Durbin: Medicare Buy-In Is Out, Progressives Won't Defect

Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) told reporters on Tuesday that he believes health care reform has the votes to pass the Senate before Christmas after Democrats removed a provision to expand Medicare coverage.

"It is my understanding that, at this point it is going to be changed and removed," Durbin said the proposal to allow people between 55 and 64 to buy Medicare. "I think we are very close. We are still working with a few senators who have not made a commitment and until those commitments and votes are made we are going to keep working... Ultimately, we will pass it before Christmas."

The Illinois Democrat, speaking to reporters after a nearly full caucus meeting with President Obama, said he did not believe liberal members of the party would vote against the legislation, despite the absence of a public option or the Medicare buy-in provision.

"They are not happy," he acknowledged. "I'm not happy. I don't like the way this has progressed." But he stressed that there are enough important components in the bill to make passage vital. In particular, he cited bending the cost curve in the health care system, reducing the cost of health care premiums insuring more than 30 million currently uninsured people and strengthening the patient's bill of rights.

Asked by the Huffington Post to respond to former DNC Chairman Howard Dean's call for the bill to be "killed" -- replaced by something more progressive that could be passed through reconciliation -- Durbin replied:

"I disagree with Dr. Dean. I think if he would sit back and look at 31 million Americans who would have health insurance as a result of this bill. How do you say to them: 'Sorry you can't have health insurance. We think this bill can be better.'"

Pressed whether the changes made by Democrats to the legislation would gain the support of any moderate Republicans, he added: "I hope we will. It will be a great Christmas gift."

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Comments

[Ralphio]

02:01 PM on 12/17/2009

Healthcare is such a mess it is hard to make any significant changes without addressing everything that is wrong with healthcare. With this bill they are trying to address those who don't have insurance. This is a huge problem by itself and is clearly the primary objective of the bill. This bill is basically the first step towards a UHC system similar to what Germany has.

The problem is that they didn't address cost issues which would require them to reform medicare, health insurers, and healthcare delivery. Any one of those issues would be a massive undertaking. The Public Option was a quick and dirty attempt to address the health insurance issue but since medicare and healthcare delivery are in need of reform the PO was a bad idea.

I think what people should realize is that this is a monumental task and due to political considerations it is next to impossible to address everything that needs to be addressed all at once.

[zest]

08:34 AM on 12/17/2009

Dear Dick,
The progressive voters will defect.
Sincerely,
Progressive Voter (no party affiliation)

[Billar]

08:12 AM on 12/17/2009

Lies, Lies, all we get is lies. Feed him gruel.

[ronnie423]

05:23 AM on 12/17/2009

F U Durbin,you wanna bet on that ? you and your family have a wonderful holiday

[hollyg70]

01:04 AM on 12/17/2009

Oh, really Senator Durbin? I'm one of your constituents (who made sure to show up and vote absentee when you were running against Al Salvi in your first race for the senate, by the way) and I will gladly show up for someone else who can get the job done instead of passing something just to say you did. Can't tell you how disgusted I am right about now. . .

[NoFactsJustTruth]

10:21 PM on 12/16/2009

It's likely you just lost a base that could help you retain control of CONgress. But, that's NOT really what your one-party system of the successfully bribed there really want now.

Is it, Dick?

[ksyellowdog]

05:18 PM on 12/16/2009

wanna bet?

[yankee222]

04:14 PM on 12/16/2009

Durbin apparently has no idea how angry people are at the total disaster formerly known as healthcare reform.

Hillary made a similar error during her campaign. She ran to the right assuming that the progressives and left leaning voters would have to vote for her because there was no other option. Hillary was wrong. Not a little wrong, a whole lot wrong.

Durbin is wrong. Not a little wrong....

[judesuper]

03:42 PM on 12/16/2009

Think again, dick-o.

Progressives will defect. I know my votes not much. But you're loosing it. I, as well as many others will be voting for the primary challengers. Not you do nothing incumbents. Term limits are needed NOW!

[Melizzy]

01:14 PM on 12/16/2009

Epic. Fail.

[salvy859]

01:12 PM on 12/16/2009

Just another case of how detach are elected officials are from us, the Progressives in the Senate might not defect but the progressives that count already have.

[JanetReno]

12:46 PM on 12/16/2009

Don't forget the ribbon Senator Durbin! The final bill has to have pretty wrapping paper and a beautifully tied ribbon around if it is to appeal more to the insurance industry. Otherwise, it might not pass. Insurance industry needs help NOW.

[newtom]

01:20 PM on 12/16/2009

Pretty wrapping paper. That ALL it's gonna have.

[ncmom54]

12:44 PM on 12/16/2009

Victory for the GOP & Corporate Health Industry!

Loosers have to pay up the tab...

[BCALM]

12:40 PM on 12/16/2009

as one who has lived in Illinois all his life......We have had only two senators that I recall who actually represented the people , Paul Simon and Peter Fitzgerald

[BCALM]

12:42 PM on 12/16/2009

and Roland Burris is actually been pretty diligent to, I disagree with him , but his sincerity has been there so far

[yankee222]

04:15 PM on 12/16/2009

That was pretty funny!

[Paulo1]

12:39 PM on 12/16/2009

It is not the Progressives in Congress that he has to worry about defecting. It is those of us who work the streets come election time. We are pretty ticked off on just about every topic you can think of and you may well find yourself dealing with a Republican majority if we decide to stay home and not support spineless toothless politicians who sell us out on our issues.

[yankee222]

04:16 PM on 12/16/2009

Agree 100%. I can't wait until the stab-you-in-the-back-in-chief comes around looking for donations and camp-pain workers for 2012.