TBD on Ning
Kill Bill Vol. 1
Howard Dean: “Kill The Senate Bill”
In a blow to the bill grinding through the Senate, Howard Dean bluntly called for the bill to be killed in a pre-recorded interview set to air later this afternoon, denouncing it as “the collapse of health care reform in the United States Senate,” the reporter who conducted the interview tells me.
Dean said the removal of the Medicare buy-in made the bill not worth supporting, and urged Dem leaders to start over with the process of reconciliation in the interview, which is set to air at 5:50 PM today on Vermont Public Radio, political reporter Bob Kinzel confirms to me.
The gauntlet from Dean — whose voice on health care is well respsected among liberals — will energize those on the left who are mobilizing against the bill, and make it tougher for liberals to embrace the emerging proposal. In an excerpt Kinzel gave me, Dean says:
“This is essentially the collapse of health care reform in the United States Senate. Honestly the best thing to do right now is kill the Senate bill, go back to the House, start the reconciliation process, where you only need 51 votes and it would be a much simpler bill.”
Kinzel added that Dean essentially said that if Democratic leaders cave into Joe Lieberman right now they’ll be left with a bill that’s not worth supporting.
Dean had previously endorsed the Medicare buy-in compromise without a public option, saying that the key question should be whether the bill contains enough “real reform” to be worthy of progressives’ support. Dean has apparently concluded that the “real reform” has been removed at Lieberman’s behest — which won’t make it easier for liberals to swallow the emerging compromise.
From Vermont Public Radio:
Dean On Health Care: "Kill The Senate Bill"
(Host) Former Governor Howard Dean is back at the center of the health care reform debate in Washington.
Dean says the time has come for Senate Democratic leaders to kill the current health care reform bill because it's no longer worth supporting.
Dean is upset that the Democrats appear willing to weaken a public option provision in the bill in order to secure the vote of Independent Connecticut senator Joe Lieberman.
VPR's Bob Kinzel reports.
(Kinzel) Last week, in an effort to help break a logjam over whether or not to include a public option in the bill, Dean dusted off one of his plans from his 2004 presidential race. He suggested to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid that people between the ages of 55 and 65 be given the opportunity to buy into Medicare.
The compromise initially gained a fair amount of support, but over the weekend, Senator Lieberman said he would oppose it. Lieberman's opposition is important because the Democrats need 60 votes to block a Republican filibuster of the bill and they need Lieberman's support.
Dean, speaking from an airport in Puerto Rico, said the Democrats' apparent decision to appease Lieberman has left them with a bill that's not worth supporting. He thinks they should start over using a parliamentary procedure usually reserved for budget bills, known as reconciliation, which requires only a simple majority of senators to pass.
(Dean) "This is essentially the collapse of health care reform in the United States Senate. And, honestly, the best thing to do right now is kill the Senate bill and go back to the House and start the reconciliation process, where you only need 51 votes and it would be a much simpler bill."
(Kinzel) Dean defended using this alternative budget approach for a policy bill. He argues it's been used more than 20 times by recent presidents.
(Dean) "The American people don't care how we get this, as long as we get a decent process. The Republicans in the Senate will moan and groan, but they're out of touch with where America really is. You have the vast majority of Americans want the choices, they want real choices. They don't have them in this bill. This is not health care reform and it's not close to health care reform."
(Kinzel) Dean says there are a number of good elements in the current Senate bill, like more money for community health centers, which should now be passed on their own:
(Dean) "There are some good things in this bill, but they're small, and let's have a small bill for this $32 billion. Doesn't sound like a small amount, but compared to a trillion dollars - 27 percent of which is going to go to the insurance companies' pockets, it's a small price to pay to help community health care centers and prevention and wellness programs."
(Kinzel) In recent months, Dean has emerged as a leading liberal advocate for health care reform and his comments to kill the current bill could encourage some progressive members of the Senate to rethink their support for the legislation.
In a blow to the bill grinding through the Senate, Howard Dean bluntly called for the bill to be killed in a pre-recorded interview set to air later this afternoon, denouncing it as “the collapse of health care reform in the United States Senate,” the reporter who conducted the interview tells me.
Dean said the removal of the Medicare buy-in made the bill not worth supporting, and urged Dem leaders to start over with the process of reconciliation in the interview, which is set to air at 5:50 PM today on Vermont Public Radio, political reporter Bob Kinzel confirms to me.
The gauntlet from Dean — whose voice on health care is well respsected among liberals — will energize those on the left who are mobilizing against the bill, and make it tougher for liberals to embrace the emerging proposal. In an excerpt Kinzel gave me, Dean says:
“This is essentially the collapse of health care reform in the United States Senate. Honestly the best thing to do right now is kill the Senate bill, go back to the House, start the reconciliation process, where you only need 51 votes and it would be a much simpler bill.”
Kinzel added that Dean essentially said that if Democratic leaders cave into Joe Lieberman right now they’ll be left with a bill that’s not worth supporting.
Dean had previously endorsed the Medicare buy-in compromise without a public option, saying that the key question should be whether the bill contains enough “real reform” to be worthy of progressives’ support. Dean has apparently concluded that the “real reform” has been removed at Lieberman’s behest — which won’t make it easier for liberals to swallow the emerging compromise.
From Vermont Public Radio:
Dean On Health Care: "Kill The Senate Bill"
(Host) Former Governor Howard Dean is back at the center of the health care reform debate in Washington.
Dean says the time has come for Senate Democratic leaders to kill the current health care reform bill because it's no longer worth supporting.
Dean is upset that the Democrats appear willing to weaken a public option provision in the bill in order to secure the vote of Independent Connecticut senator Joe Lieberman.
VPR's Bob Kinzel reports.
(Kinzel) Last week, in an effort to help break a logjam over whether or not to include a public option in the bill, Dean dusted off one of his plans from his 2004 presidential race. He suggested to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid that people between the ages of 55 and 65 be given the opportunity to buy into Medicare.
The compromise initially gained a fair amount of support, but over the weekend, Senator Lieberman said he would oppose it. Lieberman's opposition is important because the Democrats need 60 votes to block a Republican filibuster of the bill and they need Lieberman's support.
Dean, speaking from an airport in Puerto Rico, said the Democrats' apparent decision to appease Lieberman has left them with a bill that's not worth supporting. He thinks they should start over using a parliamentary procedure usually reserved for budget bills, known as reconciliation, which requires only a simple majority of senators to pass.
(Dean) "This is essentially the collapse of health care reform in the United States Senate. And, honestly, the best thing to do right now is kill the Senate bill and go back to the House and start the reconciliation process, where you only need 51 votes and it would be a much simpler bill."
(Kinzel) Dean defended using this alternative budget approach for a policy bill. He argues it's been used more than 20 times by recent presidents.
(Dean) "The American people don't care how we get this, as long as we get a decent process. The Republicans in the Senate will moan and groan, but they're out of touch with where America really is. You have the vast majority of Americans want the choices, they want real choices. They don't have them in this bill. This is not health care reform and it's not close to health care reform."
(Kinzel) Dean says there are a number of good elements in the current Senate bill, like more money for community health centers, which should now be passed on their own:
(Dean) "There are some good things in this bill, but they're small, and let's have a small bill for this $32 billion. Doesn't sound like a small amount, but compared to a trillion dollars - 27 percent of which is going to go to the insurance companies' pockets, it's a small price to pay to help community health care centers and prevention and wellness programs."
(Kinzel) In recent months, Dean has emerged as a leading liberal advocate for health care reform and his comments to kill the current bill could encourage some progressive members of the Senate to rethink their support for the legislation.
Tags: Howard Dean, Kill the Senate Bill, healthcare
Views: 8
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Mark Mentzer on
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Sorry jacquin, I agree with Toby below.
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I agree completely. This is a pat on the back to the insurance companies.
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Permalink Reply by Westerly_2 on
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Gee, RW, this is really strong language. You must be more baffled and ticked than even I. The man is making a doormat of himself and inviting preening blowhards and fools to walk all over him. I can't believe the foolishness. I hope he finally gets the message at the last minute - and I like the guy -personally, and I respect his ideals. If he pulls it off we won't have to shop around for a new democrat and risk losing ground. To pander to nihilists to get held up by a popinjay from a small state in the insurance capital of the world with his my way or the highway attitude. It boggles the mind.
Probably, they should kill it, and go the reconcilitaionway. It's nothing good as it is. Or... please, talk me down from this. -
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Permalink Reply by Bull on
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I've never been a huge fan of Michael Moore but he has an Idea I love.
http://www.michaelmoore.com/
'Boycott Connecticut'
Mike to organize boycott of Connecticut businesses,
urges people to hold rallies, flood Lieberman's
office with phone calls and e-mails
Cancel Your Aetna Insurance Policy
Aetna gives Lieberman money... don't give them yours
Cancel Your Policy with The Hartford
If we can't have real health care reform,
they can't have our money
For More Ideas of Connecticut Products to Boycott,
Check Out the Comments and Add Your Own!
DO SOMETHING!
Give Joe Lieberman a Call | Send Him an Email -
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