Reid Dismisses Schumer's Insistence That Public Option Is In His Hand

[Mass]

Note: He is not saying he will not have a bill with PO. But this does not look good.

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/10/reid-dismiss...

Reid Dismisses Schumer's Insistence That Public Option Is In His Hands



Speaking to reporters just outside the Senate chamber this afternoon, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid scoffed at the suggestion--articulated last night by Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY)--that the public option is simply in his hands.

"He would rather say anything so it wasn't up to him," Reid said, before departing for a meeting with White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, and Sens. Max Baucus (D-MT) and Chris Dodd (D-CT). The four will hold the first meeting about how to shape a health care bill that will soon be introduced on the Senate floor.

Other senators have been significantly less vocal than Schumer (at least in public) with respect to what steps Reid should take to include the public option. I caught up with Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin and asked him whether he agreed with Schumer. He said, "I'm definitely for the public option, I want it included in the final bill. I'm gonna leave it up to the Majority Leader's judgment and the vote of the Senate as to when that's going to take place."

Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE) was less forthcoming. "I never second guess the leadership on what kind of procedural moves they make," he said. "I just vote as I choose. I don't comment on their decisions."

[ProSense]

1. I think this is just a practical point. Reid also said

Reid: 'I Believe In A Public Option'

The Majority Leader usually plays consensus builder or stalemate breaker. This is why Reid always appears weak, he's often being pulled in many different directions. When the 30 Senators wrote to him stating that they want the bill to include a strong public option, that was their lobby.

So I don't think Reid is in a position to disregard what the majority of the caucus wants.

[Cha]

2. Thanks for the additional

info, PS.

[WI_DEM]

3. Why doesn't Schumer just challenge Reid for leadership in the next congress?

[Clio the Leo]

4. Personally I doubt it will be in this initial Senate bill.....

.... because there aren't 60 votes for it as it currently exists. For all of the hub bub the press made when it wasn't included in the Finance bill, it would look even worse if the Senate bill had it and didn't get to 60.

*MY* guess is that they will let it get in via an amendment (and I'm hoping for the opt-on plan) with 51 or more votes via reconciliation .... with 60 votes for cloture.

But I fully confess my ignorance on the matter. I could be wrong.

[Mass]

5. The bet is that, if it is in the bill, Democrats will hesitate to vote against the motion to proceed

and the motion for cloture, and then, there would not be 60 votes to allow cloture on an amendment to remove it.

They can, however, filibuster amendments to put it in the bill, and will not hesitate doing it.

[Clio the Leo]

6. Yep, I would love for it to happen that way.....

..... but I think there's the political aspect of it that the WH is mindful of.

I think, again, purely speculation on my part, that they're trying to buy some time and get more blue dogs on board and POSSIBLE a GOPer or two because it just looks better to have a final bill that was "voted for by all the dems and some of the Repubps" than a bill that even the "Democrat" party "was split over."

I think they do that by waiting one more turn on the push for the PO. More eogs need to be stroked.

Again, not my dream scenario, but the more likely one I'm afraid.

If it happens that way, it will NOT be a fun time at DU and I've readied my protective headgear in anticipation of the proclamations of Reid and Rahm being the anti-Christ.

[Mass]

8. May be the liberals should threaten to filibuster the bill without a PO.

Not going to happen, of course, but why is it always the same side the leadership cares about.

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

7. Pilate trying to be Herod

[TheCoxwain]

9. Did I hear "Jellyfish"?

nt

[Phx_Dem]

10. Is there any bigger wienie than Harry Reid?

Rahm needs to threaten Reid with whatever it takes, repeatedly and forcefully. Because Reid CAN. NOT. be trusted to stand up against the GOP.

It boggles the mind that he got elected majority leader.

[TheKentuckian]

11. "He would rather say anything so it wasn't up to him," Whats that supposed to mean

Will Give 'em Hell be allowing Schumer to sub in for him in the negotiations? What a cop out!