Dem 'Centrists' Plot To Push Back On Obama Agenda

UPDATE 3/20: House Democrats are setting a September deadline for a compromise with Republicans on health care, the Washington Post reports. After that, they will use the budget reconciliation process to move forward without GOP votes.

After meeting late Wednesday with senior White House officials, House Democratic leaders decided to include the shortcut in the budget proposal they will unveil next week, congressional sources said.

Known as budget reconciliation, the shortcut would permit lawmakers to roll Obama's health-care proposals into a bill that cannot be filibustered, meaning Democrats could push it through the Senate with 51 votes, instead of the usual 60. Since Democrats control 58 seats in the Senate, they could approve a reconciliation bill without Republican votes or the support of some reluctant conservatives in their own party. [...]

The decision by the House would not prevent the parties from working cooperatively on health-care legislation, but merely provide a "fallback provision" in case Congress fails to pass legislation by the end of the August recess, a deadline chosen by House leaders, according to a source involved in making the decision.

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Roll Call reports (subscription required) that a group of centrist Senate Democrats are working to block parts of President Obama's agenda. As Obama and Democratic leaders consider using a budget rule to bypass Republican filibusters, some in the party are not going along.

A bloc of Senate Democratic moderates is quietly maneuvering to keep open the option of vetoing two of President Barack Obama's most ambitious agenda items this year -- climate change and health care reform.

Eight Democrats who want to water down new climate change legislation have already joined with Republicans and signed a letter opposing any attempt to use fast-track budget rules to prevent filibusters. Many of the same Democrats also oppose using those budget rules to prevent filibusters of health care legislation.

Democrats aim to use a budget reconciliation rule to make some key proposals easier to pass. Under reconciliation, only 51 votes are needed to end debate and force a final vote, instead of 60.

Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.) and Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.) are among the eight Democrats who signed the letter opposing reconciliation. Republicans are on their side, claiming the move would break Obama's bipartisan pledge.

"That's absolutely a concern of a lot of people," Lincoln said. "We need everyone in the room. It needs to be done in a bipartisan way."

Meanwhile, Sen. Evan Bayh of Indiana announced the formation of a 15-person working group of moderate Senate Democrats on MSNBC's "Morning Joe" Wednesday. He says they will focus on fiscal responsibility. Watch:

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Comments

[mainemomma]

One thing about Nancy... she has a pair. Love her or not.. she has stones.

[sarabono]

I believe Nancy should tone it down a bit. She can be a real bit-ch which certainly is not useful in building her leadership image and stature.

[RedKnuckles]

Is that really called for? She is, in fact, the most powerful woman in the world...you expect her to tone it down? What, specifically, do you suggest? Tell us what offends you...

[MargaretO]

I like her, too.

[hardlyhikin]

You can tell Nancy's doing a great job - the right hates her!

Don't you just love the fact that she got (what) 127 Republicans to vote for a 90% tax bracket for rich Wall Street types??!!

[Chapmanp2]

What part of lead, follow or get the F*** outta' the way don't they understand???
Bring ideas to the table to help make it better & stronger, but health care reform is coming...

[9liberal]

with these dems who needs repubs

[JiminNC]

Somebody is growing a pair! I like it.

[myrddin]

What you and these moderate Dems and Republicans fail to see is how health insurance costs are dragging down the economy. Both the costs to business which makes our goods noncompetitive with companies overseas whose goverments supply heath care and also the costs in co-pays and premiums to the average families. Health care reform is a necessary ingredient to a heathy economy.

The same can be said for alternative energy. Haven't you noticed how as soon as there was talk of alternative fuels the price of oil went down. Coincidence??? I think not. Now is the time to get this done. It will improve our economy in the long run making us more competive in a world economy.

[Ucan2]

Though he's a Dem I've never cared for Senator Bayh,. He was one of the leading Dems that came out in support for the war in Iraq, he was against the buy American provision in the stimulus bill, he voted for the bankruptcy bill.

During the democratic primary in his support for Hillary he spoke out against Obama, and only came on board after Obama had seized the nomination.

This man has aspirations and he is setting the table to run as a centrist presidential candidate in the future. I do not and have never or never will trust this man.

[jcwtts1]

Bayh is a senator from one of the most conservative states in the country. He is a centrist and on 90 percent of progressive issues we are simpatico but he disagrees with the party on 10 percent. Lieberman for example vote more with the dems than McCain voted with the republicans in 2007 but on the 10 percent he disagrees with us on he really really disagrees. Bayh is thinking about running in 2016 or 2012 if Obama busts. But here is the thing the coalition he is building will fall completely apart if we win the seats in the senate we should. 7-8 more dems in the senate make Bayh irrelevant.

J

[longtalldrink]

For those who do have Health Insurance, will the premiums be lowered? Mine are very high, for very little service. Then the nickle and dime me to death, co-pay this and co-pay that. Premiums AND co-pay? What a crock.

[myrddin]

That's the general plan. Get more people in the group including younger people who do not now have insurance and it will lower costs for all of us.

[instarx]

And simplify it! The savings from billing/accounting/insurance calculations/ co-pays/ denied claims/ resubmissions, etc. will result in a huge cost savings.

[Obamalicious]

Speaker Pelosi, This is not a dictatorship. The U.S. is a Representative Republic.

[mistlesuede]

Yes, and that is why the Democrats won so many seats in the last two elections. We now have a Democratic President because that is what the people wanted, and I don't care what we have to do, health care reform and climate change issues has to be passed.
Those DINO's better get ready for some nasty pushback, not just in the House, but from groups who've had more than enough of their garbage.

[DXM]

And it still is a representative republic - Speaker Pelosi still needs a majority of the House members to vote with her to get anything to pass. If this were a dictatorship, she'd need only one vote - hers.

[rabiddog6708]

The filibuster is not in the US Constitution. It is a Senate procedural rule that can easily be removed. A majority vote is all that is really needed. Learn the law, too/.

[Obamalicious]

Did I say it was in the constitution? Learn not to put words in peoples' mouth.

[JiminNC]

That is true, rule by majority ... otherwise known as 51%.

[Obamalicious]

"Rule"? The so-called representative public servants in Congress are elected legislate, not "rule".

[Opus007]

The Bush dictatorship is over- thank God.

The GOP cannot get elected on their ideas because they have none. So they need to be bought and paid for by special interests= Big Oil, Big Pharma, the Religious Right etc. to get elected.

A family of four making $40,000 and spending $8,000 a year on health insurance plus co-pays and deductibles is a crime. When you see these industries making massive profits with obscene executive compensation- we know we are being fleeced. It has to stop. And if congress has to go around the GOP- then so be it. The middle class is being crushed. I say right on Speaker Pelosi!

[Car84]

If you're making $40,000 per year, why are you a family of four? Cart before the horse, I think. Misplaced sense of entitlement, I think.

[schaffermommy]

(i'm talking about going around the filibuster, not these conservadems who sat on their hands during the past admin.)

[schaffermommy]

frackin finally, i guess they are at least trying to 'grow a pair' now that snowe made them think about it. lol

[BARRISTER]

So that there are, in addition to the Republicans, 15 Democrats we will have to replace.

Power is the People's!!!!

[x004Ronin]

Wow, it's almost as if Nancy Pelosi realized Democrats won two elections in a row.
Bush "won" an election in 2000 (and I'm using the term loosely) with less than a majority of the popular vote and proceeded to implement his agenda with reckless abandon. Democrats won huge majorities in Congress and virtually all the swing states in the Presidential election. Time to implement some real policy changes.

[Jazzcomedian]

Since the 1930's when FDR brought it up, the GOP has been adamantly against healthcare reform, and they're still against it, as they consider good healthcare a privilege not a right. I read McCain's plan during the campaign, and it was very simple, clear, and to the point---DON'T GET SICK.

I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for the GOP to come up with a serious healthcare reform proposal since they honestly don't believe in it, so I'm glad the Dems have let them know they're willing to play hardball to get healthcare reform done. It's long overdue, and it's killing both American businesses and individuals. I'm all for circumventing the filibuster if necessary, as my priority is healthcare reform not bi-partisanship. Reagan used that same reconciliation process to get his first budget passed in 1981. It's smart politics, and shows you mean business on fulfilling your legislative agenda. The GOP conservatives need to be rolled a few times, so they can know what's what in this new day.

[longtalldrink]

That's right!

[instarx]

Of course they aren't going to come up with healthcare reform - and Pelosi knows it. It's a brilliant tactic to drive another nail into the elitist policies of the Republican Party. They are going to go down as the party of obstruction because they are going to be made to stand up and say - NO HEALTH CARE FOR AMERICANS.

[Chbronze]

Welcome to the new post partisian era. Republicans can come up with any number of reasons why this is a bad idea, yet democrats will not listen. They will force this on everyone because they feel they are much better at taking care of you than you are. I like to make my choices, if I don't like my insurance choices I change them. If I don't like my doctor I change, what choices will we have under a mandated health care program. Will it be run as well as the treasury department is being run, lets hope not.

[marchamlin]

You obviously haven't listened to a word Obama has said about his health care plan. If you had been paying attention, you wouldn't have made such a ridiculous comment.

[johnfoirdfw]

How nice chbronze that you are able to make choices, so many millions of usdo not have that luxury,So nice that you get yours and the rest of us get to eat cake. Your kindness and selfless enlightenment is truly inspiring..

[pewty]

Bronze is whats wrong with this country, the ME ME ME mentality. Never thought about someone else.againalsotooyoubetcha

[Texas Blue]

What the President has said is that, under his health care proposal, if you like your current insurance, you may keep it.

[Tetiana]

I think Pres. Obama is to nice. He should let the health care companies sink. It makes me sick that people are dying or go bankrupt so these health care companies can party in cayman Islands and make billion dollar profits like the banks. America was the richest country in the world and had the worst health care in the world. France has the best health care in the world and yet they are the cheapest. Most of the world has basic health care from the govt. Pres. Obama should have the govt take over the health care system and them everyone can get it. Do we Americans pay TAXES? Well we should be entitled to basic health care and education, it is part of the commons. The rich get bailed out why can't the middle class? Check out Thom Hartmann on the web and his radio program everyone can learn a lot from Thom.

[chitown8]

Reading is fundamental no one ever said that they would take your insurance away. Also if you want private insurance that is your choice. Imagine that person who has to choose between employer insurance or paying the rent because their wages are so low. Now multiply that by 40 mil.

[Chbronze]

I'm guessing the bankers with their TARP money are trying to figure out why the rules got changed after the fact. Each time a bill is sent to congress it comes out different. Bill counter act previous unrelated bills. Didn't our Sec. Treasury have a provision for AIG bonuses, I'll bet the bonus recievers at AIG are sure glad that was in the TARP bill, sure am glad that didn't change after the fact.

[jhw22]

I hate comments based on lack of information.

Jennifer

[barackobama4prez]

it's a shame we have to treat them like kids.

[windup]

Publicize who they are so everyone from those states can get on the phone and tell them what they think about their positions. Hopefully there will be some good people ready to challenge them in the primaries. I believe Joe Lieberman is among them. No surprise. He should have been left to go repub which is what he is.

[RaderBarbarian]

You hit a nail directly on its head. It is infuriating that in ALMOST EVERY SINGLE NEWSPAPER REPORTAGE vote talleys and such are reported, and yet NEVER is there a list of any kind of WHO THEY ARE, who voted which way, whatever the issue may be. Why not? Because it would require a reporter to actually DO HIS JOB and go research and find the answer. It is reported (finally) on the Congress' web pages if you are diligent and struggle through the clicks to find the answers but THEY DO NOT WANT YOU TO KNOW, either, no matter what they may say. If they did, votes and voters would be list on the front page. WE MUST DEMAND THAT REPORTERS TELL THE WHOLE STORY - WHO are the bad guys? TELL US! This means you, too, Huffington Post reporters!

[instarx]

I've actually seen many important votes tallied Congressman by Congressman in the New York Times.

It isn't up to reporters to make you a better citizen - its up to you.