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Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2009 | 8:25 a.m.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nev., left, and Senate Budget Committee Chairman Sen. Kent Conrad, D-N.D. walk on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Dec. 10, 2009, following the Democratic policy luncheon.
Sun Coverage
WASHINGTON -- On the eve of today’s pivotal meeting of the Senate Democratic caucus at the White House, President Barack Obama expressed confidence that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid would carry health care reform legislation to the finish line.
“He’s going to get it done,” said Obama, upbeat during brief remarks to the Las Vegas Sun during an event Monday night at the White House.
The president spoke confidently of Reid, and said he does not believe the majority leader is “getting enough credit for the courage he’s shown.”
Reid, he added, is “doing what’s right for the country.”
The majority leader is struggling to secure the 60 votes necessary from his politically diverse Democratic senators to pass the president’s signature domestic policy priority by Christmas.
The legislation would end unpopular insurance industry practices, such as denying coverage for pre-existing conditions, while mandating that all Americans carry health care policies -- with subsidies given to help some households afford it.
Reid needs every vote from his 60-member caucus amid a wall of Republican opposition.
Earlier in the evening, as the third week of the Senate floor debate began, Reid called a quickly-planned meeting of the caucus after Sen. Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut disclosed Sunday he could not support the latest proposal, potentially derailing the legislation.
Lieberman, an independent who caucuses with Democrats, is among several from the caucus who expressed reservations about the latest proposal to allow those aged 55 to 64 to purchase insurance from a Medicare-like program.
Democrats are at a crossroads as the deadline nears, and a decision to abandon the Medicare provision to appease the Connecticut senator could cost support from liberals who have fought for a government-run alternative to private insurers. A public option plan, which would have been open to all uninsured Americans as an alternative to private insurance, had been swapped out last week for the Medicare proposal.
Monday evening’s closed door meeting lasted more than an hour, punctuated by at least one outburst of applause.
If Reid hopes to pass the bill by Christmas, he must begin a complicated series of procedural votes this week.
Obama has not outwardly meddled in the intricacies of the debate, allowing Congress to craft bills in the House and Senate.
But this afternoon, Senate Democrats will travel en masse to the White House to meet with him on the issue.
Harry's Last Hurrah, one way or the other. His epitath will be: "instrumental in turning the U.S. into a marginal nation through massive government over-spending."
"while mandating that all Americans carry health care policies"
If this passes, I'll be very interested in seeing how it gets torn apart by the Supreme Court when the first prisoner appeals his conviction (for not buying insurance.)
Would that clause be stricken or would the whole bill become void?
O is spending too much time in front of a mirror asking "Who's the fairest of them all?" He doesn't quite realize yet that Gried is making him a one-termer. The only way for him to salvage anything at all is if NevaDUH fixes the problem for him by eliminating Gried the Groveler.
The talk radio nuts are melting down. Health care reform is a done deal.
Right wing groups, the M.O. is to hold up armored cars (Ukiah CA) A hold up that funded many right wing causes. The federal authorities should raid tea party meetings and other such talk radio inspired groups to search for evidence in the Palace Station stick-up.
Sean Insannity should be subjected to "unconventional interrogation" to find out what he knows about it.
Obooma say's,"Greid is as blind as I am in how to run this country"!I'm dieing to see how the next election plays out?Down it's current path,AMERICA as we know will be gone!!!
It is amazing to read the comments about Health care reform from those that oppose it for no particular reason other than they are not Democrats.
I don't want any part of a socialistic medical reform package either, but so far the "no" factors have contributed nothing of any value to the reforms.
I have yet to see any alternative to fixing this mess from those opposed to the "Democrats' fix".
If those that oppose the reforms have ideas that will contribute to solving this mess and not continue to make the medical machine more unresponsive and wealthy, then lets hear it.
If you have nothing to offer but "no" then you are not part of the solution.
Harry and Harrah's = The future of Las Vegas.
Harry is a blessing to Nevada - believe it or not! Go Harry! Thank you Harry!
AMAZING! Las Vegas water is rated among the worst in the nation according to a study released today by a Washington, DC-based environmental working group and NOT one mention of it in the LV Sun?? We were ranked 98th out of 100 cities in the U.S. Is that bad water I smell, or a cover up? Sounds like some changes are in order for the LVWD Management.
Recent polls show 56% of the nation oppose the current bill and only 40% approve; yet Harry claims he's "doing what's right for the country."
No small wonder why he has a 17% approval. Even the die hard liberals are having a hard time supporting this out of touch spend-thrift.
Those that do support him are the ones that would suggest right wing groups hold up armored cars.....
Who do you identify with ? Those that rant ridiculously irrational invective and irresponsible spending, or those that are listening to the public's REAL desires ?
Harry is the Casper Milquetoast of the US Senate.
No balls.
Tell Lieberman to go to hell.
Pass the the bill through reconciliation.
Leiberman, Nelson, Landrieu, Lincoln will all be gone in the next election.
Too Big Too Fail Senator Harry Greid has been giving us the Bums Rush for a long time now to appease several Democrats who could not support Harry and Obama, Obama is giving up very little to BUY their votes.
This is Greid's PAYOLA machine in action.
Earlier this year, the White House and Congress announced backroom agreements under which hospitals and the drug industry promised cost savings in return for the overhaul's expected expansion in the number of insured patients.
President Obama's and his top aides met frequently behind closed doors with over 500 health care industry LOBBYIST heavyweights as his administration pieced together a national health care overhaul, according to White House visitor records obtained under a FOIA request by The Associated Press.
The only person not represented by Obama is the individual consumer
SEIU President Andy Stern
Barry Rand the AARP group chief executive
George Halvorson, chairman and CEO of Kaiser Health Plans;
Scott Serota, president and CEO of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association;
Kenneth Kies, a Washington lobbyist who represents Blue Cross/Blue Shield,
Billy Tauzin, head of PhRMA, the drug industry lobby;
Richard Umbdenstock, chief of the American Hospital Association,
Laird Burnett, a top lobbyist for insurer Kaiser Foundation Health Plan Inc
Joel Johnson, a lobbyist with United Healthcare Services Inc. and Kinetic Concepts Inc., a medical products maker
Dr. J. James Rohack, the AMA's president
Richard Trachtman, who lobbies for the American College of Physician Services Inc., which represents internists.
Terrible thing bad water, you didn't know Nevada needs a lot of help for this !
Kill the Bill
: [
If Lieberman does not support the medicare buy-in along with the rest of the health care bill, Harry should make it plain to him that no bill having funding for the state of Israel will make it to the floor of the senate.
I am so embarrassed that Harry Reid is from Nevada.
I am embarrassed by many of these comments - I do think that single payer would be the best and would be happy to see the insurance industry death panels to be gone.
lwmiller - "I have yet to see any alternative to fixing this mess from those opposed to the "Democrats' fix". "
Is it ignorance or unadulterated partisanship that causes you to say that? You might have said, "I didn't see it on CNN or MSNBC" or, "Chris Matthews said it so it must be true."
The fact that you haven't seen any alternative means you haven't looked - or you prefer to keep the liberal misinformation alive.
What did you find when you googled "republican health care plan" or did you forget that step?
With no "Public Option" Reid's Health Care bill will Force annual Private Health Insurance Costs on Americans equal to what many pay in Income Taxes; that will cause rent and mortgage defaults. Will Reid's health bill allow people time to sell their homes so they can buy forced private health insurance? Homeowners that can't afford health insurance or opt-out penalties, IRS can file liens destroying their credit; American families deemed not poor for Government subsidized insurance, may have to sell their home or borrow money to buy health insurance or pay Opt-Out penalties with money needed for medical expenses. The annual expense of Forced health insurance will lower home values, by disqualify homebuyer mortgage applicants needed to support home selling prices and values that secure trillions in bank held mortgages. Sen. Reid's forced private health insurance costs will make it impossible for many Americans to pay rent and other bills.
mikegino - Thank you for writing Harry Reid's name and the word "epitaph" in the same sentence. If only for a fleeting second, many of us got excited.
And Harry Reid will be office come the 2010 election...... ;)
Suppose to say OUT of office.
That's why you proofread, JSpence.
The only thing Lieberman (and, to a degree Lincoln, Nelson, et al) have accomplished in watering down the health care reform in the Senate is to become culpable for it's success or failure.
Meanwhile the far-right is demonizing those in it's own party who dare to work towards reform.
Maine's Senator Susan Collins said, "I think something is going to pass, and I would like to make that bill as good as possible, even if ultimately it's not a bill that I can support. I believe that I have an obligation to improve the bill, not to just say no."
It's a shame that sentiment isn't shared by more Republicans.
The American people do not what government run health care, the latest polls show that 61% are opposed, I am one of this majority of Americans that think this is wrong! The people don't want it, the doctors don't want it and the insurance companies don't want it so why is Harry supporting it? He is opposing the will of the people and supporting jamming this un-wanted, government controlled health care bill down the throat of the American people it will certainty mean the end of his career. Their is nothing in the constitution that says government can force this on the American people. I demand that he honor your oath of office and protect and defend the constitution! This is an intrusion into our liberty!
Insurance companies don't want it?
What a putz
No public option, so no price controls. in four years when the act goes into effect [right 4 years from now], it will cost 20-30,000 per person. no one will sign up. what a waste of hot air.
Fortunately, Harry will be long gone. Why would anyone, Democrat, Independant, Republican, vote for him now? He might as well leave next month, and let Joe L. take over the leadership position. and let Jim , Nevada's most popular politicain appoint a successor.
Take care of the freeloaders and social parasites.
Bring back Bush! Obama is a subhuman moron.
larry5: We can do it. We owe it to all the Marines and soldiers that he stabbed in the back with his quip, "The war is lost." Our heros were still fighting the enemy and in harm's way when he uttered this sedition.
yes, through bribery and coercion reiid will try his damnedest to get it down.....vote reid out in 2010....
It's pretty ironic that Obama views health care as his legacy.
Bush:Katrina ... 1,836 deaths
Obama:H1N1 Virus ... 4,000 deaths - and counting
Funny how the liberal press was all over Katrina as a failure of the Bush administration but they don't associate the dismal H1N1 virus situation as a failure of Obama's.