McConnell: Snowe’s Break With GOP No Big Deal Because This Bill Will Never Become Law

[babylonsister]

http://theplumline.whorunsgov.com/senate-republicans/gop-leadership-snowes-yes-vote-no-big-deal-because-this-bill-will-never-become-law/

McConnell: Snowe’s Break With GOP No Big Deal Because This Bill Will Never Become Law


Senator Olympia Snowe’s surprise announcement today that she’ll vote for the Senate Finance Committee bill is the first decisive legislative break by any Republican from the GOP caucus overall on health care, and as such, it’s a big step towards realizing reform.

But GOP Senate leader Mitch McConnell has found the upside in the news: The Finance bill will never become law; and in any case, the real final bill is being worked out by Dems behind closed doors, and it doesn’t constitute “real reform.” McConnell’s office sends over a statement from him:

Senator Snowe called me this morning to let me know that while she continues to have serious, substantive policy reservations with this proposal, she wanted to keep the process moving. I share her concerns about the direction of this bill once it leaves the committee, and her call for transparency before we vote to proceed to any bill on the floor.

The fact is, this proposal will never come before the Senate. But what we do know is that the bill written behind closed doors here in the Capitol will be another 1,000-page, trillion-dollar Washington takeover. We know it will slash a half-trillion dollars from seniors’ Medicare, add new taxes and raise premiums. That’s not reform.

It’s very possible that Snowe’s reasonable, bipartisan posture now will make it easier for her to not support the final bill later. The flipside, though, is that Snowe’s support means there’s no longer any credible way that Republicans can argue that Dems didn’t pursue bipartisan compromise — and it serves as a reminder that the vast majority of Republicans refused to support reform, despite many concessions from Dems.

Those simple facts give reform a big burst of momentum going forward. Getting interesting.

[goclark]

1. I agree K and R

[babylonsister]

2. You don't think we'll get health care reform? I do. nt

[goclark]

9. Yes I do believe we will get health care reform ~ I was agreeing to..

"The flipside, though, is that Snowe’s support means there’s no longer any credible way that Republicans can argue that Dems didn’t pursue bipartisan compromise — and it serves as a reminder that the vast majority of Republicans refused to support reform, despite many concessions from Dems.

Those simple facts give reform a big burst of momentum going forward. Getting interesting."

[babylonsister]

12. Gotcha, thanks!

:hi:

[BlueDemKev]

3. Amen, Brother.

"There’s no longer any credible way that Republicans can argue that Dems didn’t pursue bipartisan compromise — and it serves as a reminder that the vast majority of Republicans refused to support reform, despite many concessions from Dems."

Amen, Brother. AMEN.
:smoke:

[malaise]

4. Is that why they're threatening

not to give her a Committee Chair. The chinless one is pissed.

[leftstreet]

5. They need to work on healthcare reform, not insurance reform

Dumbasses

[Clear Blue Sky]

6. Snowe's vote hardly makes it bipartisan.

[goclark]

10. Better that she voted with the Democrats than not ~

IMO.

It must have been real hard for her to turn down all the $$'s and gifts that the rest of them happily accepted.

[KharmaTrain]

7. Listen To What Snowe Said...

She may not vote for final passage, but that's still a ways down the road. The one thing she didn't say was that she'd vote against cloture that would get Public Option one step closer to reality by lowering the Senate threshold to 51 votes. Yep, she may not vote for the final bill or parts of it (as it will be done in several chunks) but if she voted to move ahead today, she may also vote to prevent a fillibuster and lead to a final bill become reality.

Pruneface needs to talk tough...he's losing his grip on this caucus. Her vote this morning was a major loss for their side as it means they've broken ranks.

[Sebastian Doyle]

8. This may be the first time in history that I agree (at least in part) with Bug Eyes McConnell

The Finance Bill is shit, and not one word of it belongs in the final bill.

[gratuitous]

11. It's the symbolism

Flip the scenario, and the popular media would be crowing about "Democrats in Disarray!", one of their all-time favorite narratives. No, Snowe's vote (or any particular single Republican vote for that matter) doesn't mean anything, really. But it makes the Republicans look {insert shudder here} divided, and not all of one mind. It doesn't make the Finance Committee bill "bipartisan," but since the measuring stick for that depended so heavily on Republican unity in opposition, it knocks that nonsense into a cocked hat, and McConnell knows it.

As a practical matter, the reality is that the Democrats are in charge of the House, the Senate and the White House. They've gone through an elaborate charade and held up this vital legislation (well, vital to Americans; to fat cat insurance and pharmaceutical companies, not so much) for months. But now Snowe has broken with her party. The symbol of Republican disunity is far, far worse than if the Republicans stood fast together on the wrong side of history. Now, McConnell and his brethren can look forward to explaining to their constituents who benefit from health care reform just why they stood in the way.

It sucks to be Mitch McConnell, just as a general matter; it double sucks today.