Health Reform Update: Compromising the Compromise of the Compromised Compromise

[IndianaGreen]

Published on Thursday, December 3, 2009 by Talking Points Memo

Health Reform Update: Compromising the Compromise of the Compromised Compromise

With Health Reform At Stake, Senators Scramble To Reach Public Option Compromise

by Brian Beutler

WASHINGTON - Key Democrats in the Senate, accompanied by party leadership, are bearing down on a solution to the public option problem that has dogged the caucus for months now. They're holding a constant series of meetings, bringing liberals and conservatives together to reach a compromise--seemingly modeled on a trigger--that can garner 60 votes. And interestingly, one key public option supporter seems pleased.

<snip>

According to Landrieu, the focus right now is on a version of a proposal, first proposed by Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME), and modified by Sen. Tom Carper (D-DE), to attach the public option to a trigger.

"What I could support is something like a competitive community option...which would be triggered," Landrieu said. "Various moderates have slightly different versions of that."

"That's where the discussion is right now," Landrieu added. "There has to be a decision soon."

http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2009/12/03-8

What a POS!

[kenny blankenship]

1. competitive community option...which would be triggered

If I read that right, she means co-ops but only with a trigger. Truly this has degenerated past all satirizing.

[damntexdem]

2. But can they promise what they've compromised?

Or will they just compromise what they've promised?

[Tom Rinaldo]

3. The only way I can stomach this is as a temporary tactic

If this is the only way to get a Senate bill with some mention of a Public Option to the House Senate Conference AND if that conference embraces the House version of the Public Option for the final bill which will then return to the Senate for a straight up or down vote, THEN and ONLY then I can accept the need to have made this 5th generation compromise in the original Senate version.

The Democrats are gambling with high stakes, starting with our literal lives. If they anger their base by allowing a compromise like this to be in the final legislation that passes, they will limp into the next elections with absolutely no wind in their sails.

[IndianaGreen]

4. Don't forget that Ben Nelson wants Stupak language in Senate version

if he succeeds, it will make this bill poison to all of us that believe in reproductive rights, just on that issue alone!