably thinking of her future plans.....

She was closely connected to President Obama's campaign last year. Would hope she's not, in the end, going to try to sabotage a project we've been led to believe means a lot to him.

[DFW]

12. She was on Fox when she said it. Think of who was watching

Namely: some of the swing voters who gave her her very meager margin of victory in 2006, and will be listening closely
to Republican propaganda against her in 2012. I think she was trying to disarm some of them in advance. All estimates
are that the HCR can be budget neutral, and all it has to do is be so in theory for her to vote for it. Republicans
never seem to mind when Defense Department project have immense cost overruns. If helping Americans in need poses a
few cost overruns, she can always make a few noises about it afterward, and say she voted for a budget-neutral bill.
Win-win scenario in a state that is has not been a Happy Hunting Ground for Democrats in the last decade.

[No Elephants]

42. No sabotage: Obama said that he will not sign a health bill that increases the deficit.

[cornermouse]

7. McCaskill was State Auditor before she ran for the Senate.

And, in my opinion, she was quite good at it. Knowing that you really can't be surprised by her statement.

[laughingliberal]

10. Of all those loosely aligned with the Blue Dogs, she is one of the best

She does, actually, vote with the progressives at times and I saw her completely take apart a question at a town hall meeting about 'tort reform.'

[cornermouse]

17. Yep.

She irritates me with some of her positions on issues occasionally, but she'll get my vote again next time.

[laughingliberal]

19. Yeah, I have a whole lot on the hitlist I'd want out before Claire nt

[proud2BlibKansan]

21. I wasn't surprised at all

She definitely tries to act like a fiscal conservative.

[cornermouse]

36. There are times when fiscal conservatism is not a bad thing.

as long as it doesn't overwhelm the socially liberal philosophy. Right at the moment we need to be spending money but it needs to be more aimed at the people instead of the corporations.

[proud2BlibKansan]

44. Agree completely!

:thumbsup:

[The Northerner]

8. Edit: Nevermind

[Enrique]

9. why are some politicians on TV much more than others?

is it up to the TV people, or up to the senators to make themselves available? Are people we see all the time just available more, or are they more aggressive in getting their mugs on screen??

[David__77]

11. So then tax the rich.

It can very easily be revenue neutral.

[liberal N proud]

13. But for war?

[SoapBox]

14. How about WE vote you OUT OF OFFICE?

Hey Claire...sweety?

If you end up being a part of screwing up healthcare reform...

Hows about we vote your butt out of your cushy job?

Hmm? What do ya think? Sweety? Ready to "call it a day"?

[hadrons]

15. I think this is grandstanding ....

"if the overhaul increased out-of-pocket costs for people and drove up the nation's red ink."

She put two conditions to it and some wiggly room

[bluestateguy]

16. which is the same as the Obama position

No real news there.

[JackInGreen]

18. When I was

a kid, my dad told me the difference between the parties was that the democrats wanted to take care of everyone, and the republicans wanted to take care of "the worthy", when the republicans take office, he said, they spend the time trying to give all our money to the few, so when they LOSE office, the democrat that follows would be unable to do anything for the rest of the country, and would have their hands tied in the name of "responsibility".....
looks like it worked.

[Optimistic]

23. We need a real Liberal Party

The So-Called Moderate Democrats might as well join the Hannity /Beck led Right Wing Wacko'd they are no better,
They have been bribed with Millions or even Billions of Dollars

[pokercat999]

24. I don't believe in Karma...but I hope I'm wrong.....nt

[neverforget]

25. Always money for war but help for the American people? No because

IT"LL INCREASE THE FUCKING DEFICIT! It's not like 2 unfunded wars or massive tax cuts had anything to do with that.
Why can't that shit be cut or paid for?

:mad: :argh: :grr: :nuke: :banghead:

[SoapBox]

27. re: Always money for war...

Ditto!

Actually, double-dog-dare-ya-freak'n-DITTO!

...vote her ass out.

[stlsaxman]

32. I will NOT "vote her ass out". She will hear from her constituents, like me, over this.

All you know of her is what she said on TV to Chris Wallace, fer cryin' out loud...

She's as close to a "Blue Dog" as she can be without being one. I'm still happy to have her as my (not yours) Senator.

Don't tell me how to vote.

[nightrain]

26. how are you going to vote on war since it will increase the deficit?

[SoapBox]

28. Here is her email and office/phone page...

Contact her and tell her what you think!

Email page:
http://mccaskill.senate.gov/contact/

Location, Phone and FAX page:
http://mccaskill.senate.gov/contact/locations.cfm

D.C. Office:
Office of Senator Claire McCaskill
United States Senate
Hart Senate Office Building, SH-717
Washington, D.C. 20510
[phone]
FAX [phone]

Call...Call...and Call some more.

[2Design]

29. I am so bored with congress and the BS - spending for war is ok but spending for the people is NOT n

[L0oniX]

30. ...but you'll vote yes for more war funding even if it increases the deficit.

ASSCARROT!

[still_one]

31. It is way past due to start challenging these people /nt

[Psephos]

33. "I will not sign health reform that adds even one dime to our deficit..." - Obama

"That is why I have pledged that I will not sign health insurance reform that adds even one dime to our deficit over the next decade. And I mean it. We have estimated that two-thirds of the cost of reform to bring health care security to every American can be paid for by reallocating money that is simply being wasted in federal health care programs."

- President Obama, July 23, 2009

Should be interesting Monday when the CBO scores come out.

[quakerboy]

34. The house just voted to increase the debt ceiling.

Does the senate have to give its assent to that as well? If so, how will she vote on that?

[superconnected]

35. But let me guess, voting for wars was never a problem.

[Odin2005]

38. Damn, she is SOOOO disappointing.

:(

[Freddie Stubbs]

39. President Obama has promised to to sign health care legilsation which adds to the deficit:

http://hotlineoncall.nationaljournal.com/archives/2009/07/obama_health_ca_1.php

[No Elephants]

41. I think you mean Obama promised NOT to sign health care legislation that increases the deficit.

That is what your source says and also is my recollection. Maybe you left out the word "not" and need an edit?

[Freddie Stubbs]

43. Yes, that is what I meant to say