Mark Begich open to reconciliation for health reform--that makes 50 without any maybes

[babylonsister]

http://www.openleft.com/diary/17708/mark-begich-open-to-reconciliation-for-health-reformthat-makes-50

Mark Begich open to reconciliation for health reform--that makes 50 without any maybes
by: Chris Bowers
Fri Mar 05, 2010 at 17:30


Senator Mark Begich is open to using reconciliation for health reform. From a letter to a constituent:

Thank you for contacting me regarding health care reform.

The reconciliation process is a budgetary tool used to address spending and deficit issues with a simple majority vote. The budget reconciliation process has been used 22 times by both parties since 1980. Action to clean up the health reform bill will further reduce the deficit.

Comprehensive health care reform has already passed the Senate with 60 votes. If the House passes the Senate bill, the President could sign that version of comprehensive reform into law. I believe reconciliation would only be used as a tool to take out special backroom deals and to eliminate concerns raised by many Alaskans I've talked with. The President has proposed narrow changes which I support, including completely closing the coverage gap for seniors' prescription drugs, eliminating the special Nebraska funding provision, providing additional federal financing to all states to help pay for the expansion of Medicaid, and strengthening the Medicare waste, fraud, and abuse provisions.

Again, thank you for contacting me. As the 111th Congress moves forward, please continue to be in touch with your thoughts and concerns.

Sincerely,
Mark Begich
U.S. Senator

That makes 50 Senators publicly open to using reconciliation to finish health reform without any maybes. There will be a reconciliation fix to the Senate health bill, as long as the House first passes one.

[AlinPA]

1. "Open to using reconciliation" is different than agreeing to reconciliation. nt

[babylonsister]

2. If he was opposed to it, don't you think he would have said so? nt

[AlinPA]

8. No, I read his letter over again and still get back to this statement:

"I believe reconciliation would only be used as a tool to take out special backroom deals and to eliminate concerns raised by many Alaskans I've talked with" and I don't see him affirming that he would support reconciliation.

[babylonsister]

10. OK, that's your perception. I don't think it's as dire as you do. nt

[northofdenali]

3. I think Mark will vote for our side.

Remember, Mark is very centrist - he is NOT a progressive, never has been. Unlike his dad. He has to take our very red state into consideration (and the next election). Remember, if Uncle Ted (Stevens) had not been under indictment during the election, Mark would probably have lost to him. He's got a tough row to hoe with the reactionary idiots that live way up here.

That said, I follow him on Twitter, and write to him regularly - and I ALWAYS get a reply to any emails or snail mail I send. This is unusual for Alaska pols - I've never gotten a response from Rep. Don Young (R-Bumfuck) and get very few favorable responses from Sen. Murkowski (R-Daddy's bank).

K&R & off to the greatest with ya.

:kick:

[LiberalFighter]

15. For a very socialist state you would think they would be all for it.

[Blue_In_AK]

4. Thanks, Sister.

I've been jamming Mark up about this for a while myself. I agree with NOD that Mark is quite centrist. As Shannyn Moore says, he's our "duct-tape senator," i.e., he does whatever he has to to make things work even if that means that the final result might not be pretty. At least it will hold together.

I feel confident that he will not do anything to obstruct these bills going forward; he's just going to be quiet about it.

[depakid]

5. Seems like if the president wants it- he can get it

and it would be a BIG win for the party and help to bridge the enthusiasm gap that Democrats exploited so effective last election- but threatens their majorities in 2010.

[annabanana]

6. But would he use it to add a PO?

That's the 64 Thousand Dollar Question here.

(gawd.. just how old AM I?)

[babylonsister]

9. Haha! That's 'at least' a $128K question now! nt

[gateley]

7. I was surprised we hadn't heard from him before. Thanks. nt

[Cha]

11. Good to know..thank you, babylonsister~

[DFLforever]

12. I don't think there's any doubt they now have the votes

for reconciliation.

I also believe the price for it was dropping the PO.

[Clio the Leo]

13. Excellent! NT

[craigmatic]

14. They're just saying this because they have no intention of putting it to a vote