Research Briefing

No Prescription In Sight To Cure Rising Disarray Among Dems Over Government-Run Health Care Experiment

The Hill’s Sam Youngman: “July Has Been A Disaster For Obama, Hill Dems.” (The Hill, 7/27/09)

AS AUGUST RECESS APPROACHES, CHAOS AMONG DEMOCRATS INCREASES

Pelosi: “I Do Think The Health Care Bill Is A Stimulus Package.” (CNN’s “State Of The Union,” 7/26/09)

Despite Pelosi’s Pledge To Pass Government-Run Health Care, Fellow Dems Fear “Shell-Shocked” Constituents Over Out-Of-Control Experiments Like Stimulus. “Defying skeptics in her party, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi vowed Sunday to overcome lingering obstacles and pass health-care reform in the House … rank-and-file Democrats are bracing for an intense August at home as their constituents are hit with a wave of advertising from business groups opposed to the legislation and liberal interest groups supporting it. ‘I think the people are shell-shocked,’ said Rep. Michael Arcuri (D-N.Y.), linking the recent passage of the $700 billion financial bailout, the $787 billion economic recovery package, climate change and other major bills approved this year. ‘So much is happening so quickly that what is happening is people are blending it all together,’ said Arcuri, who was elected in 2006.” (Shailagh Murray & Paul Kane, “Pelosi Vows Passage of Health-Care Overhaul,” The Washington Post, 7/27/09)

Today’s Politico: “New Deadlines, New Woes For Health Bill.” “After a week of major setbacks on health reform, White House officials and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi did their best to sound upbeat Sunday, with new deadlines looming to move bills out of key committees before the August recess … But things look a lot different for some members and senators — some of whom said Sunday they don’t think a quick resolution in either chamber is guaranteed right now, no matter how much President Barack Obama wants it.  … Last week, Obama was still pushing for both the full House and Senate to move bills before going on summer vacation. Now, reform advocates are down to hoping for committee action in each house, and even that isn’t certain.” (Carrie Budoff Brown, “New Deadlines, New Woes For Health Bill,” Politico, 7/27/09)

Fellow Democrats Question House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s Confidence In Passing Government-Run Health Care. “White House officials and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi continued to say on Sunday that progress was being made on legislation to overhaul the health-care system, but fiscally conservative Democrats remained less optimistic …” (Brian Knowlton And Derrick Henry, “Democrats Disagree On State Of Health Reform Bill,” The New York Times, 7/27/09)

Blue Dogs Resist Pressure, Continue To “Humiliate” Leadership. “So-called Blue Dog Democrats continued to resist key aspects of their party's health-care overhaul Sunday, despite pressure from party leaders who fear they will endanger President Barack Obama's most ambitious legislative effort … The power of the Blue Dogs was on full display Friday, when they humiliated California Rep. Henry Waxman, one of the most liberal Democrats on Capitol Hill … On Friday morning, Rep. Waxman went before cameras and fired a blast at seven Blue Dogs on his committee ...” (Naftali Bendavid, “’Blue Dog’ Democrats Hold Health-Care Overhaul At Bay,” The Wall Street Journal, 7/27/09)

Even Labor Unions In Disarray. “SEIU leader Andy Stern is using alliances with big business to push for a prominent seat at the table in Washington's health-care debate, annoying some other union leaders in the process. The most notable ally of the Service Employees International Union president is Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the world's largest retailer and a company most labor officials cite as their anti-union poster child … it raised eyebrows among union officials skeptical of Wal-Mart's record on labor issues …” (Melanie Trottman, “SEIU Healthcare Push Aided By Walmart,” The Wall Street Journal, 7/27/09)