Harry Reid must be so disappointed. After forcing votes in the wee hours of the morning, bribing Senators and other sordid dealings to get his health care bill passed by Christmas, the White House announced the effort will be shelved until after the State of the Union address.
This can’t be good for Obama and his signature piece of (cough) legislation. Picture it: Spring 2010 – Democrats out on the campaign trail with Tea Parties popping up at every event. How fun!
The White House privately anticipates health care talks to slip into February — past President Barack Obama’s first State of the Union address — and then plans to make a “very hard pivot” to a new jobs bill, according to senior administration officials.
Obama has been told that disputes over abortion and the tight schedule are highly likely to delay a final deal, a blow to the president who had hoped to trumpet a health care victory in his big speech to the nation. But he has also been told that House Democratic leaders seem inclined, at least for now, to largely accept the compromise worked out in the Senate, virtually assuring he will eventually get a deal.
Internally, White House aides are plunging into a 2010 plan calling for an early focus on creating jobs, especially in the energy sector, along with starting a conversation about deficit reduction measures, the administration officials said.
Both will be major themes for his first State of the Union speech, which will likely take place on Jan. 26 or Feb. 2. White House aides are in the early stages of planning for the national address, but Obama will not only trumpet what he has described as his “B-plus” performance in 2009 but also set the stage for the 2010 congressional campaigns. …
Good luck to him, trumpeting that “B-plus” performance. And that hard-pivot to jobs will most likely be a big payout to the greens. But that’s a different story.
An earlier Politico report provides a clue to Obama’s dramatic turn around. Remember, he wanted a bill on his desk last summer. Then he wanted a bill by Christmas. Then the SOTU address. He said if this bill didn’t pass NOW the economy will never recover. And now all of a sudden there’s no big rush?
House Democrats insisted Tuesday they have no plans to roll over for the Senate in upcoming negotiations on a health reform bill, even as they acknowledged it would be all but impossible to reinsert a public insurance option or force the so-called millionaire’s tax on the Senate.
Either move would disrupt Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s no-margin-for-error 60-vote majority. But House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her leadership team seem to have their sights set on lower-profile – but no-less important – differences, like boosting affordability credits in the final bill and starting the insurance exchange a year earlier, which they did in the House.
On a conference call Tuesday, Pelosi (D-Calif.) walked the party’s leadership team through differences in the two bills.
Other differences the speaker mentioned Tuesday include: replacing the Senate’s state-run exchanges with a national exchange established under the House bill, adding tougher mandates to make sure everyone secures health coverage and closing a gap in prescription-drug coverage next year. Senate negotiators have agreed to close the so-called “donut hole,” but they haven’t agreed on a time to implement those changes.
The more people know about ObamaCare, the more they loathe it. I don’t see that turning around between now and February.
Merry Christmas!
Via HotAir
Via Another Black Conservative
Via Memeorandum
Maybe this will spark something, anything of a plan of resistance in Senator McConnell’s office. The consummate statesman will undoubtedly see the need to speak to his “friends on the other side of the isle” urging careful crafting of such an important bill, highlighting the argument of bipartisanship and deliberation. (Meanwhile outside his chamber, the good Senator is unaware of the throngs with pitchfork and torch in hand.) Pathetic.
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It is a Merry Christmas. Have you noticed these bastards are starting to feel the push-back? They are losing ground at every turn. They keep wasting valuable time on legislation that will never see the light of day, however. They keep on with their healthcare for all and global warming crap, but we’ve got ‘em on the run. We must keep pushing until we get them completely out of our government.
Yes, Virgina, there IS a Santa Claus
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HEADFAKE. They will NOT leave this till February.
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Agreed Terry! I think he wants this before the SOTU speech when he can puff his chest out in front of the Teleprompters and spew his “victory for the American people” hogwash soaked rubbish.
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That’s why we’re ever vigilant, dear. They will gun this come January. Hell, probably right after Christmas.
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I too a nap and I missed it. Good news, LC.
May fate will intervene in our behalf, but I’m not counting on it. 10th Amendment, Maybe? If not the well regulated militia, Hopefully not.
Merry Christmas
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Harry and Nancy are probably already planning their closed door sessions to finalize the bill. They could scrap the conference committees altogether.
See this WSJ piece: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704254604574614183270356274.html
Will update later. I have to eat dinner with the family and then get to the grocery store.
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Sheesh LC, going to Wegmans is not an excuse. Let’s get some priorities straight! LOL!
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Ha! Ha! I avoid Wegman’s. It’s too big. We went to our little corner P&C. With any luck the store will survive the company bankruptcy.
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“…They keep wasting valuable time on legislation that will never see the light of day, however….”*****Yep. On the other hand, let them keep wasting time. When they’re in conference, we know where they are and what they’re doing. Keeps them busy and less likely to dream up some other cockamaimee idea.
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Good grief! Think of how many people will die between now and February. How can they do this to us? It is urgent to get this done now! There’s no time lose!
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