Congress
From NBC's Ken Strickland
Details on some of the most contentious elements of health-care reform were released today by one of Senate committees drafting the bill.
The Senate Health Committee unveiled its plan for a public/government insurance program to compete with private insurers. And it also detailed the "play or pay" provision that would require companies to provide insurance coverage to their employees or pay fees to the government.
Today's announcement, while significant, provides only a few new pieces in what has become a giant health-care reform puzzle. Several outstanding issues remain -- chief among them total cost of reform and how you pay for that cost. Votes are at least weeks away, and bipartisanship on major elements remain elusive.
Here are the outlines of what the committee released today. (This is the committee chaired by Ted Kennedy, but temporarily run by Chris Dodd.)
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"Determined to advance President Barack Obama's health care agenda, key Senate Democrats are calling for a government-run insurance option to compete with private plans, as well as a $750-per-worker annual fee on larger companies that do not offer coverage to employees,"
AP's Espo reports. "In a letter outlining the details, Sens. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., and Christopher Dodd, D-Conn., said their revised plan would cost dramatically less than an earlier, incomplete proposal, and help show the way toward coverage for 97 percent of all Americans."
Charlie Rangel said on MSNBC that insurance companies are "
stealing" from people. "In response to Rangel's comments, Ken Johnson, senior vice president of PhRMA, said: 'We would love to have Mr. Rangel spend a few days in a laboratory talking to some of our scientists who are working to cure cancer, heart disease and Alzheimer's. Perhaps then he would have a better appreciation of what we do. Yes, we agree saving money is important. But so is saving lives.'"
From NBC's Mike Viqueira
House Minority Leader John Boehner is golfing out at Congressional Country Club today with Tiger Woods. The occassion is the pro-am before the annual tournament sponsored by Woods, known as the AT&T National.
For at least one hole, anyway, all those hours that the 7.5 handicap Boehner logs on the golf course paid off. Boehner sank a 35-foot putt for birdie on the 8th hole. The near-immortal Woods made a mere par.
Many have speculated that the leader's deep tan is a product of his many hours on the course. He often plays Burning Tree Country Club, about a mile down the road from Congressional in Bethesda, Md.
The foursome today included Tony Romo, quarterback of the locally reviled Dallas Cowboys.
From NBC's Mike Viqueira
Confirming here that Henry Waxman was admitted yesterday to Cedars-Sinai. His committee spokeswoman in Washington says he "felt unwell" and was "admitted for routine testing."
Waxman remains as a patient at the hospital, but "is feeling much better now," says spokeswoman Karen Lightfoot.
When last seen in Washington, Waxman managed the energy bill through the House for that close vote late last Friday. As chairman of the powerful Energy and Commerce committee, he has jurisdiction over both the energy bill and the health care bill.
Waxman ousted fellow Democrat John Dingell, the longest serving member of the House in American history, as chair of the committee last January.
From NBC's Chuck Todd
If you needed any more evidence that Republicans are starting to collectively believe Chris Dodd is the single most vulnerable Democratic senator seeking re-election, here's yet another leaked poll. This survey, conducted by the GOP firm Wilson Research Strategies, was conducted last week on behalf of potential Republican candidate Peter Schiff, a financial commentator who was credited with predicting the current economic downturn.
Here are the bare bones of the survey among 400 likely voters:
-- Dodd leads Schiff 42-38.
-- Former Rep. Rob Simmons (who is already announced and raising money and is the NRSC's preferred candidate) leads Dodd 47-38.
Taking the poll at face value, here's what I see: There is a strong anti-Dodd sentiment out there if a guy with very little name I.D. came end up in a statistical tie with Dodd. It conforms with other public surveys we've seen where Dodd is struggling. Simmons, with a tad more name I.D., not surprisingly, has a bigger lead.
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Minnesota, your long Senate race nightmare is over.
The Star Tribune: "Al Franken, a satirist known for his biting political humor, is headed to the U.S. Senate, the survivor of an epic legal struggle that opponent Norm Coleman finally conceded he couldn't win."
And is Minnesota governor on Coleman's mind... again? "Conceding defeat outside his St. Paul home shortly after the court ruling, Coleman sidestepped questions about whether he would turn his attention to running for governor in 2010. 'We'll talk about the future in short order,' he said."
The Washington Post: “In a unanimous ruling, the court rejected Republican Norm Coleman's legal arguments that some absentee ballots had been improperly counted and that some localities had used inconsistent standards in counting votes. The ruling led Coleman to concede his Senate seat to Franken, who could be sworn in as soon as next week, when the Senate returns from a recess.”
According to NBC’s Pete Williams, Minnesota officials intend to hand-deliver the official election certificate to the U.S. Senate this morning. Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty and the secretary of state signed the papers at about 7:15 ET last night. Copies of the documents were faxed to the Secretary of the U.S. Senate last night, and the originals were sent overnight for delivery this morning. This clears the way for Franken to be sworn in when the Senate reconvenes next week, after the July 4th break.
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From NBC's Pete Williams
As a technical matter, Norm Coleman has the legal option to appeal today's decision over the Minnesota Senate recount to the U.S. Supreme Court. As a practical matter, however, it's over.
Five members of the Minnesota Supreme Court today rejected every legal argument Coleman raised. Though the court has seven members, the ruling was unanimous.
Two members -- Chief Justice Eric Magnuson and Justice Barry Anderson -- recused themselves from the case, because they were on the statewide canvassing board and could not be in the position of essentially ruling on their own earlier conclusion about the election.
Today's decision does not order the governor to act, but it says
Al Franken "is entitled" under state law "to receive the certificate of election." The court put the legal effect of its ruling on hold for 10 days -- time enough for Coleman to seek relief from the U.S. Supreme Court.
Many legal scholars agree, however, that it's nearly a certainty that the U.S. Supreme Court will stay out of this. It was one thing for the court to take up the Florida election challenge in 2000, because that involved the presidential election. No such pressing national concern is present here, and there's every reason to think Coleman received fair consideration from the Minnesota courts.
From NBC's Mark Murray
Not surprisingly, Democrats are now putting pressure on Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty
to certify Al Franken as the winner in Minnesota, and on Norm Coleman to bow out of the race.
Sen.
Bob Menendez, chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, said: "We've always said that Norm Coleman deserved his day in court, and he got eight months. Now we expect Gov. Pawlenty to do the right thing, follow the law, and sign the election certificate."
Added DNC Chairman
Tim Kaine: "Norm Coleman should concede and Gov. Pawlenty should sign the election certificate which Al Franken is entitled to."
And here's Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid: "I once again encourage Gov. Pawlenty to respect the votes of his constituents and the decisions of his state's highest court. He should put politics aside, follow his state's laws and finally sign the certificate that will bring this episode to an end."
From NBC's Mark Murray and Chuck Todd
Is the never-ending recount in Minnesota over? It very well might be.
Moments ago, the Minnesota Supreme Court ruled unanimously that Al Franken beat Norm Coleman in that contested race. "[W]e affirm the decision of the trial court that Al Franken received the highest number of votes legally cast and is entitled under Minn.
32 Stat. § 204C.40 (2008) to receive the certificate of election as United States Senator from the State of Minnesota."
Video: The Minnesota Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered that Democrat Al Franken be certified as the winner of the state's long-running Senate race.
That would give Democrats their filibuster-proof 60 votes in the Senate (although getting ill Democrats like
Ted Kennedy and
Robert Byrd to vote on legislation will be a challenge).
There are two things to watch. One, will Minnesota Gov.
Tim Pawlenty (R) certify Franken the winner? Pawlenty has said he'll do so if the Minnesota Supreme Court orders him. (Question: Is the court saying Franken is "entitled" an order?) Two, will Coleman take his appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court?
By the way, Franken is holding a press conference at 5:15 pm ET.
The Washington Post has a C.W.-setting piece on the Obama administration’s agenda. “Obama and his aides have proved adept at navigating the politics and eccentricities of the legislative branch. But as lawmakers attempt to navigate much trickier and more contentious issues in the second half of the year, the narrow margin of Friday's energy vote served as a warning: The higher the stakes, the tougher the challenge in finding consensus within what has become a diverse Democratic majority.”
Video: NBC’s Andrea Mitchell talks with Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., about a last-minute provision to the House-approved cap and trade bill, which would require President Barack Obama’s successors to tariff goods from nations that do not limit greenhouse gas emissions.
More: "Maintaining a sense of common interest across the party is a paramount goal. Early on, administration officials and Democratic leaders agreed they would steer clear of controversial social issues such as abortion and same-sex marriage. And to the discontent of many liberal Democrats, Congress intends to remain generally silent on those fronts... For the White House, the trick is to keep a firm grip without appearing overly meddlesome."
The New York Times, meanwhile, has a look at how the Obama administration is trying to move the health care campaign outside the Beltway. "With members of Congress back in their districts for the Fourth of July recess, Mr. Obama’s political group, Organizing for America, has recruited thousands of supporters to participate in blood drives, raise money for medical research and volunteer at community health clinics this week, all with the intent of sending reminders to lawmakers that the public wants action on health care. ‘The main thing,’ David Axelrod, Mr. Obama’s senior adviser, said, ‘is to involve as many people as possible and demonstrate in a variety of ways the level and degree of intensity of support that this has.’ Of Mr. Obama’s supporters, Mr. Axelrod said, ‘There’s no issue that motivates them more than health care.’”
Video: President Obama asks for video and online questions about health care ahead of a July 1 virtual town hall on the topic.
The White House's favorite right-of-center columnist,
David Brooks, laments the dominance Congress has over writing legislation. "The great paradox of the age is that Barack Obama, the most riveting of recent presidents, is leading us into an era of Congressional dominance. And Congressional governance is a haven for special interest pleading and venal logrolling. When the executive branch is dominant you often get coherent proposals that may not pass. When Congress is dominant, as now, you get politically viable mishmashes that don’t necessarily make sense."
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