The Senate Republican Communications Center has released a document highlighting the public comments of prominent Senate Democrats making it clear that it doesn’t matter what sort of compromises the Senate Finance Committee decides on – Senate Democratic Leadership will do whatever they want.
COMPROMISING
BAUCUS
Senate Democrats Say They Will Quickly Change Whatever Health Care Plan Is Produced By Finance Negotiations
SEN. HARRY REID (D-NV): “We’re Not Going To Be Working Under Either One Of Those Bills. We Have To Put Them Together.” “Well, first of all, this is a process we’re working through. The HELP Committee has reported out their bill. The Finance Committee is getting close to reporting out a bill. We’re not going to be working under either one of those bills. We have to put them together.” (Sen. Reid, Press Conference, 7/28/09)
SEN. JAY ROCKEFELLER (D-WV) Said That He Would Add “Probably Quite A Few” Amendments To The Bill That The Finance Committee Produces. “‘We are going to find a solution,’ Baucus said after meeting with Democrats. ‘We’re going to find a bill, we’re going to pass a bill out of the committee which does lower costs, which reforms the insurance market, and which provides care for virtually all Americans and which gets 60 votes.’ But Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) said he was preparing ‘probably quite a few’ amendments for the committee’s markup.” (“Dem Healthcare Infighting Intensifies,” The Hill, 7/29/09)
SEN. DICK DURBIN (D-IL): “I’m Sure More Liberal Members Of Our Caucus Will Be Upset … [B]ut I’ve Said To All Of Them: Stay With Us; This Is The First Inning. This Is A Long Ballgame.” “There will be flash points in any bipartisan bill out of the Finance Committee that I’m sure more liberal members of our Caucus will be upset with,” said Durbin. “But I’ve said to all of them: Stay with us; this is the first inning. This is a long ballgame.” (“Durbin: Finance Bill Critical Before Recess,” Roll Call, 7/29/09)
SEN. BEN CARDIN (D-MD): “We’re Going To Push For What We Believe In. There Are Going To Be Amendment Opportunities To Deal With That.” “However, a significant number of Democratic Senators remain skeptical and are worried that their treasured reform priorities could be junked in order to win the support of Republicans and some centrist Democrats. … Sen. Benjamin Cardin (D-Md.), who doesn’t sit on HELP or Finance, expressed a similar sentiment. ‘We’re going to push for what we believe in. There are going to be amendment opportunities to deal with that,’ he said.” (“Health Battles Turn Into War,” Roll Call, 7/29/09)
SEN. DEBBIE STABENOW (D-MI): “There Are Many Steps To This Process. Finance Is A Critical One, But It’s Not The Only One. And so there will be negotiation in merging the two bills before it goes to the floor. There will be negotiation on the floor; there will be negotiation with the House … So, we need to start from the position that we can start from that is the best that we can get from the Finance Committee.” (“Health Battles Turn Into War,” Roll Call, 7/29/09)
SEN. SHERROD BROWN (D-OH): “Because We Want Three Republicans To Come Along On This, We Betray What The American People Want? … I Don’t Think So.” (“Analysis: Tough Decision Time For Obama On Health,” The Associated Press, 7/28/09)
SEN. BOB CASEY (D-PA): “I Think We Are A Long Way From Making Definitive Conclusions, No Matter What The Finance Committee Does In The Next Couple Of Days. (MSNBC’s “Live,” 7/29/09)
Q: “Would You Be Happy, Or Satisfied I Should Say, Perhaps Happy Is Too Much To Expect, But Would You Be Satisfied If The Final Compromise, If There Is One, Does Not Have A Public Option And Does Not Have An Employer Mandate?” SEN. TOM HARKIN (D-IA): “No, I Believe There Has To Be A Public Option.” (MSNBC’s “Live,” 7/28/09)
###
SENATE REPUBLICAN COMMUNICATIONS CENTER
202.228.NEWS
