GOOD NEWS! Clyburn: House Dems Will Pass Senate Bill If Fix Is Guaranteed...

[jefferson_dem]

Clyburn: House Dems Will Pass Senate Bill If Fix Is Guaranteed; Urges Obama To Push Dems Harder

An influential House Democrat is now predicting that House Dems will pass the Senate health bill if they are persuaded they have a guarantee that it will be fixed in reconciliation — a declaration that could give a boost of momentum for the prospects of getting reform done via this route.

In an interview with me, House majority whip James Clyburn also urged the President to throw his weight behind this approach during tomorrow’s State of the Union Address, declaring that it would be “helpful.”

The comments from Clyburn — who’s been canvassing opinion from members in recent days — could contribute to a growing sense that this is course of action most likely to succeed, and could give ammo to to those pressing this case.

“I feel certain that the House Democrats will pass health care reform if the fixes that we feel need to be made to the Senate bill are guaranteed,” Clyburn said. Asked directly if the House votes would be there if this happened, Clyburn said: “Yes, sir.”

Clyburn’s comments suggest that if Dem leaders figure out a way of demonstrating to House Democrats that the reconciliation fix is iron-clad, they could support the Senate bill in large enough numbers to pass.

<SNIP>

http://theplumline.whorunsgov.com/health-care/clyburn-house-dems-will-pass-senate-bill-if-fix-is-guaranteed-urges-obama-to-push-dems-harder/

[skyounkin]

1. If they fail to deliver this

they are done in Nov.

[Teaser]

2. rock.

hope this news survives the caucus meetings.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

3. slip in a public option

[bain_sidhe]

4. I suggest that the Senate pass the "fix" FIRST.

Talk is cheap. In the past few months, we've seen that "ironclad guarantees" are cheap, too.

[Donnachaidh]

6. no kidding -- NAFTA was supposed to be *fixed after passing* too

STILL waiting on THAT..... :grr:

[Pab Sungenis]

8. The "fix" needs to amend the law put in place by the bill.

If it's passed first, the Senate bill would override the fixes.

[tishaLA]

5. The House must feel like it's been getting punked by the Senate for the past year

The House members stick out their necks only to have the Senate Democrats wielding the cleaver.

[Little Star]

7. House setting themselves up for broken promises.

A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. What fix is Clyburn wanting? A robust public option i would hope.

[DCBob]

9. meanwhile...

Democrats Slam Brakes on Health Care Overhaul Sign in to Recommend

WASHINGTON — With no clear path forward on major health care legislation, Democratic leaders in Congress effectively slammed the brakes on President Obama’s top domestic priority on Tuesday, saying that they no longer felt pressure to move quickly on a health bill after eight months of setting deadlines and missing them.

The Senate majority leader, Harry Reid, Democrat of Nevada, deflected questions about health care. “We’re not on health care now,” he said. “We’ve talked a lot about it in the past.” He added, “There is no rush,” and noted that Congress still had most of this year to work on the health bills passed in 2009 by the Senate and the House.

Mr. Reid said that he and the House speaker, Nancy Pelosi of California, were working to map out a way to complete a health care overhaul in coming months. “There are a number of options being discussed,” Mr. Reid said, emphasizing “procedural aspects” of the issue.

more: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/27/health/policy/27health.html

[mikekohr]

10. Invoke the Constitutional Option THEN immediately Vote On the Harkin Admendment

that needs 67 votes in the Senate to pass. When passed it lowers the threshold on the votes needed to kill a fillibuster.

mike kohr

[Yurovsky]

11. Single payer, nationalize drug/device companies...

it's not that complicated.

Health care is a right and the President must act aggressively against the special interests that have attempted to maintain the atatus quo. Do it now, to hell with the milqtoast losers in the party who are trying to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

No excuses...

[uponit7771]

12. Reid rencently said, "we're not on health care any more"....I pray that he's being sophistric