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Politics : Liberalism: Do You Agree We've Had Enough of It? -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: MJ who wrote (75268)	11/17/2009 9:13:12 AM
From: Kenneth E. Phillipps	Read Replies (6) \| Respond to of 224691

When did Obama increase taxes? Did I miss something?

To: MJ who wrote (75268)	11/18/2009 8:29:33 AM
From: Hope Praytochange	4 Recommendations Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 224691

3 Democrats Could Block Health Bill in Senate By CARL HULSE Published: November 17, 2009 WASHINGTON — Senator Ben Nelson, Democrat of Nebraska, says he is not sure he is ready to help a Democratic health care proposal clear even the most preliminary hurdle: gaining the 60 votes his party’s leaders need to open debate on the measure later this week.Two of his fellow Democrats, Senators Mary L. Landrieu of Louisiana and Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas, are proving tough sells as well, raising the prospect that one or perhaps all three of them could scuttle the bill before the fight over it even begins on the Senate floor. Typically routine, the procedural approval needed to begin consideration of a bill looms as anything but routine in this instance. Instead, the vote is fast becoming a test of the leadership abilities of Senator Harry Reid of Nevada, the majority leader. It will also decide at least the near-term prospects of President Obama’s top domestic priority. And it is providing a case study of the Democrats’ difficulties in managing high expectations fueled by large Congressional majorities. Inability by the Democrats to advance their emerging plan could require them to regroup and redraw the measure or even switch to a more contentious procedural shortcut around the need for a 60-vote majority. Given what is riding on the vote, party leaders have been busy talking to holdouts, negotiating deals in an effort to get them on board as wavering lawmakers exert their leverage at a critical moment. In response to demands from Mr. Nelson, for instance, the leaders appear willing to drop plans to use the bill to strip health insurance companies of their antitrust exemption. Though he lacks 60 firm commitments, Mr. Reid said Tuesday that he remained cautiously optimistic that he could get the Senate’s 58 Democrats and 2 independents to vote to thwart a filibuster on what is known as a motion to proceed, the initial step in any debate.