Roll Call: Harry Reid Reassures Finance Panel Republicans

[flpoljunkie]

Reid Reassures Finance Panel Republicans

By David M. Drucker
Roll Call Staff

July 8, 2009, 2:38 p.m.

Senate Finance Committee Republicans emerged Wednesday afternoon from a meeting with Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) saying the sides had agreed to continue bipartisan health reform talks within the committee — and that the negotiations would not be subject to artificial timelines.

But sources familiar with the Finance talks said the panel will not make enough headway by Friday to begin marking up a bill next week.

Finance ranking member Chuck Grassley (Iowa) and his GOP colleagues said they were pleased with the session with Reid.

“It was a very constructive meeting, and bipartisan talks are going to continue — and not continue under a very hard timeline,” Grassley said.

On Tuesday, Reid warned Baucus that the price of gaining Republican support for a health care bill could be too high for many Democrats. Reid strongly urged Baucus to draft a bill with policy components more acceptable to Democrats.

However, the comments of Grassley, Enzi and Snowe following their meeting with Reid suggested the Majority Leader’s tone might have shifted. Reid’s office was not immediately available for comment.

http://www.rollcall.com/news/36572-1.html

[Egnever]

1. Harry is old and probably doesnt care about his next election

but i swear i will vote republican against him if we dont get a solid public option that destroys the ability of private insurance to put profit ahead of people.

[flpoljunkie]

3. Reid's numbers are not high and he expects a fight for his seat in 2010. He needs to lead now.

[BlooInBloo]

2. Thaaat's the Reid I know and hate.

[DJ13]

4. What a wimp

Typical Reid.