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Forget Baucus: Reid Takes Reins on Health Care

Tough issues will be on the table as the majority leader tries to hammer out a bill

By Caroline Miller,  Newser Staff

Posted Oct 3, 2009 9:22 AM CDT
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(Newser) – In the Senate Finance Committee, it's all over but the voting, and Democratic hopes for health care reform now rest with Harry Reid, who has to pull something cogent (and passable) out of a welter of conflicting proposals from several committees. That puts him the "in the eye of an ideological storm," the Washington Post reports, noting that his own statements about the hot-button public health insurance option have wavered from staunchly pro to accepting any "mechanism to keep insurers honest, create competition and keep costs down."

As the Max Baucus bill lurched through markup over the last two weeks, many senators have been holding their fire, Polico notes, keeping the powder dry on their favorite amendments until they get to the floor, or even House-Senate conference. The Baucus bill has no public option, but Chuck Schumer plans to bring it back in the conference committee; John Kerry plans a second coming for the defeated employer mandate, too. There's still plenty of horse-trading to be done, Politico adds, and Olympia Snowe, the Dems' best (and perhaps only) prospect for GOP support, will be the target of much of it.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nev., and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of Calif., speak to reporters outside of the West Wing of the White House in Washington, Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2009, after a meeting with President Barack Obama regarding health care reform.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nev., and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of Calif., speak to reporters outside of the West Wing of the White House in Washington, Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2009, after a meeting...   (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
FILE - In this Oct. 1, 2009 file photo, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont. gestures on Capitol Hill in Washington. Many middle-class Americans would still struggle to pay for health insurance despite efforts by President Barack Obama and Democrats to make coverage more affordable.
FILE - In this Oct. 1, 2009 file photo, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont. gestures on Capitol Hill in Washington. Many middle-class Americans would still struggle to pay for...   (AP Photo/Harry Hamburg, FILE)
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., holds up notes for photographers, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Oct. 1, 2009, before the start of the afternoon session of the committee's continuing hearing on health care reform legislation.
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., holds up notes for photographers, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Oct. 1, 2009, before the start of the afternoon session of the committee's...   (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., center, talks with the ranking Republican Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, right, on Capitol Hill in Washington on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2009, before the start of the markup of health care legislation. Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., is at left.
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., center, talks with the ranking Republican Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, right, on Capitol Hill in Washington on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2009, before...   (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nev. gestures while addressing health care rally, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2009, on Capitol Hill in Washington.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nev. gestures while addressing health care rally, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2009, on Capitol Hill in Washington.   (AP Photo/Harry Hamburg)
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nev. talks to reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2009, following the weekly policy luncheons.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nev. talks to reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2009, following the weekly policy luncheons.   (AP Photo/Harry Hamburg)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 21 comments
fancygapva
Oct 5, 2009 3:25 AM CDT
Maybe. But these stealth Republican Blue Dog Democrats who are possessed by lobbiests....could be worse than the Bushies. The Democrats have enough votes for a filibuster proof vote and they can't get it out of committee? Even my congressman Brad Miller who is usually at LEAST as liberal (progressive? radical? pinkie commie freak? I plead YES) voted in favor of a bill that does not include the public option. This is about the promise of campaign funds that eventually get spent by the candidate however he/she chooses.....and those funds come from the insurance and pharma sectors.
Cat-Lover
Oct 4, 2009 10:52 AM CDT
Nothing -- ABSOLUTELY NOTHING -- could possibly wose than the bUSH administration except the earlier bUSH administration. Nope. TIE!!
fancygapva
Oct 4, 2009 3:22 AM CDT
Yeah. Dirty Harry, big bad Harry, HE'LL fix it for us. He'll push the bill through complete with public option. Gimme a break. I'm for putting some Democrats in who have balls, male or female and who aren't greedy lobbiest owned little sell outs. Get rid of Harry and Nancy and get some more Alan Graysons in there. After 8 years of having the Constitution rot away and the treasury stolen by the Bushies, I am ready for Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. Obviously anyone who goes has to be greed proofed in the manner of the Kennedys. I'm tired of sell out blue dog "democrats." They are WORSE than the Bush administration.

 
Charles Schumer • Senate • Harry Reid • Olympia Snowe • Senate Finance Committee • health care reform • Max Baucus

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