Sens: Snowe's healthcare vote puts her top Commerce perch at risk

[Amerigo Vespucci]

Sens: Snowe's healthcare vote puts her top Commerce perch at risk

By Alexander Bolton - 10/13/09 06:05 AM ET

Sen. Olympia Snowe (Maine) is risking a shot at becoming the top Republican on an influential Senate committee by backing Democratic healthcare legislation, according to senators on the panel.

A Senate Democrat on the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee said Republicans on the panel are threatening to vote against Snowe, who is in line for the senior GOP post that is about to come open.

“Wake up,” the Democrat told a reporter last week when questioned if the Republicans would retaliate against Snowe for crossing party lines.

Snowe, a potential swing vote on the Senate Finance Committee, could give Democrats a major boost Tuesday when that panel holds a final vote on Chairman Max Baucus’s (D-Mont.) bill. She could also support the bill in the coming weeks on the Senate floor.

“A vote for healthcare would be something that would weigh on our minds when it came time to vote,” said a Republican on Commerce, who said Snowe would otherwise be assured of the ranking member post if not for the healthcare debate.

http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/62727-sens-snowe-risks-perch

[eppur_se_muova]

1. Threats and extortion -- it's all the 'bipartisanship' the GOP knows. nt