TPM: On healthcare reform, Dashcle demurs

[antigop]

http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/01/on_health_reform_process_daschle_demurs_to_gopers.php

Buried in today's New York Times piece on Tom Daschle's confirmation hearing before the Senate health committee is a possible revelation on his plans for passing health care reform this year.

Daschle, tapped by Barack Obama to head the health and human services department, had hinted as far back as June that he would consider using the "reconciliation" process as a way to fast-track broad health reforms. Reconciliation is a procedural tool, presaged in annual congressional budgets, that allows deficit-reducing legislation to be taken up in the Senate with no ability to filibuster and limited ability to amend -- an anti-democratic proposition in theory, but a weapon often used by Republicans during their years in the majority.

Reconciliation could be a boost to Democrats as they anticipate Republican pushback to a new public health insurance option as part of the Obama team's plan. But Daschle told senators yesterday that he would not use reconciliation to secure passage of health care reform, per the Times:

Mr. Daschle said the Obama administration would not try to rush health care legislation through Congress under expedited budget procedures, which would limit the opportunity for debate and amendments.

As the New Republic and Ezra Klein point out, Daschle is on record saying passing health reform through reconciliation should be a Plan B, not the initial strategy. But if Democrats do end up using the filibuster-free method to get the health care plan approved, Republicans are now free to accuse Daschle of going back on his word.

We'll know more next month, when the budget resolutions in both the House and Senate ar released, with or without reconciliation included.

[bluestateguy]

1. I have no doubt that health care reform is high up on the priority list

I refuse to take news leaks and rumors seriously.

I believe health care will be high up on the list, right after passing the stimulus.

But a lot of other single issue interest groups are going to have to take a number, have a seat and wait their turn.

[antigop]

2. Either Daschle said it or he didn't. TPM references the NY Times that says he did and will allow

filibusters.

[northernlights]

3. I think the smart thing to do...

would be to honestly try to "cross the aisle" and allow the rethug obstructists to do their thing, and give them every chance to succeed or fail. If they are smart, they will not fight change too hard. Of course, we know they're morans, not brains.

Once it becomes clear they aren't going to go along with *anything* that is not 100% what they (the voted out minority) want and 0% of what's right for the counrty (and wanted by the majority), then you can resort to the fast track, filibuster proof solution and get it done.

That way, they had their chance, they blew it and there's no room for them to complain.

That's basically how I used to manage my (internal) clients and vendors. I gave them every possibility to succeed and no excuse to fail. When they still did fail and tried to cover it with lame excuses and kissing up to my boss with flattery and gifts, in the case of my clients their managers ate their heads and in the case of the vendors, I could safely drop them without reprisals from purchasing or my boss.

If they behaved, we jointly owned the success. If they refused to work with me, they owned their failure while the project went on to succeed without them.

It's how I cut through the political bs, graft and ol' boys network. It's hard work and it took the political will of the powers that be. But the company was up against it and at least that corner of it finally had the political will.