From a personal perspective, she only need worry about her district, and my guess is that she's a lock every election. From a party perspective, it should be a big help to the President and should filter down ballot. That's my hope, anyway.
Speaker of the House is the most demonized position in Congress. Her approval ratings with the general public will never be high. It isn't something she needs to worry about.
I don't think this passing the House has any impact on Dem popularity. All that will matter is when/if a bill is signed by the Pres. Mojoman: my understanding all along has been that the House-Senate conference report can't be filibustered, though upon looking for more details, I can't seem to confirm that. Apologies to you if that's not the case - if it CAN be filibustered, the Opt-Out public option is likely going to have problems depending on what Lieberman's end-game really is. The trigger could still work, since Snowe seems on board with that. Having no public option whatsoever (co-op or anything) seems like a disaster. Requiring everyone to buy insurance but not providing an alternative to profit-seeking industry seems like a free giveaway to insurance companies, especially in states with only one or two providers. They have no incentive at all to reduce premiums - in fact, they have the opposite if they know that everyone has to buy insurance. It will be interesting to see how this plays out.
Moving the project forward! Apparently Reid is about to unveil the senate version of HCR and is pleased with the CBO analysis. via TPM -- Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid will unveil and discuss his health care bill to Democrats at a special 5 pm caucus meeting tonight, leadership sources say. Reid hopes to brief the caucus before the bill is publicly unveiled, and that could happen late tonight. A CBO analysis of that legislation is expected to be unveiled publicly somewhat earlier in the day, and despite some last minute road bumps, Reid is very pleased with the report. Reid may give the public 72 hours to review the bill before holding a cloture vote on a motion to proceed this weekend, though he may call for that vote slightly earlier. Republicans, led by Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK) are expected to call for the entire bill to be read aloud before debate can begin in earnest after the Senate returns from a week-long Thanksgiving recess at the end of the month. http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/...bill-to-caucus-at-evening-meeting.php?ref=fpb
via TPM -- CNN BREAKING: CBO Score Of Senate Health Bill Puts Price Tag At $849B On CNN a moment ago, Dana Bash reported that the Congressional Budget Office has given Senate health care reform bill has an estimated $849 billion price tag. Bash cited a "senior Democratic source" for this information. The source also said the bill would reduce the deficit by $127 billion dollars, Bash reported. She also reported that the bill includes a public health insurance option with an opt-out clause.
In San Francisco, where she is elected? Doesn't hurt, I tell you what. Especially as long as her competition is some random looney tune like Sheehan.
Landrieu announces she's on board for cloture vote today. Vote should occur sometime around/before tonight's tipoff. Gack; the senators aren't any better speakers than the representatives. C-SPAN2.
I can't imagine Lincoln would vote against at this point, because it would just piss off the Dems. If she was going to be against it, she'd have said so a while back I think. So they should have the votes to at least proceed here. The challenge is going to be the next vote. On a side note, Wyden (maybe my favorite Senator on this issue) managed to get a HUGE improvement into the bill yesterday with the voucher program to allow people to opt out of employer insurance. Employer insurance is a big problem in the system, and this is a huge step forward in that regard.
Just a nitpick, but it's not cloture she's voting for, it's bringing the bill to the floor for debate. If she committed to voting for cloture that would be huge news. It looks like Lincoln will be talking soon (or actually now) so she might indicate her position as well.
Apparently Lincoln will vote to proceed. And apparently "cloture" refers to this vote as well as the later vote I was thinking of necessary to end debate. Sorry about that, aghast! I wasn't listening very closely, but it sure sounds like it will be difficult to get Lincoln's vote to end debate as long as the public option of any kind is there.
I hope everybody realizes this has been an almost Mount Everest class climb by Harry Reid just to win the votes required to begin the formal debate in the Senate on this healthcare bill. This is not a vote to cut off debate and avoid a filibuster. It is also not a vote on final passage of the bill. This bill is still a very long way from passage. That certain people are considering this vote cause for celebration is not a good sign for this bill or for the continued unity of the Democratic caucus in the Senate.
Because everyone in that state would still have to pay taxes to help pay for it. The opt out plan offers nothing beneficial to any state that might want to "opt out." Fortunately, it does not currently appear that the "opt out" public option has any appreciable chance to pass in the Senate. This is a good thing, since this proposal is a bad idea which should not be passed.
Keep blabbing Debbie Downer! With tonight's vote, hope and change is closer to being made in America!
