Question: Other than Lieberman, who else has threatened a filibuster?

[ProSense]

Snowe? Have the Republicans announced that they plan to filibuster? Do they have the votes?

On edit, a little elaboration: If Reid is working to ensure no Democrats join a filibuster, is it possible that all Republicans haven't come together around one?

[pinto]

1. ...AP says he won't filibuster, but he will vote against the bill.

:shrug:

Connecticut Sen. Joseph Lieberman said Tuesday that while he won't vote to block Majority Leader Harry Reid's plan from going to the Senate floor for debate, he would ultimately oppose the measure because it includes a public option.

<snip>

Lieberman said Tuesday in a telephone interview with The Associated Press that he's worried a public option would be costly to taxpayers and drive up insurance premiums. An independent who caucuses with Democrats, Lieberman is among a group of about a dozen moderate senators whose support Reid will need as Senate critical health care votes near.

Senate moderates voice concern over public option
By Erica Werner, Associated Press Writer – 2 hrs 24 mins ago

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091027/ap_on_go_co/us_heal...

[ProSense]

2. Good. As long as it gets to the floor, all it needs is a simple majority. n/t

[pinto]

5. Yeah, I read the statement as saying he won't support a filibuster or block cloture.

So a bill gets to the floor, which he'll vote against. (That's no surprise, he's one disappointing former Democrat...)

The flurry of analysis / conjecture / leaks out of DC is confusing, to say the least.

[SpartanDem]

3. AP got the story wrong

Lieberman said he would vote cloture on the motion to proceed, but against cloture on final passage

I told Senator Reid that I'm strongly inclined--i haven't totally decided, but I'm strongly inclined--to vote to proceed to the health care debate, even though I don't support the bill that he's bringing together because it's important that we start the debate on health care reform because I want to vote for health care reform this year. But I also told him that if the bill remains what it is now, I will not be able to support a cloture motion before final passage. Therefore I will try to stop the passage of the bill."

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/10/lieberman-sure-id-filibuster-a-health-care-reform-bill.php?ref=fpblg

[pinto]

7. Ah, thanks for the info. *That* sounds like he wants some discussion, but no bill on the floor.

An important distinction in the process and the phrasing.

[Dr Robert]

10. or did TPM get it wrong?

why wouldn't all the major networks be running with it if TPM was right?

The MSNBC article on this was updated less than a half hour ago, and it still doesn't say what TPM says.

[IndianaGreen]

4. The actual quote is that if the public option is on the final bill, he won't vote for cloture

"I told Senator Reid that I'm strongly inclined--i haven't totally decided, but I'm strongly inclined--to vote to proceed to the health care debate, even though I don't support the bill that he's bringing together because it's important that we start the debate on health care reform because I want to vote for health care reform this year. But I also told him that if the bill remains what it is now, I will not be able to support a cloture motion before final passage. Therefore I will try to stop the passage of the bill."

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/10/lieberman-sure-id-filibuster-a-health-care-reform-bill.php?ref=fpblg

[pinto]

8. Thanks for the quote from Lieberman.

from the same piece, a little background on cloture

There are two procedural issues at play here. Most people think of a filibuster as a minority blocking passage of a bill that's already been debated ad nauseum on the Senate floor. That's the most standard filibuster. But on major legislation, it's become more common for the minority--in this case the Republicans--to object to the majority getting a chance to debate legislation in the first place. If any one of them objects to the so-called motion to proceed, it will take 60 votes just to start the amendment and debate process. That's a less-discussed filibuster, but it's quite plausible that this health care bill will have to contend with it.

[IndianaGreen]

6. According to TPM, not even Ben Nelson will go as far as Lieberman (filibuster)

Even Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE) doesn't go that far. "I'm not going to make up my mind until I actually see the bill," he told reporters.

One of Lieberman's main objections to the health care bill is that it includes a public option, which he describes as a burden on taxpayers.

<snip>

As written, congressional health care legislation would require the public option--whether administered by a government, or by an outside body--would be financed by premiums, and unable to draw on federal funds.

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/10/lieberman-sure-id-filibuster-a-health-care-reform-bill.php?ref=fpblg

If PO is financed by premiums, then Lieberman's objections are perhaps that his state is home to several large insurance companies.

[Dr Robert]

9. perhaps the Repukes are not all so diehard to commit hari kari