Kent Conrad

Waffling Democrats' Health Care Hypocrisy

Peter Dreier | Posted 12.02.2009 | Politics

Read More: Veterans Health Administraiton, Ben Nelson, Public Option, Va, Mary Landrieu, Health Insurance Lobby, Socialized Medicine, Blanche Lincoln, Health Care Reform, Veterans Administration, Max Baucus, Joe Lieberman, American Medical Association, Medicare, Kent Conrad, Health Care, Campaign Contributions, Politics News

After years of feeding at the health insurance industry trough, it's no wonder these conservative Democratic senators oppose a public option plan to compete for consumers.

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Deficit Commission Gains Traction In White House

Posted 11.25.2009 | Politics

Read More: Social Security, National Debt, Deficit Panel, Kent Conrad, Spending, Judd Gregg, Deficit Commission, Medicare, Democrats, Senate Budget Committee, Republicans, Politics News

A bi-partisan commission that would tame the federal deficit by limiting cost-cutting decisions to a select number of lawmakers is gaining traction in...

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How to Abort the Recovery

Robert Kuttner | Posted 11.02.2009 | Politics

Read More: Social Security, Nancy Pelosi, Peter G. Peterson Foundation, Medicare, Peter Orszag, Kent Conrad, Peter G. Peterson, Dean Baker, Politics News

As unemployment continues to rise, deficit hawks are upping their efforts to use the economic crisis as a pretext for gutting basic social programs such as Social Security and Medicare.

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Senators Who Could And/Or Will Screw Up Health Care Reform

HuffingtonPost.com | Jason Linkins | Posted 10.27.2009 | Politics

Read More: Public Option, Kent Conrad, Mary Landrieu, Roland Burris, Max Baucus, Evan Bayh, Olympia Snowe, Harry Reid, U.S. Senate, Joe Lieberman, Ben Nelson, Health Care Reform, Blanche Lincoln, Politics News

Harry Reid boldly announced the bill would contain something public option-esque. But will a reform bill that contains as limited a measure as the opt-out plan survive the Senate?

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Quigley Ready To Break Ranks With Party Over Dodd, Conrad Subpoenas

Huffington Post | Tim Taliaferro | Posted 10.23.2009 | Chicago

Read More: Mike Quigley Subpoena, Chris Dodd, Friends of Angelo, Countrywide, Mike Quigley, Kent Conrad, Mike Quigley Congress, Chicago News

Seniority, party loyalty and congressional etiquette don't seem to get in the way of Rep. Mike Quigley (D-Ill.). The freshman lawmaker is ready to br...

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Who Should Pay for Health Insurance Reform?

Peter Dreier | Posted 10.16.2009 | Politics

Read More: Progressive Taxation, Evan Bayh, Ben Nelson, Blanche Lincoln, Health Care for America Now, Congressional Budget Office, Hcan, Who Should Pay?, Max Baucus, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, Glenn Beck, Kent Conrad, Mary Landrieu, Citizens for Tax Justice, Wall Street Journal, Health Insurance Reform, Politics News

"Much has been given" to those Americans at the pinnacle of wealth. So it is only fair that "much will be required" when it comes to helping pay for health insurance for those who can't otherwise afford it.

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Health Insurance Industry Exposes Its Insatiable Greed

Peter Dreier | Posted 10.13.2009 | Politics

Read More: Greed, Cigna, Stephen Hemsley, Edward Hanway, Health Care for American Now, Hcan, Angela Braly, UnitedHealth Group, Humana, Insurance Industry, Profits, Max Baucus, Wellpoint, Karen Ignagni, Ahip, America's Health Insurance Plans, Michael McCallister, Rose Ann DeMoro, California Nurses Association, Richard Kirsch, Nancy Ann DeParle, Evan Bayh, Ben Nelson, Mary Landrieu, Kent Conrad, Blanche Lincoln, Politics News

After pretending for months to cooperate with the Obama administration and Democrats to secure a reasonable health reform bill, the industry's CEOs and lobbyists on Sunday double-crossed their one-time political allies.

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North Dakota Dems Pass Resolution Backing Public Plan, Alert Sen. Conrad

HuffingtonPost.com | Sam Stein | Posted 10.06.2009 | Politics

Read More: Health Care Reform, Conrad Public Option, North Dakota Politics, Conrad North Dakota Democrats, Kent Conrad Public Plan, North Dakota Democrats, Kent Conrad, Politics News

In a move that seems designed to push Sen. Kent Conrad (D-ND) on health care reform, the North Dakota Democratic Party voted two weeks ago to make the...

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Wall Street Journal Reporter Conceals Facts About The Real Countrywide Mortgage Scandal

David Fiderer | Posted 11.29.2009 | Media

Read More: CBS News, Fox News, Wall Street Journal, Republican Party, Darrell Issa, Countrywide Financial, Friends of Angelo, Countrywide, Ris Dodd, Mike Quigley Congress, Mike Quigley Subpoena, Kent Conrad, Mike Quigley, Media News

Just like the birthers, who refuse to acknowledge Obama's birth certificate, Rep. Darrell Issa and Wall Street Journal reporter Emshwiller refuse to acknowledge the mountain of evidence that the Countrywide VIP "scandal" has been thoroughly discredited.

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The Public Option Lives On

Robert Reich | Posted 11.28.2009 | Politics

Read More: Chuck Schumer, Jay Rockefeller, Robert Reich, Public Option, Kent Conrad, Olympia Snowe, Public Plan, Health Insurance, Robert Menendez, Insurance Companies, Tom Carper, Health Care Reform, Max Baucus, Health Care, Obama Public Option, Bill Nelson, Politics News

The public option lives on. It's still in the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pension bill. It still headlines the House bills, and Speaker Nancy Pelosi says she's still committed to it.

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Countrywide Phone Calls: Lawmakers Want More Information About VIP Program That Lent To Politicians

Wall Street Journal | JOHN R. EMSHWILLER | Posted 11.27.2009 | Politics

Read More: Conflict of Interest, Banks, Mortgages, Chris Dodd, Issa, Rep. Darrell Issa, Bank of America, Countrywide, Wall Street, Ken Lewis, Countrywide VIP Program, Alphonso Jackson, Phone Recordings, VIP Program, Kent Conrad, Politics News

The discovery that Countrywide Financial Corp. recorded phone conversations with borrowers in a controversial mortgage program that included public of...

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The Public Option Fight Gets Engaged in Public for the First Time Next Week

Mike Lux | Posted 11.25.2009 | Politics

Read More: Senate Finance Committee, Public Option, Rachel Maddow, Health Care Reform, 2009 Obama Administration, Max Baucus, Kent Conrad, Chuck Schumer, Politics News

With polling numbers on the public option, and an activist base on fire on this issue, it is going to be more and more difficult for Democrats to vote against it when they have to vote in the light of day.

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Desperately Seeking Snowe

Cenk Uygur | Posted 11.23.2009 | Politics

Read More: Public Option, Rahm Emanuel, Mike Ross, Lobbyists, Corporate Lobbyists, Kent Conrad, Olympia Snowe, Health Care Reform, Max Baucus, Health Care, Politics News

While we've all been having an earnest debate about what should go in the bill and how it should get done, the real fight in Washington has been over who's going to get the corporate money.

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The Gang of Six: An Epic of Futility

Rick Horowitz | Posted 11.17.2009 | Politics

The Baucus Caucus came to town one morning in the early spring, / They said, "You want a health-care bill? Don't sweat -- we'll handle ev'rything!"

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Mad Max Baucus (D-BC/BS) and his Gang of Styx

Don Parker | Posted 11.17.2009 | Politics

Read More: Styx River, Jeff Bingaman, Charles Grassley, Fargo North Dakota, Olympia Snowe, Albuquerque New Mexico, Billings Montana, Mike Enzi, Mad Max, Blue Cross-Blue Shield, Gang of Styx, Health Care Reform, Max Baucus, Kent Conrad, Health Care, Gang of Six, Politics News

The Gang of Styx represent 8.4 million Americans, but they have been given more dollars from the health care industry than they have constituents.

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Baucus And Conrad's Miserable Health Care Reform Day [UPDATE]

HuffingtonPost.com | Jason Linkins | Posted 11.16.2009 | Politics

Read More: Health Care Reform, Max Baucus, Kent Conrad, Baucus Conrad, Max Baucus Kent Conrad, Politics News

[Updated, below] So, for weeks and weeks, Senate Finance Committee Chair Max Baucus has held the health care reform debate hostage as he hemmed and h...

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With a Health Care Plan This Insane, Who Needs Wingnuts?

Bob Cesca | Posted 11.16.2009 | Politics

Read More: Public Option, Centrist Democrats, Kent Conrad, Health Care Reform, Max Baucus, Moderate Democrats, Joe Lieberman, Health Insurance, Conservadems, Health Care, Obama Health Care, Healthcare, Larry David, Blue Dog Democrats, Politics News

Baucus' entire goal was to construct a bipartisan plan. Mission accomplished. Insofar as both parties hate it. He tailored his plan to appeal to the Republicans who, as it turns out, don't support the plan anyway.

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Reid Confident On Eve Of Health Bill's Debut

The Hill | J. Taylor Rushing | Posted 11.15.2009 | Politics

Read More: Health Care Bill, Evan Bayh, Mitch McConnell, Senate Finance Committee, Public Option, Health Education Labor and Pensions Committee, Kent Conrad, Mark Warner, Max Baucus, Harry Reid, Ben Nelson, Politics News

A day before delivery of the Senate's long-awaited healthcare bill, Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) on Tuesday struck a cautiously optimistic tone...

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Sen. Rockefeller Won't Vote For Baucus Health Bill

Huffington Post | Posted 11.15.2009 | Politics

Read More: Jay Rockefeller, Public Option, Senate Finance Committee, Kent Conrad, Health Care Reform, Max Baucus, Gang of Six, Bipartisanship, Health Care, Politics News

Speaking with reporters Tuesday, Democratic Senator Jay Rockefeller slammed Senator Max Baucus' health care bill, saying his vote would not be forthco...

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'Gang Of Six' Moving Goal Posts On Health Care Costs

HuffingtonPost.com | Ryan Grim | Posted 11.15.2009 | Politics

Read More: Cbo, CBO Health Care Reform, Health Care Reform, Obama Health Care Reform, Congressional Budget Office, Kent Conrad, Gang of Six, Politics News

President Obama promised last week, in his address to Congress, that he wouldn't sign any health care reform bill that added "one dime to the deficit,...

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Baucus, Conrad Cave To Joe Wilson On Health Care Bill

AP | ERICA WERNER | Posted 11.11.2009 | Politics

Read More: Wilson, Baucus Conrad Wilson, Kent Conrad, Joe Wilson, Joe Wilson Immigration, Max Baucus, Health Care, Healthcare, Joe Wilson Health Care Bill, Politics News

WASHINGTON — The White House strengthened its stand against health care coverage for illegal immigrants Friday, and a pivotal Senate committee l...

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Gang Of Six: Who Votes With Whom?

Sunlight Foundation. | Sunlight Foundation | Posted 11.10.2009 | Home

Read More: Transparency, Gang of Six, Max Baucus, Mike Enzi, Kent Conrad, Jeff Bingaman, Chuck Grassley, Olympia Snowe, Health Care, Health Care Reform, Home News

Since the end of July the Senate Finance Committee has been the focus of health care reform discussions. More specifically, the bipartisan “Gang...

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"Go Out And Make Me Do It"

Peter Dreier | Posted 11.09.2009 | Politics

Read More: Evan Bayh, Insurance Companies, Ben Nelson, Health Care for America Now, Public Option, Grassroots, Hcan, Barack Obama, Insurance Industry, Jeff Bingman, Mary Landreiu, Activists, Max Baucus, Kent Conrad, Health Care, Blanch Lincoln, Obama Speech to Congress, Politics News

Having a president who inspires people to act collectively on their own behalf can make a difference. It gives people hope and courage to defy obstacles.

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Baucus Co-Op Plan "Authored" By Ex-Insurance Industry VP

Campaign Silo | Jane Hamsher | Posted 11.09.2009 | Politics

Read More: White House, Mike Ross, Public Option, Rahm Emanuel, Lobbyists, Healthcare Cooperatives, Kent Conrad, PhRMA Lobby, Max Baucus, American Medical Association, Healthcare Reform, Blue Dog Democrats, Wellpoint, Politics News

When Max Baucus circulated his draft plan earlier this week, the PDF documentation page (image) indicates that the "author" was ex-Wellpoint VP Liz Fo...

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Gang Of Six Back In Action: Giving Bipartisanship One More Try

POLITICO | Carrie Budoff Brown | Posted 10.19.2009 | Politics

Read More: White House, Jeff Bingaman, Chuck Grassley, Mike Enzi, Kent Conrad, Olympia Snowe, Max Baucus, Bipartisanship, Healthcare Reform, Politics News

Most top Democrats, including senior White House advisers, may no longer expect a health care deal out of the bipartisan "Group of Six," but the senat...

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Kent Conrad

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