Senate Moderates Warm to Reconciliation (Roll Call)

[jefferson_dem]

Senate Moderates Warm to Reconciliation
March 4, 2010
By Emily Pierce and David M. Drucker
Roll Call Staff

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Senate Democratic centrists aren’t saying “yes” just yet, but when it comes to passing a crucial piece of the health care reform puzzle, party leaders have reason to be optimistic that enough of their most fickle Members will put them over the top.
With few exceptions, Democratic moderates interviewed Wednesday revealed little resistance to the idea of using controversial budget reconciliation rules to clear the final health care reform package and deliver it to the president’s desk. Given their strong opposition to embracing this strategy when health care was being debated last year, their fresh openness could prove significant even if some moderates ultimately vote “no.”

“There are plenty of people in our caucus who would like to not vote for reconciliation, but my guess is 51 is something can get,” said one Democratic Senator of the simple-majority vote needed for passage. “This is like a box canyon, and reconciliation is the only way out.”

Majority Leader Harry Reid’s (D-Nev.) repeated urgings for centrists to hold their fire on reconciliation has clearly paid off; it has allowed moderates to keep their votes flexible as the party weathered the loss of its supermajority on Jan. 19 when Sen. Scott Brown (R-Mass.) was elected.

Reid, Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and President Barack Obama have known for more than a month that they were likely going to have to use reconciliation to get health care over the final legislative hump. But just recently the trio officially settled on a strategy that would require the House to approve the $871 billion Senate-passed bill and both chambers to pass a reconciliation measure that addresses House complaints about the Senate measure. Reid can afford to lose eight to nine Democrats and still pass the bill, perhaps with the vote of Vice President Joseph Biden, who serves as President of the Senate and can vote if there is a tie in the chamber.

http://www.rollcall.com/issues/55_98/news/43824-1.html?type=printer_friendly

[bigdarryl]

1. Why the fuck are so called centrist Dem's always getting the attention from the media

when the majority of the party is PROGRESSIVE

[Jennicut]

2. It is the media....they don't even know the difference between the nuclear option and reconciliation

Or at least they "pretend" not to know. Listen to them with a grain of salt at all times.

[Clio the Leo]

5. Not this time....

.... the Blue Dogs are the ones that have to be convinced to use reconciliation. The rest of the party has been on board for quite some time. So any movement by a Blue Dog in favor of reconciliation IS news because it's a good thing. We have to get to 216 votes and we cant do it without the center of the party.

[Jennicut]

7. Well, that is true.

[Clio the Leo]

4. umm..... because it's their votes we need.

Most of the progressives are jumping up and down to vote "yes" at this point. But we need EVERYONE.

[karynnj]

9. Because the progressive Senators already committed to vote for this

It was the moderates who were questionable.

Because of this the moderates will always get the most attention.

[depakid]

3. Funny how the prospect of losing one's cush public position- with all the perks

"warms" even the most complicit to getting something done.

Of course, getting something popular and effective done would be a better choice, but for some of these fools, that's apparently too much to ask.

[Peacetrain]

6. By what ever means necessary.. this is going to get done..

[Arkana]

8. Show strength and the weakest of your group will fall in line.

The Democrats are showing spine, so the "moderates" have decided they can throw in their lot with their own party for once.