Posted on 01/11/2010 9:37:15 AM PST by MissesBush
Health care reform is "hanging on by a thread," and one or two votes could determine the outcome of the heavily-debated bill, Democratic Sen. Chris Dodd told CNBC Monday.
"Everyone feels, I guess, to some degree who have been for this, that they would have liked something different, and that's not uncommon when you're considering an issue of this magnitude," Dodd said.
Some progressives, for example, are disappointed that the Senate bill, unlike the House version, does not include a public option, he said. Senators Joe Lieberman of Connecticut and Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas are two people who voted for the bill in its original form and are now carefully watching what changes are being made.
President Obama's administration has come under fire lately for putting too much emphasis on health care reform, causing many to question whether Democrats will retain their majority control come November. But Dodd, who is retiring this year, said it's an issue that needed to be dealt with — otherwise it would "strangle our economy," he said.
"If this is all about surviving politically, then we're missing the whole purpose of what we're supposed to be doing," he said.
Last week, Dodd, 65, announced that he would not run for reelection in November. His announcement was seen by many as a concession that he and the Democratic party are facing an uphill battle. But Republicans have said that as a result of his retirement, Democrats have a much better chance of holding onto his seat.
As chairman of the Senate Banking Committee, Dodd said he is also moving forward with the financial reform bill, and that the committee is closer to answering fundamental questions, such as too big to fail.
He hopes the legislation will more strictly regulate derivatives and consolidate the number of financial regulators, and he hopes to mark the bill up in the committee by the end of the month.
RELATED LINKS Current DateTime: 07:57:58 11 Jan 2010 LinksList Documentid: 34804318 Dodd to Keep Pushing Financial ReformPolitical 'Retirements' Add Up for Both PartiesIs a Global Financial Overhaul Coming?Government and Economy Top News He said the committee is in agreement that there should be an independent agency to protect consumers, but there is still debate over which form it will take.
Dodd also said he thinks it would be a "travesty" not to confirm Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke's nomination, and that in the absence of taxpayer money, the government should have no say in banks' compensation practices.
So what is the difference between public option and the term they are now going for ..... national exchange??
“And the dems who wrote it should be hanging by a rope. “
Agreed.
I wasn’t aware of this Exemption from Obamacare were you?
HEALTH REFORM: People with religious objections can opt out Federal health care reform will require most Northern New Yorkers — but not all, it turns out — to carry health insurance or risk a fine. Hundreds of Amish families in the region are likely to be free from that requirement.
http://bluelori.blogspot.com/2010/01/change-your-religion-get-exemption-from.html
Don’t trust the democrats. They will do anything and say anything to get their way.
As liberals are predisposed to do, they should take a
coathanger to it.
I read the article, but I’m unsure what Dodd’s intentions were in making this curious statement. He still won’t admit that the reason it’s hanging by a thread is that it’s a truly destructive bill that a large majority of the people strongly oppose.
Exactly. Clip it!
If the legislation is ‘hanging by a thread’ I think that just means that another Democrat hasn’t been promised his payoff yet.
I’ll try a few more calls though.
Two Senate democrats, Webb and Nelson, orginially warned the House that if changes were made they could back out. Given that Nelson is now in trouble, this may give him cover to keep it from being advanced.
Yes, I think it is certainly worth continuing to fight this monstrosity.
hanging by the rope and chain
I'm also thinking the RATS have information that they are on the verge of losing Kennedy's old seat in Massachusetts, which would be a horrific embarrassment. Reid's comments this weekend and Bill Clinton campaigning for Coakley are not good signs.
Ubama needs to make a decision, and soon.
Ubama can either get out in front of the health care debate and proclaim that, “I have decided that I cannot sign a health care bill that has no bipartisan support. A major undertaking of this importance deserves input and ideas from all sides.” Etc. He will do this only after breaking arms, shooting kneecaps, and threatening families, and ONLY if he knows the current bill is doomed, and he will do this in order to put himself high above the “petty bickering and rancor”. He will endeavor to project magnaminity and good common sense. ...A President for ALL the people, not just the Democrats.
Etc.
But if he waits until congressional leaders pronounce the bill dead, he takes the hit.
Then, it is Ubama who is the failure.
This will be an interesting few weeks leading up to Ubama’s SotU teleprompter extravaganza.
They pull this crap everytime they are going to vote.
Dodd says this to give us a warm fuzzy so we’ll quit calling.
He’s lying...again.
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