Senate Democrats Consider Tactic to Push Through Government Health Plan

New York Times ^ | August 24, 2009 | Robert Pear

[reaganaut1]

Senate Democrats said Sunday that they were fleshing out plans to pass health legislation, particularly the option of a new government-run insurance program, with a simple majority, instead of the 60 votes that would ordinarily be needed to overcome a filibuster.

After consulting experts in Senate rules and procedure, the Democrats said they were increasingly confident that they could legislate creation of a public plan in a way that would withstand challenges expected from Republicans.

Appearing Sunday on the NBC News program “Meet the Press,” Senator Charles E. Schumer of New York, the third-ranking Democrat in the Senate, said a public insurance plan was “essential to getting the costs down, which is our No. 1 problem.”

Proponents of a public plan say it would drive down costs because it would not have a profit motive and would have lower overhead costs and lower executive salaries than private insurance companies.

In Colorado on Aug. 15, President Obama said people had become “fixated” on the public plan option, which he described as “just one sliver” of efforts to overhaul the health care system.

Mr. Schumer said it was “looking less and less likely” that Republicans would support Democratic proposals to subsidize coverage for tens of millions of the uninsured. And Senate Democratic leaders said they had little hope that the chairman of the Finance Committee, Senator Max Baucus, Democrat of Montana, would be able to forge a bipartisan compromise.

In the last week, Democrats have begun to talk openly of using a procedure known as budget reconciliation to pass a health bill in the Senate with a simple majority, assuming no Republican support.

[MrEdd]

Of course, this assumes few of the bluedogs seize upon opposing the old guard leadership now as a pathway to future power.

[Parley Baer]

“Mr. Schumer said it was “looking less and less likely” that Republicans would support Democratic proposals”

I sure hope Chucky is right.

[kromike]

If you clowns pass this monstrosity, you're guaranteeing yourselves this will be your last term in office. If you kill it, you'll survive politically albeit just barely.

So, I trillion-dollar-budget-dare you.

[The Duke]

Proponents of a public plan say it would drive down costs because it would not have a profit motive and would have lower overhead costs and lower executive salaries than private insurance companies.

Remind me again of the "executive salaries" at Freddie and Fannie (or the US Postal Service, for that matter)?

[randita]

I think Republicans will hang as a block against a public option. Question is whether they can get enough Blue Dogs to peel off. With the way the town halls have been going, I would guess not.

[Conservative Vermont Vet]

Go ahead Chuckie, make our day!!!

[socialismisinsidious]

Socialized Medicine aka Universal Health Care PING LIST

FReepmail me if you want to be added to or removed from this ping list.

**This is a high volume ping list! (sign of the times)**

[The Wizard]

this plan should be killed dead, but chucky chesse and his asshole friends have complete contempt for the country

[VisualizeSmallerGovernment]

“essential to getting the costs down, which is our No. 1 problem.”

Then why no tort reform, Chuckie?

[RushIsMyTeddyBear]

As I said in another thread........the PERFECT ‘scenario’. Teddy Kennedy ‘kicks the bucket’ will do the trick. Is Zero planning to ‘visit’ his ‘establishment’ whilst in ‘Mahthahs Vinyhad’? /s

[FlingWingFlyer]

"Screw America! We've got 20 million Mexican National voters we've got to worry about!"

[VisualizeSmallerGovernment]

“Mr. Schumer said it was “looking less and less likely” that Republicans would support Democratic proposals”

What Republicans? I thought there was like 30 some in the entire Senate, including RINO's.

[Secret Agent Man]

This is all BS from the Dems.

The Republicans have no control. If anyone tanks the plan its some democrats who are in conservative areas and are vulnerable for re-election.

To them to paint it as a republican block is pure politics because it’s pure bull.

[ExTexasRedhead]

RATs and this Administration can make it official and just “declare war” on the American people. That should go over big time like it did in 1776. We’ll all see how the American people take to RAT in-your-face arrogance and intended dictatorship. I’m betting it won’t go over well at all. They can start packing now.

[Secret Agent Man]

Snowe and Collins will vote for it. Chafee probably. If any three will it will be them.

[Dick Bachert]

EVERYONE NEEDS TO SEE THIS VIDEO. PLEASE HELP TO MAKE IT VIRAL BEFORE CHUCKY AND THE BOYS SCREW US OVER (AGAIN):

UNINSURED IN AMERICA (THE REAL FIGURES!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKCWbq18bNk

[Bratch]

Senator Charles E. Schumer of New York, the third-ranking Democrat in the Senate, said a public insurance plan was “essential to getting the costs down, which is our No. 1 problem.”

Wha-a-a-t?!

I thought expanding coverage to the 40-something million Americans without health care was the #1 problem.

These guys are throwing everything they can think of against the wall praying something will stick. They need to stick the whole program, along with their heads, where the sun don't shine.

[Verginius Rufus]

Isn’t part of the health care plan an individual mandate requiring people to have health insurance (either the government plan or from a private company)? Where does the Constitution give the federal government the authority to require a person to give part of his or her wealth to a third party? (Since 1913, the 16th amendment has allowed the government to require people to give money to itself, but that’s different.)

[NoobRep]

I wish some reporter out there with any nuts would ask a loser like Schumer what he’s going to do when the states exercise their 10th amendment rights and ignore this monstrosity.