Research Briefing

While Obama Attempts To Rally Support For His Health Care Experiment, Congressional Dems In “Civil War”

TONIGHT, OBAMA HOLDS WEBCAST RALLY FOR GOVERNMENT-RUN HEALTH CARE: “President Obama will join Organizing For America’s ‘Time To Deliver’ events via webcast tomorrow, in an effort to drum up support for his health reform bill …” (Jillian Rayfield, “Obama To Join OFA’s ‘Time To Deliver’ Health Reform Webcast,” Talking Points Memo, 10/19/09)

BUT RALLYING CONGRESSIONAL DEMS IMPOSSIBLE AS THEY FIGHT OVER WHO’S TO BLAME

NBC’S Ken Strickland: “[T]here Is Clearly A Civil War Within The Democratic Ranks.” (MSNBC’s “Live,” 10/16/09)

Associated Press: “You May Think Democrats And Republicans Are At Odds Over Health Care. Well, They’ve Got Nothing On House And Senate Democrats Going After Each Other.” (Erica Werner, “House, Senate Dems At Odds On Health Care Overhaul,” The Associated Press, 10/19/09)

Rep. Eric Massa (D-NY) Blames Obama For “Failing To Lead Democratic Troops” On Health Care. “‘[A]s much as I want this administration to succeed, they did not present a piece of legislation to the United States Congress. We still don’t have a piece of paper that says what his plan is. We’re kind of like pilots flying blind,’ he added. The congressman also faulted the president for failing to lead Democratic troops during the contentious August recess period. ‘It was the perception of many that the administration stayed on the sidelines of the summertime healthcare debate until the president, rightly so, addressed a joint session of Congress and solidified this as being a top priority.’” (Michael O’Brien, “House Dem: Obama Not Leading On Healthcare,” The Hill’s “Briefing Room” Blog, 10/19/09)

White House Attacks AFSCME President Gerry McEntee For Speaking Out Against Health Insurance Tax. “‘We have had just about enough of his gratuitous slaps,’ said a senior White House official Friday, calling the politically charged language ‘outrageous and unacceptable’ from an ally — even from one that had, the official noted, devoted substantial resources to health care efforts. ‘He’s doing his members a real disservice,’ said the official, who said that while all other labor leaders had been careful to keep their opposition to elements of health care proposals modulated and largely inside the tent, McEntee was ‘beyond the pale.’” (Ben Smith, “Labor Chief Takes On White House,” Politico, 10/17/09)

Left-Wing Group Attacks Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) With TV Ad Over Public Option. “The Progressive Change Campaign Committee is launching an ad Wednesday asking whether Senate Majority Leader Reid is a strong enough leader to pass a public option. The ad will air on cable and broadcast channels in the Las Vegas market.” (Chris Frates, “Reid’s Political Fix Could Mean Public Option Slips Into Senate Bill -- Progressives Buy Ads On Las Vegas TV -- White House Annoyed By Slaps From Labor Allies -- Palin Turns Wonky,” Politico’s “Politico Pulse” Blog, 10/19/09)

AND DEMS STILL IN DISARRAY OVER PUBLIC OPTION, TAXES TO PAY FOR EXPERIMENT

Senate HELP Chairman Tom Harkin (D-IA) Wants Senate Dems Opposed To Public Option To Give Up. “‘There are 52 solid Democrats for the public option,’ said Senator Tom Harkin, the Iowa Democrat who is chairman of the health committee. ‘Only about five Democrats oppose it. Should the 52 give in to the five? Or should the five go along with the vast majority of the Democratic caucus?’” (Carl Hulse & Robert Pear, “Health Care Poses Stiff Tests For Top Democrats,” The New York Times, 10/18/09)

But Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT) Says Public Option “Alive” But Doubts There Will Be Enough Votes. “On a conference call with reporters moments ago, Senate Finance Committee chairman Max Baucus said that the public option is still alive, adding, in a familiar refrain, that the question for Democrats now is what kind of public option can get 60 votes. … ‘It’s alive… We’re trying to see what makes the most sense.’ … [H]e did ultimately hit that point, casting doubt on the idea that a health care bill that includes a public option that pays hospitals and doctors at Medicare-like rates, could overcome a filibuster …’” (Brian Beutler, “Baucus: The Public Option Is Alive...We’re Just Not Sure What Type,” TPMDC, 10/19/09)

Senate Dems Won’t Pass Strong Public Option, But House Dems Insist On It. “House Democrats are adamant about allowing the government to sell insurance to people who don’t have affordable care and are too young for Medicare or make too much money for Medicaid. The leading Senate bill contains no such public option and even if senators ultimately agree to some public plan variant, it’s certain to be much weaker than the House version. Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., has staked out an uncompromising position on the issue. ‘I want to send our conferees to the table with the most muscle for America’s middle class,’ she says.” (Erica Werner, “House, Senate Dems At Odds On Health Care Overhaul,” The Associated Press, 10/19/09)

Senate Finance Dems’ Bill Doesn’t Have Employer Mandate To Buy Insurance While Other Dems’ Bills Do. “The House includes a requirement for employers to provide insurance coverage to their employees or pay a penalty. There’s no such mandate in the leading Senate bill. Instead, employers would be required to pay a fee for any employee who obtains coverage with government subsidies. The distinction may seem subtle, but it makes a big difference to business groups and Democrats on both ends of the ideological spectrum.” (Erica Werner, “House, Senate Dems At Odds On Health Care Overhaul,” The Associated Press, 10/19/09)

Senate Dems Want Tax On Health Insurance While House Dems Prefer Income Tax Hike On Small Businesses. “The Cadillac plan tax faces major opposition in the House, where more than 100 Democrats oppose it. Some of the opposition stems from organized labor which fears its members could be subject to the tax. House members say their approach — a tax on individuals making more than $500,000 a year and households making more than $1 million — is a fairer way to go and would find more favor with the public. Some senators share concerns about the high-value insurance plan tax and have already decided to adjust it so more plans are exempt, according to Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa. But some senators are skeptical about making a small group of the highest-income Americans pay for everyone else, and they’re adamant about the need to use a financing mechanism that would have the benefit of keeping down health care costs.” (Erica Werner, “House, Senate Dems At Odds On Health Care Overhaul,” The Associated Press, 10/19/09)

Rep. Artur Davis (D-AL) Says Fight Among House Dems Over Paying For Health Care Bill “Philosophical.” “‘I don’t know how you split that difference,’ said Rep. Artur Davis, D-Ala., a member of the House Ways and Means Committee. ‘It’s not just about numbers. These are philosophical differences about how you pay for reform.’” (Erica Werner, “House, Senate Dems At Odds On Health Care Overhaul,” The Associated Press, 10/19/09)