Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Hot on Facebook
Uproar After NC State Agent 'Fixes' Girl's Lunch Preschooler has to eat chicken nuggets instead of mom's meal »

Six Senate Swing Votes

From Dems who swing right to left-leaning GOPers, debate promises suspense

By Harry Kimball,  Newser Staff

Posted Oct 14, 2009 12:55 PM CDT

(Newser) – As health care reform bills merge and change on the Senate floor, the pool of legislators to watch has grown. The Wall Street Journal takes a look:

  • Olympia Snowe, R-Maine: Her vote for the Finance Committee bill was clutch, but "doesn't forecast what my vote will be tomorrow," she says.
  • Susan Collins, R-Maine: The more conservative of the Maine senators would be a great catch for Dems, but she's even more opposed to a public option than Snowe.

  • Blanche Lincoln, D-Arkansas: Lincoln is in the hot seat, up for reelection in 2010 in a state John McCain won last year. Like Snowe, she voted for the Finance bill but said "my support today does not ensure my support for a final product."
  • Ben Nelson, D-Nebraska: A conservative Dem who's lukewarm on a government plan and has publicly hoped that a bill pass with a truly bipartisan—and legislatively astronomic—65 votes.
  • Mary Landrieu, D-Louisiana: Not up for reelection, but voters in her red state made a huge ruckus at an August town hall, and Landrieu appears to be doing all she can to appease them.
  • Roland Burris, D-Illinois: The only one of the 6 who swings the other way, the retiring Burris faces no electoral consequences and has said he will only vote for a bill with a public option.

Sen. Roland Burris, D-Ill.
Sen. Roland Burris, D-Ill.   (AP Photo)
Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine.
Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine.   (AP Photo)
Sen. Joseph Lieberman, I-Conn., and Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine.
Sen. Joseph Lieberman, I-Conn., and Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine.   (AP Photo)
Sen. Blanche Lincoln, D-Ark.
Sen. Blanche Lincoln, D-Ark.   (AP Photo)
Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb.
Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb.   (AP Photo)
Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La.
Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La.   (AP Photo)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
A snapshot of the day's best news stories.
 
COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 8 comments
NxBigmouthery
Oct 15, 2009 6:47 AM CDT
DLY, unless they have an axe in a clutch of sticks, they're liberals to you. All you have to do to be a liberal in your eyes is hint to someone that you think gay people are human or that children have a right to be educated. It must be difficult living under the stress of being so tightly coiled your head may explode at any moment. I have a solution. Remove the stick.
ljm
Oct 15, 2009 2:43 AM CDT
The way I see it we either have a self supporting public option and encourage market competition-or - we heavily regulate the private insurers much the same way utilities are regulated. Rate tables would need to be approved by a regulating body as well as any proposed increases. I prefer the public option.
Fondue
Oct 15, 2009 1:15 AM CDT
If there's no PO, then I would like to see something similar to Switzerland. I just saw a Wendall Potter say that a co-op would not have a chance against BlueCrossBlueShield if the antitrust laws stay in place. So those have to go, and like I said, something like the Swiss if no PO.

More Newser Stories

Bad News for Dems? Ben Nelson Retiring

Most Productive Congress Since 1960s Adjourns

Lawmaker: McCain Killed Soldier Counseling

Senate Passes Aid Bill, Drags House Back

Oops: Congress Might Have Killed Its Own Health Care


NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   Betty Confidential   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Fark   |   Timelines   |   The Frisky   |   Geek Sugar   |   NewsOne