Schumer Lays It Out, Densely (on Public Option's chances in the Senate)

[BurtWorm]

From the New York Observer
http://www.observer.com/2009/politics/schumer-lays-it-out-densely

By Steve Kornacki
October 26, 2009 | 10:24 a.m.


Chuck Schumer, who stands to be a very big political winner if a public option is included in the compromise health care bill that will soon come to the Senate floor, offered a very specific assessment of where the public option debate in the Senate now stands on Sunday's "Meet the Press."

"I think we're very close to getting the 60 votes we need to move forward," he said, "and my guess is that the public option level playing field with the state opt-out will be in the bill."

Obviously, those words mean absolutely nothing to the vast majority of Americans, who routinely tell pollsters that they're confused beyond hope by the health care debate in Congress.

But if you take apart Schumer's 35-word sentence and translate it into English one layer at a time, it's actually one of the more significant public statements on where this process may be heading.

Start with the term "public option level playing field with the state opt-out." You'll never see it on any bumper stickers, but it actually represents a painstaking and slightly ingenious compromise on the most politically sensitive issue involved in the reform push.

...

Still, the fact that <Nebraska Dem. Bill> Nelson now seems to be this close-opt-out vs. opt-in-to joining his colleagues in stopping a filibuster seems to buttress Schumer's optimism. If he and just a few other holdouts can be won over, a relatively strong public option will be in the final Senate bill-and will probably end up reaching President Obama's desk.

If that happens, the old legislation-as-sausage-making metaphor will be affirmed: The process was ugly, protracted and (to just about every American) totally incoherent. But it may still produce something that isn't all that bad.

[Beetwasher]

1. Yes, And The Naysayers And Haters And Rumor Mongerers Have Been Wrong Every Step Of The Way

Just thought I'd point that out for the record. (Not directed at you Burt).

[BurtWorm]

2. I'm actually getting to the point where I'm ready to hold my breath.

I think it will squeak through. It may even be the beginning of a turnaround that will catch the Republican-Media fuckers off guard and knock them on their asses. (That I'm not holding my breath for.)

[derby378]

4. "Opt-Out"

If the opt-out is preserved, this bill is a failure.

[Selatius]

5. Especially for folks who live in very conservative states. You KNOW that they're gonna opt-out. nt

[derby378]

6. Starting with Texas

Which, of course, is very bad news for me and my family.

[Selatius]

10. I think my state may actually beat yours, sadly. ...Mississippi.

In that respect, I'm "screwn."

[Beetwasher]

7. The Only Failure Is Your Post

Keep up the whining!

[derby378]

8. Spoken like a true Texas-hater

Laugh it up, fuzzball...

[Beetwasher]

9. Yeah, I Hate Texas, That Makes Sense

Why do you hate everyone else?

[Laelth]

3. "Level playing field" is bad.

I don't want a "level playing field." The whole purpose of the public option is to drive down costs through competition. The government is bound to win because they don't have to pay absurd salaries to executives and they don't have to provide profits to shareholders. It's the un-level playing field that will make the public option work.

I'm not that fond of the state opt-out clause either.

If this is progress, I'd rather have the status quo.

:dem:

-Laelth