Landrieu Changes Position, Wants to Move Forward Using Reconciliation

[Clio the Leo]

<snip>

Even some Democrats who had been reluctant to support the original package seemed ready to ignore a growing barrage of criticism from Republicans such as Sen. Orrin G. Hatch (Utah), who characterized reconciliation in a Washington Post opinion piece Tuesday as an attempt to "jam" a bill through Congress "against the will of the American people."

Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.), a crucial swing vote who opposed the use of reconciliation in the early stages of last year's health-care debate, said she is comfortable using the procedure to advance a narrower package of changes to the legislation. "The general feeling in our caucus is we've worked very hard, this is a very reasonable, general approach to health-care reform, that the status quo is wholly unacceptable, and that we're hoping to move forward," Landrieu said Tuesday.

Reconciliation is a procedure created in 1974 to help lawmakers advance politically difficult budget legislation, particularly measures that reduce the deficit. It has been used 22 times by both parties since 1980 to promote a variety of policies, including overhauling the welfare system, creating COBRA health benefits for people who lose their jobs, and cutting taxes in two huge packages championed by President George W. Bush in 2001 and 2003.

Administration officials have for days signaled support for the maneuver; White House health-care reform adviser Nancy-Ann DeParle called Sunday for "a simple up-or-down vote" on the legislation. In a letter sent Tuesday to congressional leaders, Obama flatly rejected GOP demands to scrap the existing legislation and start over with more modest measures.

more...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/02/AR2010030200175.html

[hlthe2b]

1. Did she wake up to news of the primary challenge to Blanche Lincoln

and have this epiphany? :eyes:

[WhiteTara]

3. yep. n/t

[xxqqqzme]

4. I think she must have heard the

courtesy call on line one.

[Jennicut]

5. Of course. This is why primary challengers against conservadems can be useful.

[OHdem10]

6. My thoughts exactly.

[Clio the Leo]

8. Maybe, but....

.... I think she was given assurances that HER LA deal would be safe (as it should have been. Hurricane victims were about to get screwed by Fed. law and her deal was justified IMO.)

And to her credit, in the fall, she was against reconciliation for the ENTIRE bill ... and we all know this is NOT what's going on here. ;)

Regardless of her motivation, I'll take it.

[kjackson227]

2. WOW! I'm totally shocked at this news...

some are beginning to think that Lincoln will change her mind soon too. Time will tell.

[Mass]

7. When did she oppose reconciliation?

[Clio the Leo]

9. ....

Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La. Another conservative Southern Democrat who doesn't like the image reconciliation would send -- or rather, the image the GOP would paint of Democrats somehow forcing the country to accept healthcare reform just because a majority of both chambers of Congress favors it. "I'm not for using reconciliation for healthcare -- I'm just not," Landrieu said a few weeks ago after a Democratic caucus meeting with President Obama. "If we couldn't get a bill through the Congress that had broad support, I said we shouldn't have a bill." Getting her on board would probably require better messaging than Reid's office and the White House have managed so far. There's no particular reason why a majority vote should be seen as insufficient for passing reform, but lawmakers like Landrieu will need more political cover than they've found so far if they're going to support the tactic.

http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2010/02/17/healthcare_reconciliation/

[Donnachaidh]

10. whoops -- Guess Mary needs a shipment of these

Personally, I still think she should be challenged.

[Doremus]

11. When the Republidems say they'll vote for the bill you get an inkling how cruddy it is. nt

[DevonRex]

12. Looks like somebody's been putting pressure on her. Good. nt

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

13. We'll just call this the "Blanche Lincoln Effect"

Message Received!

[MadBadger]

14. This is her on board with reconciliaton, but not the public option, right?

[Cha]

15. Wow, if Landrieu can do it ..my Blue Dog in NY

should gather the courage.