Does it matter that a PO isn't coming out of the Senate Finance Committee?

[berni_mccoy]

If Dems are going to use Reconciliation to pass the bill anyway, they don't need the Senate Finance Committee to tell them what the bill is going to be, do they?

They can craft the bill however they want it and push it on through.

Or is there some mechanism that says the bill must go through the Finance committee. Really, I'm just so disgusted and want to know that there is a way to get a PO without the Senate Finance committee.

[grantcart]

1. No

All that matters is that the House will not compromise in the reconciliation committee - no public option - no bill.


Given the problem that mandates are going to create they are idiots if they try and go ahead without a public option.

[Avalux]

2. This definitely isn't the end.

There's still Kennedy's bill and whatever comes out of the House. Don't give up hope yet. In the mean time - call Baucus, Conrad and Lincoln - tell them you're going to work to defeat their re-elections.

[Buck Feck]

11. Roger that!

Fuckin' asswipes!

[endarkenment]

3. Does it matter? Yes. Is this the end? No.

[gratuitous]

4. Not really

But it will be used as a talking point that the public option didn't clear one Senate committee. Approximately 95% of Americans won't give a happy rat's ass about that, but unfortunately there will be a relentless 5% who will use this as the linchpin of their argument that health care reform is illegitimate.

If there was ever a time when policy victors and vanquished would put aside their differences and work for the common good once legislation was passed, that time is gone. Probably forever. Health care reform will be a wingnut talking point against government for decades to come, in the same way they speak against intrusive government regulation that prevents people from exercising their God-given right to starve in the street, or get poisoned by a trip to the grocer's.

[pinto]

5. Finance has a lot of leverage, iirc. But, yeah, the Baucus bill isn't the *only* game in town.

And Schumer's amendment, shot down just now, isn't the only one in line.

It was a good one, but not the only one to help craft a result with a public option. I think Schumer knew it would fail. He's keeping the pressure on. What a convoluted process.

:kick:

And in reconciliation, if they get to that point, 51 votes carry the day.

[WeekendWarrior]

10. Wasn't it the Rockefeller Bill that was Shot Down?

Or was Schumer's bill also killed?

[annabanana]

16. It was Rockefeller's and Schumer's AMENDMENTS to the

Baucas bill that were shot down today.

[WeekendWarrior]

19. Thanks. nt.

[MissMarple]

6. This isn't over by along shot. The disfunctionality has to be dealt with some way or another.

:popcorn:

[sinkingfeeling]

7. The Senate Finance Committee's version is the only one of the 5 that doesn't have some type of

public option (2 bills in Senate & 3 bills in House).

[scheming daemons]

8. No... it doesn't really matter.. but that won't stop the wailing and gnashing of teeth

..from the uninformed.

[annabanana]

17. If all the "wailers and gnashers" get on the horn to their Senators. .

it is not wasted heat.

[bobburgster]

9. It would have been better...

if it came out of the Senate Finance committee, but it is not the end all of the public option.

[redqueen]

12. Well it does matter, but it's not surprising.

I mean c'mon... the Finance Committee? We've seen the bill they came up with. I'd have been shocked beyond belief if it had come from that lot.

However it does matter, and it is meaningful. It should give the constituents in those Senators states a lot to think about.

[Kingofalldems]

13. Hopefully they will use reconciliation

[Beetwasher]

14. It Will Matter Come The Primaries

When we wax the assess of the douchebag Dems who voted against the PO.

As far as the final legislation? Probably doesn't matter all that much. The House is NOT budging regarding the inclusion of a PO. There WILL be a public option in the bill BO signs.

[OHdem10]

15. It makes it easier to defeat when it comes to floor. of Senate.

Essentially the Committee sets the tone. The narrative at the
moment is PO failed in Committee.

[pinto]

20. Disagree. One committee, one amendment. It's not over yet.

:hi:

[asdjrocky]

18. It matters because it shows us who is and isn't on our side.

I think those lines have been pretty well drawn today.