Obama Tactic Shields Health Care Bill From a Filibuster

[spanone]

the real deciderer

WASHINGTON — At the prodding of the White House, Democratic Congressional leaders have agreed to pursue a plan that would protect major health care legislation from Republican opposition by shielding it from last-minute Senate filibusters.

The aggressive approach reflects the big political claim that President Obama is staking on health care, and with it his willingness to face Republican wrath in order to guarantee that the Democrats, with their substantial majority in the Senate, could not be thwarted by minority tactics.

While some Democratic senators were reluctant to embrace the arrangement, Mr. Obama made clear at a White House session on Thursday afternoon that he favored it, people with knowledge of the session said.

Mr. Obama has given way in some battles with Congress, but the new stance suggests he may be much less willing to compromise when it comes to health care, his top legislative priority, even if it means a bitter partisan fight.

The no-filibuster arrangement is fiercely opposed by Republican leaders, who say health care is too important to be exempted from the Senate rules that usually mean major bills must win support from 60 senators.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/25/us/politics/25budget.html?hp=&pagewanted=print

[FLAprogressive]

1. the best part is is that we don't need Bayh, the Nelsons, McCaskill, or LIEberman

[NYC_SKP]

2. Another brilliant stroke.

Recommended.

:applause:

[Skink]

3. With 70 percent support for progressive health care legislation this is the place to do this.

[AdHocSolver]

4. Health care reform is too important to let insurance company lobbyists strangle it. nt

[imdjh]

5. What reform?

Are we getting NSP? If not, then it's just a bloated welfare package. Isn't it?

[dflprincess]

7. A bloated CORPORATE welfare package

with no public option the only ones who will benefit are the health insurance companies.

[TahitiNut]

8. If they cave in and don't include a public option, it's an ABOMINATION. Period.

:grr:

[AdHocSolver]

9. Times are different. The middle class is beginning to understand the corporate frauds.

Medicare part D was pushed through under Bush and the public was not paying attention.

The middle class is finally waking up to how they are being screwed.

A single payer system is not likely to get implemented this time around. However, if we get a system like Medicare which is affordable, anyone can join, there are no pre-existing conditions clauses, the agency administering it has the ability to negotiate medical services and drug prices, and those who can't afford the full cost can be subsidized, I would be all for it.

We currently have the medical system from hell, because the corporations have total control of it. Providing the people with alternatives and an advocate with some clout will go a long way to improving medical care for all Americans.

[SmileyRose]

6. Medical care reform is job 1 - HOWEVER

If we get medical care from Washington DC it's only be because the predator class figured out a way to exploit us with it.


Edit - like Medicare part D.