Posted on 12/14/2009 10:50:04 AM PST by kcvl
The White House is encouraging Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) to cut a deal with Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) and eliminate the proposed Medicare expansion in the health reform bill, according to an official close to the negotiations.
But Reid is described as so frustrated with Lieberman that he is not ready to sacrifice a key element of the health care bill, and first wants to see the Congressional Budget Office cost analysis of the Medicare buy-in. The analysis is expected early this week.
"There is a weariness and a lot of frustration that one person is holding up the will of 59 others," the official said. “There is still too much anger and confusion at one particular senator’s reversal.”
Lieberman threw health care reform into doubt Sunday when he told Reid that he would filibuster the bill if it allowed Americans ages 55 to 64 to purchase coverage in Medicare. His comments on CBS’s “Face the Nation” set off a series of private meetings Sunday between the Senate leadership and top White House aides, including Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, who encouraged Reid to cut the deal with Lieberman, the official said. The White House declined to comment.
Reid has called a special Democratic caucus meeting for 5 p.m. Monday.
If they still hope to pass a bill by Christmas – which is still a top consideration at the moment -- Democrats have only limited options:
* Reach an agreement with Lieberman, which would mean stripping out the provisions that have kept progressives on board. This will likely cause problems on the left – maybe even defections – unless the White House steps in to persuade senators such as Russ Feingold of Wisconsin and Bernie Sanders of Vermont.
* Win over Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-Maine), but she has also voiced serious reservations about the Medicare expansion, and has resisted pressure from the White House and Senate Democrats to finish the bill by Christmas.
Reconciliation, a procedural maneuver to get around a filibuster, remains on the table, but it’s not a viable option at the moment, the official said. It would push the issue into next year with no guarantee of success.
Democrats are frustrated because they believe Lieberman keeps moving the goal posts. He supported the Medicare buy in the 2000 presidential campaign, and in September reiterated support for the plan in an interview with the Connecticut Post.
Lieberman has denied giving his approval of the Medicare buy-in during the negotiations last week among a group of 10 moderate and liberal senators.
"Contrary to the claims of anonymous aides, Senator Lieberman told Reid on Friday that he had problems with the Medicare provision," Lieberman spokesman Marshall Wittman said in a statement.
"This position was also told to negotiators earlier in the week. Consequently, Senator Lieberman's position came as no surprise to the Democratic leadership. Any contrary charge by aides who cowardly seek to hide under the cloak of anonymity is false and self-serving," he added.
Wittman issued the statement in response to reports that Lieberman, according to anonymous Senate Democratic aides, had initially indicated support for a proposal allowing uninsured individuals as young as 55 to purchase Medicare coverage.
Stand firm Joe, I take back all those bad things I said about you in 2000 (OK, I take back some of them).
Joe is now right on two issues: Israel and increasing socialized medicine.
Paging Doctor Steele...
Paging Doctor Steele...
Please pick up the red phone.
After the crap the party put Lieberman through it would serve them right.
Criminal political miasma.
I would like for the person who said this to name one promise Obama made during his campaign!
I gotta say, Lieberman has been strong. I give him a lot of credit. The pressure must be intense.
American Voter to Joe Lieberman: tell them to STUFF IT, Joe!
*tagline change*
Reid to Lieberman: “Welcome to Chicago, Joe.”
So basically PASSING health care reform legislation is the priority - doesn’t matter what’s in the bill, just get it done. Disgusting.
http://lieberman.senate.gov/contact/
Of course. They just need to pass something so they can say they did it. Everything else is falling apart around them, and it’s all theirs...
They aren't finished. They are still threatening his chairmanship.
******
Time for Reid, Democrats to ditch Lieberman - 3 hours ago
December 14, 9:09 AM
Philadelphia Elections 2010 - Examiner - Joshua Brett
If Reid strips Lieberman of his chairmanship and/or kicks him out of the caucus, it's not like the Republicans are going to welcome Lieberman with open arms
Might as well be a Rino like Steele to get Snowe’s ear... more likely than any constituent and/or conservative. I’m only expecting crickets...
Maybe you meant “Name one promise he has kept”
Here are a couple promises he made:
Obama Campaign Promise: Open Healthcare Negotiations
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NyqF093KRqQ
Obama Campaign Promise: Iraq War Exit
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bneEocEBGqI
So they still don't have Lieberman on board.
Plus, Nelson said the other day he was NOT ON BOARD. Granted, Nelson is undependable. But he has never said "No" like he did the other day.
There’s also serious questions as to whether Webb will support anything at all, given the shellacking Democrats too in November in Virginia. I dont’ know how the legislative process works in Conference, but if they strip out a Public Option, and any back door to it, and also take out other things, how can it be put back in? And if they do that what’s the point of voting on it in the first place?
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