Who Likes The Public Option Deal, Who Doesn't, And Will It Win 60 Votes For Health Care

[babylonsister]

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/12/who-likes-the-public-option-deal-who-doesnt-and-will-it-win-60-votes-for-health-care.php?ref=mp

Who Likes The Public Option Deal, Who Doesn't, And Will It Win 60 Votes For Health Care
Brian Beutler | December 9, 2009, 1:45PM


The Senate was remarkably quiet this morning, less than a day after Democratic leaders and health care negotiators announced a tentative deal to swap out the public option in health care legislation for a menu of other measures. But slowly, members have begun making their positions known.

* Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) weighed in by saying he still opposes a triggered public plan--one of the elements of the compromise.

* Sen. Kent Conrad (D-ND) isn't a fan of the idea of letting certain people under the age of 65 buy insurance through Medicare, but he says it's not a deal breaker.

* Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI), who burst into the heart of health care negotiations without warning, was a holdout in negotiations between liberal and conservative Democrats, and seems on the fence about the agreement.

* By contrast, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) says he thinks the Medicare buy-in might be better than a weak public option.

* Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME) told reporters yesterday she opposes the Medicare buy-in, suggesting, though not outright declaring, that she's still out of the mix.

Silent so far have been Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE), who has told everybody listening that his support for a public option compromise doesn't constitute support for the greater reform package, and his fellow conservative Democrats Mary Landrieu (D-LA), and Blanche Lincoln (D-AR), who oppose the opt out public option Harry Reid put in the Senate bill. The two will appear at a press event later today.

Outside the Senate, Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-NY) thinks the deal shows real promise, as does former DNC chair, and progressive bellwether Howard Dean.

The picture, therefore, is decidedly mixed. Which means, after all this effort, 60 votes remains uncertain. That's probably why Reid sent an array of options to CBO, and why nobody will know the nittiest, grittiest details of the compromise until it's unveiled.

[joeybee12]

1. This is a good summary...and i will wait until learning more...it does

seem good since Holy joe isn't 100% happy.

[quiller4]

2. I like the deal. I think that it has the potential to be much better than a weakened public option.

[GreenPartyVoter]

3. When do they break for the winter holidays and how much will be accomplished by then?

[glinda]

4. I am afraid I will be left out of the mix as it stands. Supposedly you have to NOT have

insurance to get on this. I just turned 55 and stay home due to needing surgery yet get no income and live off my husband's SS and Retirement which puts us in lower lower middle class. We pay hundreds per month for me to have insurance but it comes out of his retirement portion that he does not see. We are charging to keep alive? Oh woe is me... what will happen?