Research Briefing

Senate Dems Unhappy With Baucus, House Dems Unhappy With Obama, And Far-Left Unhappy With All Dems

DISARRAY RULES THE DAY WITH SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE …

THIS MORNING: “For the first time in almost a week, the bipartisan group of six Senate Finance Committee negotiators meet once again this afternoon -- at 4 p.m. in Chairman Max Baucus’s office.”(Carrie Budoff Brown, “Gang To Meet Again,” Politico’s “Live Pulse” Blog, 9/21/09)

THIS AFTERNOON: “Ok, so the gang will not meet today. As of 1:10 p.m., both Baucus and Grassley's office were confirming the meeting. Thirty minutes later, Pulse got word that it was postponed, with no word on rescheduling.”(Carrie Budoff Brown, “Gang To Meet Again,” Politico’s “Live Pulse” Blog, 9/21/09)

WHILE SENATE DEMS “LET LOOSE,” OFFERING 269 AMENDMENTS TO BAUCUS’ BILL …

Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-WV): “There’s very hot discussion … At the second-to-last meeting with Baucus, Democrats really let loose at Baucus.” (Michael O’Brien, “Rockefeller: Dems Have 'Let Loose' Against Baucus,” The Hill’s “Briefing Room” Blog, 9/18/09)

Democrats In Senate Finance Committee Offer 269 Of 564 Total Amendments To Baucus’s Bill, Meaning Each Democrat Submitting Over 22 Amendments On Average. (Senate Finance Committee, Summary List Of Amendments Related To Reforming The Health Care Delivery System; Summary List Of Amendments Related To Expanding Health Care Coverage; Summary List Of Amendments Related To Financing Comprehensive Health Care Reform, 9/19/09)

Rockefeller Will Lead The Charge With “Many, Many” Amendments To Baucus’ Proposal. “Talk to U.S. Sen. Jay Rockefeller about health care reform and the West Virginia Democrat makes it clear he doesn’t like the proposal put forth by Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus …Debate on the bill starts Tuesday, with hundreds of amendments proposed. Rockefeller says ‘many, many’ of those proposed amendments will come from him. The state’s junior senator has already said he won’t support the measure as it stands because it would tax coal miners’ health care benefits and affect a health insurance program for children. ‘You don't mess with kids,’ he said.” (Brian Farkas, “Rockefeller Plans Amendments To Health Care Bill,” The Associated Press, 9/21/09)

AND FOLLOW LABOR UNION PRESIDENT’S LEAD, BLASTING BAUCUS’ PROPOSAL

AFSCME President Has Choice Word To Describe Baucus’ Bill. “The finance committee bill imposes substantial costs on the states … and taxes our health plan … It’s all bull***t.” (Jane Hamsher, “Video Of AFSCME’s Gerald McEntee: Baucus Bill Is ‘Bull***t,’” FireDogLake, 9/12/09)

Sens. John Kerry (D-MA) And Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) Blast Tax On Insurance Plans. “Republican and Democratic senators dislike the 35-percent tax on high-end insurance plans, which is a major source of revenue in the Baucus bill. Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) and Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) said they will push to raise the threshold at which family plans would be taxed to $24,000, up from $21,000, hoping to shield middle-class families from hitting the cap. ‘We need to make it fairer to working people so that working folks don't get dragged into this at a level where they just don't have the incomes to support it,’ Kerry told reporters after a committee meeting to discuss the bill.”  (Carrie Budoff Brown, “Left And Right Plot On Baucus Bill,” Politico, 9/17/09)

Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) Insists On Public Option Instead Of Co-Ops. “Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-W.V.) will push for the inclusion of a government insurance plan in the bill, rather than co-ops.” (Carrie Budoff Brown, “Left And Right Plot On Baucus Bill,” Politico, 9/17/09)

Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL) Wants To Restore Funding To Medicare Advantage That Baucus Cuts In His Bill. “Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) has said he would look to preserve funding for the Medicare Advantage program.” (Carrie Budoff Brown, “Left And Right Plot On Baucus Bill,” Politico, 9/17/09)

Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) Worried Baucus’ Bill Could Stop Hospital Construction In California. “Senator Dianne Feinstein, Democrat of California, said she was concerned about a provision that could block construction of some hospitals in her state.” (Robert Pear and David Herszenhorn, “New Tax In Senate Health Plan Draws Bipartisan Fire,” The New York Times, 9/17/09)

MEANWHILE, HOUSE DEMS UNHAPPY WITH OBAMA’S LACK OF CLARITY

Even After Congressional Address, House Dems Blast Obama’s Lack Of Leadership On Pushing Government-Run Health Care. “Some senior leadership aides say the president’s voice needs to be heard the loudest and clearest on Capitol Hill. ‘The president’s work is far, far from done down here,’ a Democratic leadership aide said. And House leaders hinted they will remain in a holding pattern when it comes to combining their three healthcare bills until the White House clears the air. ‘I do believe we’re at the point of the legislative process now, or we’re quickly going to arrive there, where the president of the United States is going to have to come down to Capitol Hill and say to individual members “Here’s why we need an element like a public option in the plan,”’ said Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.). Part of the problem, Weiner said, is that instead of being a declarative statement, Obama’s speech was the equivalent of an inkblot test.‘You know, everyone had an opportunity to see in it a little of what they wanted,’ Weiner said. ‘Only with true, muscular presidential leadership can we get people who have disparate views on this together under one tent.’” (Jared Allen, “Dems Find What Obama Wants On Healthcare Still Anything But Clear,” The Hill, 9/19/09)

FAR LEFT ORGANIZATIONS CONTINUE TO RUN AGAINST FELLOW DEMS

Far-Left Blog “FireDogLake” Attacks Rahm Emanuel, Running Ads Against Arkansas Dems. “FireDogLake, which has been whipping Dems to support the public option, has been aggressively targeting Rahm Emanuel as the leading proponent within the White House of trading away core liberal priorities to win over centrist Dems. Now FDL has a defiant reply: A new ad targeting Senator Blanche Lincoln and Blue Dog Dem Rep. Mike Ross, both of Arkansas, demanding they back the public plan and implicitly threatening to back primary challengers if they don’t: The ad, which FDL is raising money for right now, also represents an implicit shot at the big liberal groups for largely backing down from targeting centrists at the White House’s insistence.” (Greg Sargent, “Liberals To Rahm: Who’s ‘F**king Stupid’ Now?” The Washington Post’s “The Plum Line” Blog, 9/18/09)

“Change Congress” Raising Money To Attack Rep. Mike Ross (D-AR) For Opposing Public Option. “Change Congress, a coalition of reform groups, is trying to raise money to air an ad attacking Arkansas Rep. Mike Ross, a conservative Blue Dog Democrat who negotiated changes to the House health care bill before announcing last week that he couldn't support the public option included in that compromise.” (Patrick O’Connor, “Group Raising Money To Attack Ross,” Politico’s “Live Pulse” Blog, 9/18/09)