Democrats warn Baucus with gavel threat

[seafan]

Now, THIS will get his attention.


From Alexander Bolton at The Hill:

07/29/09 08:26 PM ET

In an apparent warning to Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.), some liberal Democrats have suggested a secret-ballot vote every two years on whether or not to strip committee chairmen of their gavels.
Baucus, who is more conservative than most of the Democratic Conference, has frustrated many of his liberal colleagues by negotiating for weeks with Republicans over healthcare reform without producing a bill or even much detail about the policies he is considering.

“Every two years the caucus could have a secret ballot on whether a chairman should continue, yes or no,” said Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), the chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee. “If the ‘no’s win, out.

“I’ve heard it talked about before,” he added.

Harkin did not mention Baucus, but his suggestion would likely resonate with the senior Montana Democrat, who has often clashed with his colleagues over important bills.
Liberals are also upset by reports that Baucus and other members of the Finance panel have tossed aside the proposal to create a robust government-run insurance program.

Harkin and Baucus are on different sides of the question of whether to create a government-run insurance plan.
While Harkin, a member of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, wants a strong public option, Baucus has favored a more modest proposal to set up a co-op program.

Some senators suggest privately that Baucus might be more open to persuasion if his chairmanship is subject to regular votes.

Another senior Democratic senator endorsed Harkin’s suggestion but declined to speak on the record for fear of angering Baucus.
“Put me down as a yes, but if you use my name I’ll send a SWAT team after you,” said the lawmaker when asked about a biennial referendum on chairmen.

.....

Whaddya say, old Max?

[Wapsie B]

1. Why wait for two years?

Max has proved his is worthless to Democratic causes already. Kick him out.

[bluethruandthru]

5. I second that! n/t

[Hutzpa]

14. I'll third that motion n/t

[defendandprotect]

21. Right . . . at least every year there should be a secret ballot on confidence in

the leadership and the committee heads !!!

Bless Harkin for this!!

IMO, Baucus should have been forced to resign from the health hearings

given the largess he's taken in from the industry.

[WCGreen]

22. But but vut he might turn republican then....

[CaliforniaPeggy]

24. Sounds like he already did!

[madamesilverspurs]

28. mmm hmmm...

[BlooInBloo]

2. Ooooh... me LIKEY!!!!

Damn Senate and their freakish rules.

[RandomThoughts]

3. Fear of angering Baucus? LOL

[Laelth]

4. Good. Progressives need to apply pressure.

Kudos to Senator Harkin!

:toast:

:dem:

-Laelth

[tosh]

6. What are we waiting for??

[BlueIdaho]

7. Can we start NOW and do it again every two years?

And can we include the leader in there too somewhere? This is actually a great idea if we can trust them. Imagine what this would do to the stature of congress. Instead of rewarding cronyism and the "good old boy" network we could shuffle the deck to promote successful legislation.

[havocmom]

8. I say, take the gavel from Max. And I say that as a Montana resident.

One of the reasons Max gets re-elected is his seniority. That was one of the things Burns had going for him too. Montana only has ONE Rep in the House. So, seniority and the chairmanships that brings is important to voters here. So, we put up with bad representation too often. Hold our noses and vote for the clown that's already been there too long, because that is the only way we get any clout at all.

Still, I have been advocating that Max needs to have his gavel removed from his lobbyist hand-jobbin paws.

NOW

[bvar22]

9. Should also include the Senate Majority Leader .

!

[seafan]

10. Vehemently agree. Reid is a failure. n/t

[AlinPA]

12. Reid is a total failure. nt

[mopinko]

11. oh, please, oh, please, oh, please, oh, please,

oh, please, oh, please, oh, please, oh, please, oh, please, oh, please, oh, please, oh, please, oh, please, oh, please.

[bleever]

13. I approve this message.

(Sponsored by bleevers for Stripping Abused Privileges from Non-representative Representatives.)

[scarletwoman]

17. Do the bleevers have a (scarlet) woman's auxilary? I'd like to join.

:D

[bleever]

26. Good News!

You may already be a winner!

:)

[Jennicut]

15. Best idea I have heard from the Senate in a long time.

[SoCalDem]

16. Damn.. I was hoping they planned to pound his pointy cranium with the gavel

But this would also be a good idea..DO IT!

[Gold Metal Flake]

18. More empty threats.

Just another commercial on the Corporate Congressional Whore network.

[OHdem10]

19. Reid appointed Baucus--Can that rule be applied to him????

[defendandprotect]

20. Baucus should be removed from heading the health care hearings .. .

Obviously, he's working for those who PRE-BRIBED him . . . not the public interest.

[defendandprotect]

23. You can leave comments for Sen. Tom Harkin here . . .

http://harkin.senate.gov/blog/c.cfm?i=80d963c1-fd95-4850-94ea-542b00a651e4

[burning rain]

25. Good idea.

Smarter than the Republicans' term limits for committee chairs.

[glinda]

27. Baucus needs a "bonkas" on the head with the gavel. What an idiot.

[liberalpragmatist]

29. Don't forget that Baucus gave us the '01 Bush tax cuts

He was the key Democratic "partner" in pushing through Bush's 2001 $1.3 trillion tax cut.