Category Archives: Joe Lieberman

Senate Health Care Bill, Democrat Party politics, Party first, 2008 DNC Convention Rules, Why Democrats push unwanted bill

I constantly hear people on TV and around me ask why Barack Obama, Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid and the Democrat controlled Congress keep pushing a bad Health Care Bill that most Americans are against. Many Americans believe that for modern day Democrat politicians it is party and party politics first and the hell with the country. Below are some exerpts from the 2008 Democratic National Convention party rules.

“As Adopted by the Democratic National Committee, February 2, 2007”

Citizen Wells:  This helps explain the convoluted, excessive size of the proposed Health Care Bill. A small portion of the calculation is presented.

“I. DISTRIBUTION OF DELEGATE VOTES

The distribution of votes, delegates and alternates to the 2008 Democratic National Convention shall be in
accordance with the following:”

“A. The number of Convention votes for delegates to the Convention shall be as set forth in the
compilation included in this resolution and determined as provided in paragraphs B, C, D, E, F,
G, H1, and I.

B. A base of 3,000 delegate votes is distributed among the 50 states and the District of Columbia
according to a formula giving equal weight to the sum of the vote for the Democratic candidates
in the three (3) most recent presidential elections and to population by electoral vote. The formula
is expressed mathematically as follows:”

Citizen Wells: “faithful to the interests, welfare and success of the Democratic Party of the United States”

“II. QUALIFICATIONS OF STATE DELEGATIONS”
“C. It is presumed that the delegates to the Democratic National Convention, when certified
pursuant to the Call, are bona fide Democrats who are faithful to the interests, welfare and
success of the Democratic Party of the United States, who subscribe to the substance, intent and
principles of the Charter and the Bylaws of the Democratic Party of the United States, and who
will participate in the Convention in good faith. Therefore, no additional assurances shall be
required of delegates to the Democratic National Convention in the absence of a credentials
contest or challenge.”
Citizen Wells: Priorities. The DNC is beholden to unions.
“V. THE 2008 DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION COMMITTEE, INC.”
“1. Contractors: The DNCC shall as a policy seek to engage the services of unionized
firms, including those owned by minorities, women and people with disabilities.”

Citizen Wells: Presidential qualifications. The only thing that matters is allegiance to the party.

“VI. PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES

The term “presidential candidate” herein shall mean any person who, as determined by the National
Chairperson of the Democratic National Committee, has accrued delegates in the nominating process and
plans to seek the nomination, has established substantial support for his or her nomination as the
Democratic candidate for the Office of the President of the United States, is a bona fide Democrat whose
record of public service, accomplishment, public writings and/or public statements affirmatively
demonstrates that he or she is faithful to the interests, welfare and success of the Democratic Party of the
United States, and will participate in the Convention in good faith.”

Citizen Wells

This is presented not to praise the Republicans or other political parties. It is also recognized that rules are necessary for any organized group. However, it is clear that the 2008 DNC rules are convoluted, overly complicated and designed as self serving for the preservation of the Democrat Party. The only qualification for the presidency that they address is allegiance to the party. And saddest of all, there is no mention of looking out for the best interest of the United States and citizens.

This should help you understand what is going on in the senate and White House. It is all about the Democrat Party.

Obama, Federal government will go bankrupt, December 16, 2009, ABC News, Charles Gibson, Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi, Health care taxes needed, Obama fears 2010 2012 elections

Barack Obama, Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid and the rest of the out of control socialist, Democrat controlled Congress, have been spending taxpayer money at a rate that would bankrupt any cash flow. Today, Hillary Clinton, speaking in Copenhagen, committed $ 100 billion to poor countries for climate change. Yesterday, December 16, 2009, Barack Obama stated during a Charlie Gibson interview on ABC News that failure to pass the Senate Health Care Bill will bankrupt the federal government.

Barack Obama’s intent was to scare senators and citizens into believing that voting for the Senate Health Care Bill is an emergency necessity and no brainer. However, Obama “let the cat out of the bag.”

This is really about the 2010 and 2012 elections and presenting a more favorable deficit position to voters.

How does this work?

Remember, our taxes will go up immediately but benefits (and probably some problems)  from the new health care plan will not kick in for approximately three years. How convenient for Obama. More money will enter the Treasury and he can continue to talk about the pie in the sky benefits of the new plan without experiencing all of the negative impacts.

John Charlton at the Post & Email sheds some light on Obama’s remarks.

“DESPERATION AT SEEING HEALTH CARE BILL DIE IN THE SENATE, HURLS INFANTILE THREAT”

“The Post & Email featured an exposé on Obama’s politics of fraud today, wherein he claims one thing and works for the opposite agenda.

Last night during his interview on ABC with Gibson, Obama was up to his old tricks.  Desperate that his Health Care Bill might die in the Senate, he threw a childish tantrum, threatening the nation that if the Health Care Bill is not passed the Federal Government will “go  bankrupt”!

Not a word that the massive spending increases he has pushed through in 2009 early doubling the national debt; the Health Care Bill included.

Obama is desperate.  The Health Care Bill has nothing to do with preventing the increase of the Federal debt.  It has everything to do with causing it.

It likewise has nothing to do with solving the health care problem, it has everything to do with imposing his power upon every individual and creating a pretext to deny care and thus murder anyone in the country.

Noted doctors have come forward and said that with Obama Care life expectancy will fall for all Americans.  Rationed health care means death.  I can testify to it personally, since I had a good friend, who was an M.D., but who lived in Europe where medicine is rationed, die this year because they scheduled his heart check up 3 days too late!

Socialized medicine is nothing but state control over life and death, and it results in the deaths of 10’s of thousands annually in each country where it is imposed, out of sheer bureaucratic negligence.”

“The Post & Email surmises that Obama’s desperation comes from the fact that Congressman Nathan Deal and his colleagues wrote him a letter asking for his original vital records, and that leading supporters who once believed all of his lies, now realize that he is in an untenable position if he fails to disclose them.”

Read more:

http://www.thepostemail.com/2009/12/17/obama-throws-a-govt-will-go-bankrupped-tantrum/

Obama threatens base closing, Senator Ben Nelson, Breaking News, Nelson rejects abortion component, Senators letter, Carl Levin, John McCain, Michael Goldfarb report, Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, BRAC closure, US Strategic Command, Signed DeMint, Ensign, Alexander, Senate Health Care Bill

Breaking news:

(Just announced)

Ben Nelson rejects abortion component of Senate Health Care Bill.

***  More breaking news 1:00 PM ET, see below ***

From Michael Goldfarb of The Weekly Standard, 11:01 PM, December 16, 2009.

“20 GOP Senators Call for Investigation of Offutt Threat” 

“Twenty Republican senators have requested that the Senate Armed Services Committee launch an investigation into reports that the Obama White House threatened to close Nebraska’s Offutt Air Force base unless Nebraska Senator Ben Nelson fell into line on health care. Those reports first appeared on this blog. In the letter to Senators Levin and McCain, the committee chairman and ranking member, the 20 ask that “a hearing be held as to whether the BRAC process has been compromised.”

Meanwhile, both Nelson and the White House strenuously deny the allegation. A statement from White House communications director Dan Pfeiffer asserts “This rumor is absolutely false, as the people spreading it well know. This is nothing but a cynical, crass political game that is designed to maintain the status quo. Let’s be clear: the people spreading these falsehoods think nothing is wrong with a system under which families and businesses continue to bear the brunt of skyrocketing costs, insurance companies are allowed to discriminate and drop at will, and thousands of Americans lose their coverage every single day.”

They protest a little too much. I do not know this story is “absolutely false.” To the contrary, I’m confident it’s true. Twenty senators are now calling for an investigation, and each is presumably pretty well sourced in the Senate. If the charges are “absolutely false,” maybe the White House will encourage Senate Democrats to call this Republican bluff. I won’t hold my breath.”

Read more:

http://www.weeklystandard.com/weblogs/TWSFP/

**** More breaking News ****

Obama just announced that if the Health Care Bill is not passed, the Federal  government will go bankrupt.

The lying SOB has let the cat out of the bag.

As you know, the bill begins taxing us immediately, but does not kick in benefits for approx 3 years.
What the usurper is really saying is that he needs the revenue to bail out his spending in time for the 2010, 2012 elections.

***  Just in, 1:02 PM ET, 12/17/09  ***

Obama just stated that the federal govt. will go bankrupt. Concurrently, Hillary Clinton just announced.

US offers cash to help poor nations with climate change.

I believe I just heard $ 100 billion!

Thanks to commenter da verg.

Michael Goldfarb on Glenn Beck confirms White House call and threat to Senator Ben Nelson, Obama thugs, December 16, 2009, Ben Nelson threatened to vote for Senate Health Care Bill

Yesterday, December 15, 2009, the Citizen Wells blog quoted a report from the Weekly Standard that indicated that the White House, Obama, threatened to close an Air Force base in Nebraska if Senator Ben Nelson did not vote for the Senate Health Care Bill. 

“Source: Dems Threaten Nelson In Pursuit of 60

While the Democrats appease Senator Lieberman, they still have to worry about other recalcitrant Democrats including Nebraska Senator Ben Nelson. Though Lieberman has been out front in the fight against the public option and the Medicare buy-in, Nelson was critical of both. Now that those provisions appear to have been stripped from the bill, Lieberman may get on board, but Nelson’s demand that taxpayer money not be used to fund abortion has still not been met. According to a Senate aide, the White House is now threatening to put Nebraska’s Offutt Air Force Base on the BRAC list if Nelson doesn’t fall into line.

Offutt Air Force Base employs some 10,000 military and federal employees in Southeastern Nebraska. As our source put it, this is a “naked effort by Rahm Emanuel and the White House to extort Nelson’s vote.” They are “threatening to close a base vital to national security for what?” asked the Senate staffer.”

Read more:

http://www.weeklystandard.com/weblogs/TWSFP/2009/12/source_dems_threaten_nelson_in_1.asp

Michael Goldfarb, author of the report, was just interviewed on the Glenn Beck Show on Fox. Goldfarb stands by his report. Glenn Beck also states that he has confirmed this story with three sources.

Health care rally, Washington DC, December 15, 2009, Laura Ingraham, Dr. Tom Coburn, Jim DeMint, Richard Burr, Johnny Isakson, Tea Party Patriots, Obama Reid liberal senators behind closed doors

From Americans for Prosperity, a report on the Health Care Rally in Washington DC, December 15, 2009.

Yesterday at 1:30 p.m. two very different meetings occurred.

On the grounds of the United States Capitol, thousands of grassroots activists from across the nation rallied in a park with the media present. Our message to the Senate was simple: “Keep your hands off our health care!” CLICK HERE FOR PICTURES

Rally Photo

Meanwhile, at the White House, President Obama, Majority Leader Harry Reid, other liberal Senators and their special interest allies met behind closed doors to cut political deals, twist arms and plot strategy — all to get their health care takeover bill across the finish line and out of the Senate.

At our open air rally, Laura Ingraham, Dr. Tom Coburn, Sen. Jim DeMint, Sen. Richard Burr, Sen. Johnny Isakson, Jim Martin of 60 Plus, and our Tea Party Patriot friends Jenny Beth Martin and Mark Meckler detailed our reasons for opposing this disastrous health care takeover while urging Americans to stay in the fight for our freedoms. Across the nation, thousands more Americans went to the local offices of their U.S. Senators with the same message.

Rally Photo 2

Meanwhile, at the White House, the President and his political friends negotiated in secret. Cut their deals in secret. And tried to buy votes in secret.

The contrast could not be more clear. And, that’s why the American people are with us.

Ever wonder if your grassroots efforts make a difference?

Well, let me give you two numbers: 61 and 44.

CNN — hardly a conservative front group — recently reported that 61% of the American people now OPPOSE the Washington health care “reform” effort. Support for the health care takeover is literally in free fall.

The second number: Gallup Polling Company reports that President Obama’s personal approval rating is down to just 44% — the lowest level in history for a President still in his first year.

President Obama has made this ill-advised health care takeover his top priority, and the American people are telling the President loud and clear to stop now. Sadly, he’s not listening.

I could tell you so many stories from today’s rally at the Capitol. But, I’ll hold at just two.

As the rally ended and the thousands of activists headed for their Senators’ offices to deliver their message one-on-one, a young man in a baseball cap walked up to me and said “I’m from Jersey and I closed up my pizza shop for the day to come down here to send a message. Times may be hard but I can always make up the money later and I don’t want my children to live under government-run health care.” With that, he introduced me to his young son.

Minutes later, a retired gentleman from North Carolina holding an American flag (a big one) came up to me, shook my hand and said, “This is the third time I’ve come to Washington, D.C. this year and I’ll come again if I have to. I fought in Korea for freedom and now I’m fighting for freedom again. I’ve never quit at anything in my life and I’m too old to quit at something now!” He gave me a big bear hug and then marched off for the long ride home.

I walked back to my car with that combat veteran’s words ringing in my ears, “I’ve never quit at anything in my life…”

He’s right. We’re not going to quit.

Harry Reid and President Obama and Speaker Pelosi are trying to sell “inevitability.” The idea that this health care takeover cannot be stopped.

We’ve stopped it since the August recess, through Labor Day, then through October, then to Thanksgiving. Now, we’re just over a week from Christmas.

They can be stopped. And, you and I and folks across America are the ones who are standing in the gap for our freedoms. Thank you.

Sincerely,

Tim's Signature

Tim

PS: No matter what announcements and pronouncements come from Obama, Reid, Pelosi and company,– keep focused on delivering our message through calls, emails, and personal visits to your Senate and House offices. And, now more than ever, get your friends to do the same. CLICK here to send this email to your friends. The Holidays are here but we’ve got to keep fighting.

Citizen Wells

Representative Michele Bachmann was also in attendance.

Obama threatens Nebraska Senator Ben Nelson, Close Offutt Air Force Base , Senate aide reports, December 15, 2009, Senate Health Care vote, Rahm Emanuel and White House extort Nelson’s vote

From The Weekly Standard, December 15, 2009.

“Source: Dems Threaten Nelson In Pursuit of 60”
“While the Democrats appease Senator Lieberman, they still have to worry about other recalcitrant Democrats including Nebraska Senator Ben Nelson. Though Lieberman has been out front in the fight against the public option and the Medicare buy-in, Nelson was critical of both. Now that those provisions appear to have been stripped from the bill, Lieberman may get on board, but Nelson’s demand that taxpayer money not be used to fund abortion has still not been met. According to a Senate aide, the White House is now threatening to put Nebraska’s Offutt Air Force Base on the BRAC list if Nelson doesn’t fall into line.

Offutt Air Force Base employs some 10,000 military and federal employees in Southeastern Nebraska. As our source put it, this is a “naked effort by Rahm Emanuel and the White House to extort Nelson’s vote.” They are “threatening to close a base vital to national security for what?” asked the Senate staffer.”

Read more:

http://www.weeklystandard.com/weblogs/TWSFP/2009/12/source_dems_threaten_nelson_in_1.asp

Call Senator Ben Nelson and demand that he do the right thing.

I just received the following in an email:

We’re in Chambliss’ office. He is saying we need everyone across the country to contact the Senators in . Louisianna, Arkansas Indiana, Connetticut, Nebraska ASAP. To protest healthcare.  Here are phone numbers:
Sen. Blanche Lincoln, Arkansas
DC Office Phone Number: 202-224-4843, DC Fax Number: 202-228-1371

Sen. Ben Nelson, Nebraska
DC Office Number: 202-224-6551, DC Fax Number: 202-228-0012
 
Sen. Mary Landrieu, Louisiana
DC Office Phone Number: 202-224-5824, DC Fax Number: 202-224-9735

Sen. Joe Lieberman, Connecticut
DC Office Phone Number: 202-224-4041, DC Fax Number: 202-224-9750

Sen. Michael F Bennet, Colorado
DC Office Phone Number: 202-224-5852, DC Fax Number: 202-228-5036
 
Sen. Mark Pryor, Arkansas
DC Office Phone Number: 202-224-2353, DC Fax Number: 202-228-0908
 
Sen. Robert Byrd, West Virginia
DC Office Phone Number: 202-224-3954, DC Fax Number: 202-228-0002
 
Sen. Jim Webb, Virginia
DC Office Phone Number: 202-224-4024, DC Fax Number: 202-228-6363
 
Sen. Mark Warner, Virginia
DC Office Phone Number: 202-224-2023, DC Fax Number: 202-224-6295
 
Sen. Jon Tester, Montana
DC Office Phone Number: 202-224-2644, DC Fax Number: 202-224-8594
 
Sen. Mark Begich, Alaska
DC Office Phone Number: 202-224-3004, DC Fax Number: 202-224-2354
 
Sen. Evan Bayh, Indiana
DC Office Phone Number: 202-224-5623, DC Fax Number: 202-228-1377
 

 

Senate cloture vote, November 20, 2009, Harry Reid, ObamaCare, Government health care bill, 60 votes, Medicare cuts, Deficit increase, Republican filibuster, CBO cost estimates

From an AmeriPac email, November 20, 2009. 

“Senate ObamaCare Cloture Vote On Saturday!

Kill the BILL Today – Stop ObamaCare In The Senate!

Alert: We Have the Chance to Kill Socialized Medicine TODAY –

Reid and Senate Democrats announced they will file cloture today on the motion to proceed regarding ObamaCare. He will go to the floor for cloture on the motion to proceed to a House-passed tax bill, to begin the Senate debate on ObamaCare.

This vote will require 60 votes and will likely occur on Saturday.

Several Democrats have said they will not vote for the bill. Remember cloture is a three day process – file on day one, day two is an intervening day and the vote occurs on day three. Reid is using a House-passed tax bill as a “shell” allowing him to offer up the language he released tonight as a substitute amendment if he gets cloture on the motion to proceed.

Reid’s Senate version of ObamaCare calls for:

  • Hiding the $1.8 Trillion price tag by not accounting for actual costs.
  • Major reductions in Medicare befits to seniors.
  • Major Tax Increases on every American to pay for it all.
  • Reid called for increasing the Medicare payroll tax. “

 

“ALERT: We all know that “ObamaCare — the two thousand page Democrat healthcare bill — passed the U.S. House of Representatives last week… by THREE VOTES.

The radical leftists in the House were able to squeak their bill through…

But we have STILL have a chance to stop them in the SENATE…TODAY!

TELL THE SENATE TO REJECT SOCIALIZED HEALTH CARE
BETTER KNOWN AS “OBAMACARE”:”

 

“Even after a final barrage of over eighty thousand faxes from our members that POURED in to the U.S. House… a slight majority of Congressmen still voted to destroy our freedom in health care.

Those legislators will be feeling the WRATH of voters next year — but WE still have our work cut out for us NOW!

WE HAVE NOT LOST. The bill pushed by Obama, passed by leftist Democrats in the House — and rejected by all but one turncoat Republican — must now head over to the U.S. Senate…

And we CAN defeat it there!

In fact… we can stop this bill COLD TODAY. Here’s how:

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) last Tuesday laid the groundwork for the Senate’s healthcare reform debate to start TODAY – Tuesday, Nov. 17th. Reid filed a motion to introduce the bill yesterday, Monday, Nov. 16. Anticipating a Republican objection, the bill would be pushed onto the Senate calendar.

BUT… Reid’s action last Tuesday sets up a critical vote this week on a motion to proceed to the bill. Such a motion would require 60 votes to succeed — and there’s a GOOD CHANCE that Reid does NOT have those 60 votes!

Reid needs a majority (51) to pass the motion to proceed so the Senate can begin debating and amending the bill.  If Republicans filibuster this motion, he will need 60 votes to invoke cloture and shut off debate.

THIS IS IT — one of our BEST chances to kill this bill, before it even gets off the ground!”

 

“Remember, this bill is the worst of all possible bills. It’s chock full of every far-left special interest socialistic dream imaginable. Here’s some of what’s in its TWO THOUSAND PAGES:

  • The CBO estimates that H.R. 3962, the health bill that the House passed, would cost $1.2 TRILLION over 10 years, including the cost to states for mandated Medicaid expansion ($34 billion), the “Doc Fix” ($245 billion), and authorized discretionary spending for grants, public programs, changes and funding for a variety of agencies that would be responsible for implementing H.R. 3962.
  • The bill protects trial lawyers. The bill gives money (authorized at “such sums”) to states that enact “certificate of merit” (a document signed by a medical professional that says there is a probability that the standard of care was violated) and / or a certificate of “early offer” (an early, confidential apology) laws, as long as the states don’t limit attorneys’ fees or impose caps on damages.
  • The current version will give billions of dollars of taxpayer healthcare benefits to ILLEGAL ALIENS in America. It would allow illegal aliens to use the new healthcare “exchange” and would not require verification to keep illegal aliens out of the other parts of the proposed federal healthcare system. Members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus fought back against reports that leaders would add Senate language to block illegal immigrants from participating in the insurance exchange.
  • It will create a nationwide federal government program, the “public option,” which will pay for abortion on demand — with federal funds, of course, because that is what federal agencies spend.

Liberals in the House AND the Senate ignored us when the majority said, “NO BAILOUT.” They ignored us when the majority said, “NO FAKE STIMULUS.” Now, they’re trying to ignore us when the majority demands with a clear voice, “NO GOVERNMENT TAKEOVER OF HEALTH CARE!””

 

“We all remember when President Obama stood in front of a joint session of Congress — and LIED. He LIED when he said they weren’t planning to set up “end-of-life panels” — his cronies have promoted the idea for a long time now. He LIED when he said his “reforms” wouldn’t insure illegal aliens — it has been clearly shown that there would be NO WAY to prevent this from happening. He LIED when he said that his “government option” health care plan would not force taxpayers to pay for abortions — the Obama-backed House bill would explicitly authorize the federal government insurance plan to pay for elective abortions and would explicitly authorize taxpayer subsidies for private abortion insurance.

The American people are TIRED of being lied to — which is why over ONE MILLION of us went to Washington, D.C., to bring the voice of the MAJORITY to the doorstep of Congress. You see, the “sleeping giant” in America has been awoken… and we aren’t going back to sleep… not while our own government tries to cram a socialist health care plan down our throats!

And on top of all of this… the fact remains that we can’t AFFORD this plan! In the face of an estimated $1.85 trillion federal budget deficit for FY2009 and projected trillion dollar annual deficits for the foreseeable future, how can anyone in Congress vote for this health care plan, which will cost over $1 trillion over the next ten years? Plus, Congress is facing at least $53 trillion of unfunded liabilities due to its passage of the previous entitlement programs, Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and the recent addition of prescription drug coverage for Medicare. How can anyone in Congress vote for a new entitlement program for health care when Congress has not even begun to face up to this unfunded liabilities problem?

Well, they’re trying to — but WE can stop them, with YOUR help!

TAKE ACTION: Even the Democrats are now admitting that it’s conceivable that we might not even get passage this week on the usually perfunctory motion to proceed to debate. That’s because Republicans will filibuster even that, requiring 60 votes… and there are at least two Democrats who could join that filibuster.

BUT THEY NEED TO HEAR FROM US TO BE CONVINCED!

We CANNOT let the radical liberals in Congress — and the White House — force this plan for socialized health care on the American people! That’s why we’ve set up our website to enable you to send a strong message to every single member of the U.S. Senate, OPPOSING this outrageous plan.

For about what it would cost you in time and telephone charges, you can send Blast Faxes to Democrats, Republicans, Independents — EVERYONE in the U.S. Senate, DEMANDING that they REJECT this socialized health care plan NOW”

 

Health Care Bill DOA in Senate, November 9, 2009, Joseph Lieberman, Lindsey Graham, Harry Reid, Obama socialist bill, Moderate Democrats oppose, Government health insurance unacceptable

From Fox News, November 9, 2009.

“House Health Bill Has Nowhere to Go in Senate

Government health insurance plan included in the House bill is unacceptable to some Democratic moderates who hold the balance of power in the Senate . If a government health plan is part of the deal “as a matter of conscience, I will not allow this bill to come to a final vote,” Sen. Joseph Lieberman, I-Conn, said.”

“The glow from a health care triumph faded quickly for President Barack Obama on Sunday as Democrats realized the bill they fought so hard to pass in the House has nowhere to go in the Senate.

Speaking from the Rose Garden about 14 hours after the late Saturday vote, Obama urged senators to be like runners on a relay team and “take the baton and bring this effort to the finish line on behalf of the American people.”

The problem is that the Senate won’t run with it. The government health insurance plan included in the House bill is unacceptable to a few Democratic moderates who hold the balance of power in the Senate.

If a government plan is part of the deal, “as a matter of conscience, I will not allow this bill to come to a final vote,” said Sen. Joe Lieberman, the Connecticut independent whose vote Democrats need to overcome GOP filibusters.

“The House bill is dead on arrival in the Senate,” Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said dismissively.

Democrats did not line up to challenge him. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., has yet to schedule floor debate and hinted last week that senators may not be able to finish health care this year.

Nonetheless, the House vote provided an important lesson in how to succeed with less-than-perfect party unity, and one that Senate Democrats may be able to adapt. House Democrats overcame their own divisions and broke an impasse that threatened the bill after liberals grudgingly accepted tougher restrictions on abortion funding, as abortion opponents demanded.

In Senate, the stumbling block is the idea of the government competing with private insurers. Liberals may have to swallow hard and accept a deal without a public plan in order to keep the legislation alive. As in the House, the compromise appears to be to the right of the political spectrum.

Republican Sen. Olympia Snowe of Maine, who voted for a version of the Senate bill in committee, has given the Democrats a possible way out. She’s proposing to allow a government plan as a last resort, if after a few years premiums keep escalating and local health insurance markets remain in the grip of a few big companies. This is the “trigger” option.

That approach appeals to moderates such as Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La. “If the private market fails to reform, there would be a fallback position,” Landrieu said last week. “It should be triggered by choice and affordability, not by political whim.”

Lieberman said he opposes the public plan because it could become a huge and costly entitlement program. “I believe the debt can break America and send us into a recession that’s worse than the one we’re fighting our way out of today,” he said.

For now, Reid is trying to find the votes for a different approach: a government plan that states could opt out of.

The Senate is not likely to jump ahead this week on health care. Reid will keep meeting with senators to see if he can work out a political formula that will give him not only the 60 votes needed to begin debate, but the 60 needed to shut off discussion and bring the bill to a final vote.”

Read more:

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/11/09/house-health-senate/

 

 

Joe Lieberman filibuster, October 27, 2009, Lieberman joins Republicans to filibuster Reid Health Care Plan, Vote against public option, Government run health care

From Fox News, October 27, 2009.

“Sen. Joe Lieberman, the Democrat-turned-Independent from Connecticut, said Tuesday that he will not vote for a healthcare reform bill that includes a government-run insurance plan.
 
This means that as things now stand, Democrats will not have enough votes to pass healthcare reform with a so-called public option unless Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) can pick up unexpected GOP votes.
 
Sen. Olympia Snowe (Maine), the only Republican to vote for the Senate Finance Committee’s healthcare bill, said Tueday that she would vote against bringing up a bill that included a government-run insurance program unless the implementation of such a program were set to a trigger.

Lieberman said he would vote with Reid and other Democrats on a motion to begin debate on a healthcare bill because he believes it is an important issue that needs to be considered. But he said he would not lend his support to an effort to cut off debate on a bill including a government-run insurance program.
 
Lieberman said he told Reid of his position in a recent conversation and that the leader “respected and understood.”
 
“We’re trying to do too much at once,” said Lieberman. “To put this government-created, government-run insurance company on top of everything else is just asking for trouble for the taxpayer, for the premium payer and for the national debt. I don’t think we need it now.”

Lieberman said he was not placated by allowing states to opt out of the public option “because it still creates a whole new federal government entitlement program, for which taxpayers will eventually be on the line.””

Read more:

http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/64981-senator-lieberman-not-backing-public-option