Research Briefing

Democrats Going To War Against Each Other Over Government Takeover Of Health Insurance 

FAR-LEFT SMEARS DEM SENATORS AS “CORRUPT” FOR OPPOSING HEALTH CARE EXPERIMENT

Group Founded By Former DNC Chair Howard Dean Continues Attacks On Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE). “Liberal activists have significantly ratcheted up their brewing fight with centrist Democratic Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.), who will be a pivotal vote in the Senate’s healthcare reform debate. A liberal activist working with an advocacy group founded by former Democratic National Committee chairman Howard Dean has attacked Nelson as ‘bought and paid for by health and insurance interests’ and suggested he is ‘corrupt’ and ‘out of touch …’ Adam Green, the co-founder of the Progressive Change Campaign Committee (PCCC), made the charges in a scathing statement that said Nelson ‘feels perfectly comfortable lying to his constituents’ if he continues to object to a liberal TV ad criticizing him.’” (Alexander Bolton, “Nelson, Liberals Escalate Feud,” The Hill, 8/3/09)

Dem Lawmaker Accuses Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT) Of Sabotaging Government-Run Health Care Plan. “Beyond the Blue Dogs, progressives also had concerns about Senate Finance Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) attempting to strip the public insurance option — a must for House liberals — from the bill … some Members worried Baucus is being influenced by insurance companies to gut that provision. ‘The feeling is, he’s working to subvert the bill,’ said one lawmaker. ‘Somebody’s got to raise the question about “pay to play” here at some point. I mean, it’s like what the hell is going on here.’” (Jennifer Bendery, “Liberals Raise Concerns Over Blue Dog, Baucus Efforts On Health Bill,” Roll Call, 7/28/09) 

SENATE DEMS VS. SENATE DEMS ON GOVERNMENT TAKEOVER OF HEALTH INSURANCE

Sen. Kent Conrad Supporting Co-Ops, Says So-Called “Public Option” Does Not Have Votes To Pass Senate. “Under the Finance Committee proposal, co-ops could form on the state, regional and national level. If one state lacks a co-op, adjoining states could move in and offer one. There could be a national co-op as well, but it would need to be licensed in every state, Conrad said. ‘There are not the votes for the public option in the U.S. Senate,’ Conrad said in an interview Saturday. ‘My grandmother said you can curse the darkness, or light the candle. You can wish and hope and push for something that according to every vote count will not get enough votes in the U.S. Senate. That was the reason I was asked to come up with the alternative.’” (Carrie Budoff Brown and Patrick O’Connor, “Senate Dems Spar Over Public Plan,” Politico, 8/2/09)

But Sen. John Rockefeller (D-WV) Says He Will Block Co-Ops In Finance Committee. “[I]nternal clashes about the government insurance option have begun to spill into the open — as Sen. John Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) has gone public with his case against consumer-owned health care cooperatives, which are viewed as a compromise between progressives who want a public competitor to private insurers and Republicans who don’t want a new government plan. ‘I will be darned if I support or allow to move forward — to the extent that I can make a noise about it — something which sounds user-friendly,’ Rockefeller said in an interview. ‘What I have to worry about is, are co-ops going to be effective taking on these gigantic insurance companies? And from everything I know from people who represent them, the answer is a flat “no.”’” (Carrie Budoff Brown and Patrick O’Connor, “Senate Dems Spar Over Public Plan,” Politico, 8/2/09)

Rockefeller Considering “Reconciliation” Procedure To Rush Government-Run Health Care Through Senate. “At some point, one side is going to have to give in — or walk, forcing Democratic congressional leaders to use a procedural maneuver known as reconciliation. It would allow Democrats to pass a bill in the Senate with a simple majority, rather than with the 60-vote, filibuster-proof threshold. ‘If it is a choice between getting a good health care bill and doing it in reconciliation, I will take that in a shot,’ Rockefeller said. ‘What I don’t like is no result. And if it takes more time to get a result — even if has to be done through reconciliation as a last resort — don’t think I am going to lose sleep over that.’” (Carrie Budoff Brown and Patrick O’Connor, “Senate Dems Spar Over Public Plan,” Politico, 8/2/09)