51 Vote Rules May Force a Public Option Too Liberal for Some Dems

[kpete]

Source: Talking Points Memo

51 Vote Rules May Force a Public Option Too Liberal for Some Dems
Brian Beutler | September 1, 2009, 12:15PM

As Senate leaders begin work on a Democrat-only health care bill, they're finding themselves confronted with an unexpected irony: Though the caucus has reached an uneasy consensus around a public option that's modeled in many ways after a private insurer, it may be necessary to make the public option more liberal, and thus, more politically radioactive, if it's to overcome a number of unique procedural hurdles.

This is the needle Democrats may have to thread if they want a public option, and at the same time, want to bypass a Republican filibuster. And the key for them will be keeping conservative Democrats on board.

"A very robust public option that scores significant savings would presumably be easy to justify doing through reconciliation," says a Senate Democratic aide. "But it is still being studied whether other, more moderate versions of a public option could pass parliamentary muster."

According to Martin Paone, a legislative expert who's helping Democrats map out legislative strategy, a more robust public option--one that sets low prices, and provides cheap, subsidized insurance to low- and middle-class consumers--would have an easier time surviving the procedural demands of the so-called reconciliation process. However, he cautions that the cost of subsidies "will have to be offset and if loses money beyond 2014...it will have to be sunsetted."

Read more: http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/09/going-it-alone-on-health-care-dems-face-tug-of-war-over-public-option.php?ref=fpb

[grantcart]

1. reconciliation is unlikely to be needed - they only need 51 votes to pass the bill

they need 60 votes to forestall a filibuster.

Reconciliation would only be necessary if a Democrat would cross the aisle to help filibuster, which should be unlikely.

[rpannier]

9. If only one of the 60 wasn't LIEberman

I'd share your optimism

[Vincardog]

2. WRONG: the key for them will be keeping PROGRESSIVE Democrats on board.

Tell the Reich wing to STFU they are not the boss of us.

[dhpgetsit]

3. They need to at least force a cloture vote before giving up and going the reconciliation route.

We need to have the obstructionists' names on record.

[Sebastian Doyle]

4. "Too Liberal for Some Dems"

Just the mere fact that such a phrase appears in print anywhere other than The Onion is a sign of how fucking SICK this party has become, from the CANCER of false "centrism" which is killing it.


And this Martin Paone is obviously playing for team DLC, so FUCK anything he says

http://www.campaignmoney.com/political/contributions/martin-paone.asp?cycle=08

[prostomulgus]

5. Hey, "legislative expert", here's how to pay for the subsidies

1. End illegal and unjust wars,
2. Disband the CIA
3. Make the rich pay their fair share for a change
4. Cut the defense budget in half
5. End corporate welfare & increase corporate income taxes
6. End wasteful and unnecessary medical tests.
7. Means test the public option, medicare, and social security.

That's for starters and we haven't even talked about carbon taxes or VAT's yet.

[Gopens]

7. Too liberal, huh?

Remind me again ... who did we vote for in November?

[unkachuck]

6. "...more

...moderate versions of a public option could pass parliamentary muster."

....why a more 'moderate' Public Option?....we need a strong Public Option and real healthcare reform right now....

....didn't the rupugs ram through one of bushco's trillion dollar Tax Cuts For The Rich using reconciliation?....c'mon congress, when is it our turn? Do the right thing for a change and provide the American people with much needed healthcare relief, including a STRONG Public Option.

[TankLV]

8. NOT have a GENUINE SINGLE PAYER OPTION will cause the DEFEAT of some Dems in November!!!

Count on it...!!!

[New Dawn]

10. DLC = GOP

[NYC_SKP]

11. k

r