Pass the Senate HCR Bill NOW, fix it later ~ SEIU president Andy Stern

[mzmolly]

HUFFPO

"Take the Senate bill as it is as the foundation to find ways whether through reconciliation or other legislative processes to try and fix the things that a lot of people think need to be fixed both now in the House and the Senate," Stern said. "I think going through reconciliation we don't have Ben Nelson or Joe Lieberman to kick around anymore. So the 58 other senators get to decide something they maybe didn't get to decide the first time around because of the hostage-taking that is going on in the Senate."

Stern wasn't done lashing out at Lieberman, Nelson and the other conservative members of the Senate Democratic caucus. Reflecting on the policy changes that these senators secured during health care negotiations, he argued that the country "should send the national security people over to explain to them why we don't negotiate with terrorists..."

"Because there are a lot of terrorists in the Senate who think we are supposed to negotiate with them when they have their particular needs that they want met," he added.

"Are the Senate rules really appropriate for a 21st-century country where we can create gridlock by very limited hard work?" Stern added. "If we are going to have filibusters, let's at least have a debate. At least make people go to the floor. Let's put the cots on the floor permanently... Change can easily die in the wells of the Senate."

Asked how badly he wanted filibuster reform, he replied: "Very badly."

[gateley]

1. Anybody think this will be the route we take? nt

[mzmolly]

2. I do.

:hi:

[gateley]

5. Good. I just needed someone to tell me that and allay my worries.

:pals:

I realized that my initial response has become "that makes sense, but we'll never do it" -- Already have a defeatist attitude. :(

[mzmolly]

12. I understand completely.

:hug:

[Purveyor]

3. IMO it is the only way for any healthcare reform bill to be passed. Take it or leave it, this will

be the last 'bite at the apple'...

[mzmolly]

4. I agree. And those who say the Unions will be angry if we pass the Senate bill

need to find another talking point.

[TheKentuckian]

6. We probably don't have 50 votes for much other than the union fix

Think about it. We know we can forget Lieberman, Ben Nelson, Pryor, Landrieu, Lincoln, and Bayh right off the bat so that takes us down to 53. How solid are the likes of Webb, Bill Nelson, McCaskil, and so on? We've got a lot of deadwood and even more that's questionable. I think Lieberman and Nelson just served to hide the extent of the rot.

So, this piece of crap is hopefully dead as fried chicken.

I love my rep and think he's a part of the solution but I'll be hard pressed to vote for anyone that pushes this monstrosity on the American people as it stands now.

No long term worries though, the current system is utterly unsustainable, boomers will be retiring, the budget will be pushed to the seams, and the pain will spread which means they will have to continue to try to address this pickle and maybe next time we'll be allowed to have an actual solution that will at the least put some real controls on big insurance or even eliminate the criminal middle man.

[mzmolly]

7. I hear we have the 51. And I hope like hell it's not dead.

eom

[ixion]

8. bad advice, in my opinion

to think that you can 'fix' it later is bad planning.

[mzmolly]

9. Of course we'd need to assure we have the votes to fix it later.

I'm all for it.

[grantcart]

10. exactly

[mzmolly]

11. Thank-y.

:hi: I agree with Stern as well, and I'm glad he's lending his voice to progress.

[mzmolly]

13. Kicking to demosntrate that major unions support HCR reform.

:kick:

[mzmolly]

14. Too bad he didn't consult with Jane Hamshire first huh? Why then we could all

get behind the idea, right!? :eyes: