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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2010
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 PUBLIC OPTION SHOWDOWN 
26

Reid's 6 Biggest Headaches

Ben Nelson, Joe Lieberman are two of them

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(Newser) – To get the 60 votes he needs just to bring his health care bill to the floor of the Senate, Harry Reid is going to have to rein in some of his caucus' members. Politico surveys the majority leader's biggest challenges.

  • Joe Lieberman, Conn. The independent said yesterday he'll join a GOP filibuster if the bill's not changed. He's no fan of either a public option or Olympia Snowe's trigger option—though he might just be posturing.

  • Blanche Lincoln, Ark. She's facing an uphill election battle next year in a deeply red state. Yesterday she said she'll have "tremendous troubles" supporting a government-run program but wants to see the bill first.
  • Mark Pryor, Ark. He's ready to bring the bill to the floor but may not vote for it at the end.
  • Ben Nelson, Neb. The caucus' most conservative member is playing coy, saying it's "too soon" to take sides.
  • Evan Bayh, Ind. He's relaxed about the public option, but may vote against the bill depending on how it affects the average family's premium.
  • Mary Landrieu, La. She's "very skeptical" about the Reid plan and won't even say whether she'll vote for debate. Liberal activists in the Bayou State are already threatening her.

Sens. Mary Landrieu and Evan Bayh are seen as swing votes on health care reform.
Sens. Mary Landrieu and Evan Bayh are seen as swing votes on health care reform.   (AP Photo/Harry Hamburg)
Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb., left, and Sen. Joe Lieberman, I-Conn, make their way off the Senate floor during deliberations on the economic stimulus, Friday, Feb. 6, 2009, at the Capitol in Washington.
Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb., left, and Sen. Joe Lieberman, I-Conn, make their way off the Senate floor during deliberations on the economic stimulus, Friday, Feb. 6, 2009, at the Capitol in Washington.   (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
In this April 8, 2008 file photo Sen. Joseph Lieberman, I-Conn., addresses the Vets For Freedom on Capitol Hill in Washington.
In this April 8, 2008 file photo Sen. Joseph Lieberman, I-Conn., addresses the Vets For Freedom on Capitol Hill in Washington.   (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File)
Sen. Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., talks during the taping of
Sen. Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., talks during the taping of "Face The Nation" at the CBS studios Sunday, June 29, 2008, in Washington.   (AP Photo/Face The Nation, Karin Cooper)
Sen. Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., laughs before the taping of
Sen. Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., laughs before the taping of "Face The Nation" at the CBS studios Sunday, June 29, 2008, in Washington.   (AP Photo/Face The Nation, Karin Cooper)
Sen. Blanche Lincoln, D-Ark., speaks during an aviation industry forum at a Dassault Falcon hangar in Little Rock, Ark., Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2009.
Sen. Blanche Lincoln, D-Ark., speaks during an aviation industry forum at a Dassault Falcon hangar in Little Rock, Ark., Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2009.   (AP Photo/Danny Johnston)
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26 comments
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Fondue
Oct 28, 09 8:32 AM CDT
Mr. Lieberman, stop dithering and filibuster. If you are just posturing, please - posture yourself out of politics, there are real lives at stake. Ms. Lincoln, go ahead and vote "yes". You are going to lose next year. Leave the Senate of sound mind knowing you helped millions of fellow Americans. Mr. Pryor, bring that other leg on over the fence. Mr. Nelson, it's not too soon, the Republicans need more liberal conservatives. Mr. Bayh, competition is good. It brings down costs. Vote "yes". Ms. Landrieu, vote "yes" there are many families that need coverage in your state. Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
+2
IN RESPONSE:
Reader65069154
Oct 28, 09 10:50 AM CDT
Did you want Lieberman out of politics when he was on the ticket with Gore?
Vote up! Vote down!
+4
IN RESPONSE:
OWLWOMANXXXX
Oct 28, 09 2:00 PM CDT
Louisiana didn;t care for the poor during Katrina...why should they care now?
Vote up! Vote down!
-1
IN RESPONSE:
freethemall
Oct 28, 09 4:32 PM CDT
That's right fondue, and if if in addition, you cancel the Bush tax cuts, we're several trillion dollars in the black. There always seems to be plenty of money for war, and for tax cuts disproportionately favoring the rich, not to mention bank bail outs, etc. But we can't afford to fix our notoriously inefficient health care delivery system? I don't believe that bull crap for a moment!
Vote up! Vote down!
0
Citrixguy
Oct 28, 09 8:46 AM CDT
Mr Lieberman - Please, for the love of the dead and dying Christ, filibuster. Ms. Lincoln, Mr. Nelson, Mr. Bayh - - - Please vote no, do not saddle us with trillions upon TRILLIONS OF debt. Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
-2

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Senate • Harry Reid • Joe Lieberman • Mary Landrieu • health care reform • Evan Bayh • Democratic Party • Mark Pryor • Ben Nelson • Democratic Senators • public option • Blanche Lincoln


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