Reid still short of 60

Posted: Tuesday, October 27, 2009 2:00 PM by Domenico Montanaro
Filed Under: Congress, Democrats

From NBC's Ken Strickland
After surveying a number of Democratic centrists today, it's clear that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) is still short of the 60 votes he needs to even get the healthcare on the floor.

Passage is another issue.

Still firmly uncommitted to vote with Reid are Sens. Ben Nelson (D-NE) and Mary Landrieu (D-LA).

"I'm not going to make up my mind until I've actually seen the bill," Nelson said.

Landrieu said, "I'm very skeptical about what he outlined yesterday for a number of reasons."

When asked directly if she'll vote with Democrats to bring the bill to the floor, she only said, "I'm going to continue to work on a principled compromise."

Senators, who seem inclined to vote with Reid on that first procedural vote, but reserved the right to vote against the final bill, were Joe Lieberman (I-CT), Mark Pryor (D-AR), and Evan Bayh (D-IN).

"I've got an open mind on that," Bayh said. "That's not my stumbling block."

Lieberman said, "I'm going to vote for cloture on the motion to proceed to the healthcare debate, because there has to be a healthcare debate."

Pryor added, "My inclination is to support the process ... that it get to the floor and see where it take us from there."

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Comments

Thats what you Dems get for trying to vote Lieberman out last time. next time you wont count your chickens early.

What_you_Selling (Sent Tuesday, October 27, 2009 2:13 PM)

Any moderate Dem who votes for cloture but against the bill will be treated as if they voted for the bill. By voting for cloture they are implicitly allowing it to pass. Time to replace these moderate Dems in red states with Republicans!! I voted for Bill Nelson (FL) in 2006, but he will lose my vote in 2012 if he votes for cloture on anything with the government option.

Dookie (Sent Tuesday, October 27, 2009 2:14 PM)

One by one, two by two, Reid is being told he's an idiot.

Told'Ya (Sent Tuesday, October 27, 2009 2:15 PM)

Lieberman said, "I'm going to vote for cloture on the motion to proceed to the healthcare debate, because there has to be a healthcare debate."

****************************************************
FR; I am reading a typo. Did Lie-berman turncoat that fast?

Beverly in Chicago (Sent Tuesday, October 27, 2009 2:16 PM)

Could it really be true? A Congressman that actually wants to see the bill first? But alas, "seeing" the bill doesn't necessarily translate into "reading" the bill, does it?

I agree that the bill needs to be available for several days to read. Then there needs to be several days to debate.

Details, Please (Sent Tuesday, October 27, 2009 2:17 PM)

Sure - lets debate this mess. Lets tell people that they'll be forced to pay thousands for something they may not want. Let's tell people they will be penalized thousands if they don't comply with buying health insurance. Let's tell people the government is cutting funding to doctors and hospitals and at the same time bringing millions of more people into the system - and lets call that rationing!

Yeah, lets debate this mess.

TJ Ginn, SC (Sent Tuesday, October 27, 2009 2:18 PM)

"I'm not going to make up my mind until I've actually seen the bill," Nelson said.

Imagine that . . . .

Read, and Understand, the Bill (Sent Tuesday, October 27, 2009 2:20 PM)

Something to run on next year Democrats - you can say you tried really, really hard.

Tyler Texas Tim (Sent Tuesday, October 27, 2009 2:22 PM)

I can without a doubt say that Mary Landrieu is useless. She was horrible during Katrina and she's even worse now.

Cjake (Sent Tuesday, October 27, 2009 2:23 PM)

Just checked the forecast - no Snowe.

Think she regrets her vote to get this boondoggle out of committee? I think she does. Probably feels like she's been stabbed in the back, or thrown under the bus. That happens a lot with Obama and Reid and Pelosi.

Sweet Spot (Sent Tuesday, October 27, 2009 2:25 PM)

Reid may not get to 60, but the White House will twist whatever arms and tweak whatever legislation to make sure there is no floor defeat. Public option is in, but opt-out may be out.

http://www.political-buzz.com/

matt (Sent Tuesday, October 27, 2009 2:26 PM)

Elections have consequences… and unfortunately for you and the rest of the righties… you LOST!
Feisty Redhead Roselle, IL (Sent Tuesday, October 27, 2009 1:09 PM)
----------------------------------------------
Even as you gloat in your triumph with a Democrat MAJORITY in Congress, the most left wing Democrat President EVER and a slim majority of Democrat governors you STILL can't provide any meaningful progress.

The Iraq and Afghan wars are getting worse.
Gitmo is still open.
Iran almost has the A-bomb and ballistic missiles.
N Korea almost has the A-bomb (if not already) and ballistic missiles.
Unemployment continues to rise.
Foreclosures continue to rise.
2009 bank failures are the highest since 1992, 105 so far.
GM was "saved" but all Pontiac and Saturn workers, suppliers and dealers will soon be on the unemployment rolls.
Business bankrupticies have almost tripled compared to 2008.
$1.4 million taxpayer dollars to send Barack to Copenhagen only to come back empty handed.
Consumer confidence numbers recently plunged.
DJIA below 10K again.
Gasoline prices are RISING, despite the fact they normally drop in fall and winter.
No energy rebate checks.
No 600,000 jobs by the summer of 2009.
Three million "green jobs" need to materialize.

You don't need the Republicans to throw sand in the gears, the Democrats are doing a fine job destroying themselves and the country along with it.

Pete Roleum, Detroit MI USA (Sent Tuesday, October 27, 2009 2:29 PM)

keep the goverment out my health care, we have best in the world the way it is all they want is power to control everyone and every thing that we do from what you eat and who will receive medical care and how much depending on what your worth is to society

hawk (Sent Tuesday, October 27, 2009 2:36 PM)

Talk about confusing, Lieberman will vote for filibuster at 1:53 but will vote for cloture at 2:00. Both sides of his mouth must have been going at the same time.

Either way, it's time for the phone calls and e-mails to Landrieu, Nelson and Lieberman. Maybe a reminder to Lieberman that without President Obama's intervention, Joe would have lost his chairmanship. Senator Reid, time to take Joe for a chat, maybe head toward the wood shed. Maybe a visit to the WH for a reminder about who won the election. I don't care how they vote on HCR but if they want re-election, they'd better vote cloture. Democrats are a patient group but not that patient.

Jody, Iowa (Sent Tuesday, October 27, 2009 2:37 PM)

since the Constitution gives the VP the tie breaking vote, it clearly envisions bills passing in the Senate based on a simply 1 vote majority not this 60 vote nonsense. I say, the 60 vote thing in the Senate is unconstitutional!

pat huntington ny (Sent Tuesday, October 27, 2009 2:55 PM)

Just spoke with aide in Lieberman's office and he said that Lieberman WILL NOT fillibuster- he said the news outlets had it wrong

Tatyana, DC (Sent Tuesday, October 27, 2009 2:57 PM)

'..."I'm going to continue to work on a principled compromise."...'

right, you vote for cloture or Democrats will NOT vote for you

Is that 'principled' ?

Still, things look close
And, ther is a Public Option

Get a Trigger if you HAVE to

Isn't this the place where the President is supposed to take Nelson and Landreiu aside and have a 'heart to heart'

Call for President Obama !!

MSierra, SF (Sent Tuesday, October 27, 2009 2:59 PM)

It's time for the White House to get the democrats in a room and read them the riot act. There have to be projects that can be pulled from their states. LBJ did it to get through what he wanted. This has to pass by the end of this year or the democrats can 1.kiss their majority goodbye and 2.say goodbye to the White House in 2012. The argument against the public option doesn't make sense anymore; reform without it isn't reform; a majority of Americans--as seen in most major polls--now favor an overhaul of health care, not the do nothing go slow-as-molassas approach that the republicans favor. Enough is enough. Get this thing done already!

Steve Graff, Woodbury, NJ (Sent Tuesday, October 27, 2009 3:00 PM)

"I'm not going to make up my mind until I've actually seen the bill," Nelson said.
He may be the only one that does.

RobTzu, Kansas City, KS (Sent Tuesday, October 27, 2009 3:02 PM)

REALLY ???

Is this REAL ??

From Huff Post:

'...Leaderless: Senate Pushes For Public Option Without Obama's Support

President Barack Obama is actively discouraging Senate Democrats in their effort to include a public insurance option with a state opt-out clause as part of...'

Read more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/the-news/reporting/sam-stein-and-ryan-grim...'

WTF ???
WTF ??

MSierra, SF (Sent Tuesday, October 27, 2009 3:04 PM)

I'm not an expert on this, so shouldn't be posting...but we have to do something. I have insurance, but still pray that I don't get sick- I wouldn't be able to cover my deductable. My husbands job is considered temp. so he only has insurance 9 mo out of the year, and we can' afford to buy him a quality plan the other 3 mo. I think everyone deserves heath care at a resonable rate- it should be one of our god given rights
Amber Grays River WA

-----------------

"[B]ut we have to do something". Famous words of a certain Senator, Senator Specter I believe. He said the very same thing about the $800 billion dollar Stimulus plan earlier this year, the very same plan that stimulated, . . ., nothing at all. Something may have to be done, but not what the liberals in Congress are trying to jam down the American peoples throat.

Clyde in Chicago (Sent Tuesday, October 27, 2009 3:12 PM)

Harry Reid is short far more than "60." This weasel from Searchlight, NV (if you blink when you pass through, you will miss the filth, corrupt traffic cops, and the brothels) is way short on civility, legislative ability, and ethics (check out his illegal, tax evading land deals in NV).

Cesar Romero, Laughlin, NV (Sent Tuesday, October 27, 2009 3:13 PM)

Chew on this one liberals.

Facts Be Told (Sent Tuesday, October 27, 2009 3:13 PM)

Harry Reid, the world's third favorite punchline after Obie and Pelosi. Letterman is fourth.

Louisiana CoCo (Sent Tuesday, October 27, 2009 3:19 PM)

"I'm not going to make up my mind until I've actually seen the bill," Nelson said.
-----------------------------------------------
Barack Hussein Obama has not seen it either but that does not stop him from saying it is the greatest thing since Penicillin.

Obama has to use Penicillin as an example because he ran short of H1N1 shots.

Groundskeeper Willie’s enemy Seamus (Sent Tuesday, October 27, 2009 3:20 PM)

A level playing field public option where they negotiate rates just as private insurers do will lower rates for all. It's called free enterprize and competition.

The state opt out provision gives states the right not to participate. But these state officials will have to face their voters in the next election. So I doubt many states will opt out of the very popular public option if they want to get reelected.

Frank Mario (Sent Tuesday, October 27, 2009 3:25 PM)

*In the latest annual study, health insurer profits were roughly 2%.
*This placed them 35th of 53 industries in the Fortune 500.

You can't measure insurance profits the same way as other industries. They are in the business of shuffling money around and skimming off the top, like a bank. Banks' revenues aren't calculated on deposits. It just doesn't compare to industries that use revenues to produce new things to sell or services to provide.

Their revenues cannot be calculated as the gross amount of the premiums. The right way to do it would be to subtract the money they pay out to providers. I think you would see their real profits are well into the double digits.

Rich, Baltimore, MD (Sent Tuesday, October 27, 2009 3:26 PM)

All of these so-called moderates claim to be worried about costs and the deficits, yet CBO should plans with public option actually lowers costs and the deficits - so what gives?

John Bentley (Sent Tuesday, October 27, 2009 3:39 PM)

Go reconciliation sooner and speed up the process to 2010-2011 enough talking this could be real progress for America.

Ivoted (Sent Tuesday, October 27, 2009 3:44 PM)

Call for President Obama !!

MSierra, SF (Sent Tuesday, October 27, 2009 2:59 PM)

//////////////////////////////////////////////

Obama replies: PRESENT!

As Flip Wilson said- " What you see is what you get honey! " (Sent Tuesday, October 27, 2009 3:46 PM)

HEADLINES: REID STILL SHORT OF 60 - They are talking about his I.Q.!!!

Kenneth Legnon (Sent Tuesday, October 27, 2009 3:58 PM)

I want to know what NBC/MSNBC reporters are finding out and reporting; who cares what Politico is reporting?
If anyone cares, they'd be at its website, not here!

Jose, Redlands, CA (Sent Tuesday, October 27, 2009 3:59 PM)

HEADLINES: REID STILL SHORT OF 60 - They are talking about his I.Q.!!!

Kenneth Legnon (Sent Tuesday, October 27, 2009 3:59 PM)

My God...Blue Dog Senators! Many, Many people will NOT be able to get into the Public Option even if they wanted to. At this juncture, I just have to say this -- I cannot wait to get on Medicare.

Isn't it better to have the Governors of States make a decision on this? I thought of all the plans -- this Opt Out was brilliant because no two states are alike in their specific needs.

Barbara - Fort Lauderdale, FL (Sent Tuesday, October 27, 2009 4:00 PM)

For people who want Healthcare. Call the Blue Dogs - Call them all day and call them every day. Believe you me it is how Legislation works. We have to urge them to pass the Bill in this form.

Barbara - Fort Lauderdale, FL (Sent Tuesday, October 27, 2009 4:07 PM)

Rich, Baltimore, MD (Sent Tuesday, October 27, 2009 3:26 PM): "You can't measure insurance profits the same way as other industries. They are in the business of shuffling money around and skimming off the top...Their revenues cannot be calculated as the gross amount of the premiums. The right way to do it would be to subtract the money they pay out to providers. I think you would see their real profits are well into the double digits."

And you sir are full of s**t. Care to offer any proof to document your fantasy?

Bill, Fairfax, VA (Sent Tuesday, October 27, 2009 4:08 PM)

The American people will be watching these votes. Vote for a public option and we will work to vote you out of office.

The current plans will do nothing to lower costs but will greatly increase the government involvement in our lives.

AngryMobVoter, NY,NY (Sent Tuesday, October 27, 2009 4:31 PM)

I love it, the Dems have the House, the Senate and the White House and they are screwing it up. What a great time to be a Republican. Obama is the best thing that ever happened to conservatism.

Brian in Houston (Sent Tuesday, October 27, 2009 4:48 PM)

You righties can continue to drown your sorrows with your Budweiser… lol lol lol
Feisty Redhead Roselle, IL (Sent Tuesday, October 27, 2009 1:46 PM)

-------------------------------------------------

In Chicago, that Budweiser will be supplied by Jesse Jackson’s son who was “miraculously and coincidentally” awarded a lucrative Budweiser distributorship in 2002 when Jesse Sr. made an African-American Bud boycott go away.

Big Al in Chicago- Vote early and vote often! (Sent Tuesday, October 27, 2009 4:51 PM)

obie is an idiot,reid has no clue, and pelosi still doesn't know the time of day nor what day it is

jburnsohnny (Sent Tuesday, October 27, 2009 5:36 PM)

Lieberman better remember that the independents and Republican got him into office after the democrats supported another candidate. He could be dead meat next time around if he supports the public option.

John. St Petersburg, FL (Sent Tuesday, October 27, 2009 6:04 PM)

Having a hard time getting 60 says all that needs be said about this bill.

mrg lou ky (Sent Tuesday, October 27, 2009 7:21 PM)

To all those debating the issue of Health Care Reform, please know that I am one who really, really needs help now. My husband's plant will close in September and without it, I will have to stop my treatment. My question to all of you is, why does my life mean so much less than yours? If it was freedom we were fighting for, would we first send it to the CBO to make sure we could afford it? I think not. But please rememeber, HCR is not an ideal or a right versus left issue. This is life and death issue. Why in this great country of ours where freedom reigns and life if protected is my life not worth the paper that my birth certificate is printed on because I became ill?

For all who are happy that HCR is having such a hard time and that people like Mr. Liebermann have said they may vote to block it, please tell me why you are happy that so many will die. Have we really come to the point that the bottom line means more than humanity and compassion in this great country of ours?

I submit this respectfully,

Compassion over Money (Sent Tuesday, October 27, 2009 8:02 PM)

I get so tired of you people who have your heads in the sand that what we have for health care in this country is just fine. You don't have any competition in the health care market, run by monopolies, so they will increase your premiums whenever they want if there is no public-option. Why is that sosoooo hard to get?

B. Kenney, Rancho P.V., CA (Sent Wednesday, October 28, 2009 1:56 AM)

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