Posted on 02/23/2010 8:02:41 AM PST by raccoonradio
Sen. Scott Brown yesterday warned the Obama administration against using the “nuclear option” of ramming through Congress a revised $1 trillion health-care bill outlined yesterday by the White House.
The administration unveiled what’s already being called “Obamacare II” - a mix of already approved House and Senate health-care legislation aimed at expanding coverage for 31 million Americans.
Obama’s plan also includes caps on excessive insurance-premium increases, similar to measures Gov. Deval Patrick proposed two weeks ago in Massachusetts.
A spokesman for Brown, whose dramatic Senate victory last month halted Capitol Hill momentum for health-care reform, said Democrats better not try to use a reconciliation strategy to pass the bill with a simple Senate majority.
Brown vowed during his campaign that he would be the crucial “41st vote” to kill reform legislation under the Senate’s supermajority-vote rules.
“If the Democrats try to ram their health-care bill through Congress using reconciliation, they are sending a dangerous signal to the American people that they will stop at nothing to raise our taxes, increase premiums and slash Medicare,” said Brown spokesman Colin Reed in a statement. “Using the nuclear option damages the concept of representative leadership and represents more of the politics-as-usual that voters have repeatedly rejected.”
While Brown’s office didn’t specifically reject Obama’s latest bill, there was no doubt Brown views the proposal as similar to earlier health-care plans backed by Democrats, even though he reached across the aisle to support a major jobs bill yesterday.
The administration faces an uphill bid to win the bill’s passage in Congress, where many Democrats were scared away from backing reform after Brown’s victory.
A spokesman for the White House said the plan is an “opening bid” for a planned bipartisan summit on Thursday.
In a statement, Patrick, whose office dodged questions about whether Obama lifted the premium-cap idea from his Democratic ally in Massachusetts, praised the president’s legislation and vowed to work for health-care reform.
“President Obama clearly recognizes health-care expansion must include cost-control initiatives to help working families and businesses that are drowning in higher premiums,” said Patrick, who was in Washington yesterday.
And
Scott Brown is is Mini-Me Romney.
I guess in liberal MA Romney & Brown really do think they are conservatives.
I stated categorically yesterday that Brown’s vote for cloture on the jobs bill guaranteed his opposition to BOcare.
Same for Collins and Snowe.
These senators want to be seen as independent, free agents. It’s not ideal but OK with me if they get the important votes right.
He is from MA. Get over it.
I can’t beleive that Blanche Lincoln voted for it.
Your statement, my friend is right on the money. Scott Brown was elected as an independent, and he is following that path of doing what he believes best for our nation and his voters back home in Massachusetts. His assessment of
“Obamacare” is right on the money again, with his own beliefs, followed by the beliefs of the overwhelming number of Massachusetts voters. While, I, personally believe the “Reid” jobs bill will do zilch for our ailing economy, I am glad that we finally have a politician that votes his conviction, along with strong voter support from home. At least Senator Scott Brown places job creation where it rightfully belongs, as his number one priority on his agenda, unlike socialist, communist, facist POTUS Obama and his “destroy the American economy” Democrat Party. Obama and his America destroyers, Ayres, Wright Alinsky, etc. could care less about creating jobs and the continuing failing American economy. The destruction of American jobs (private sector) is exactly what they and their Democrat Party are hoping and plotting for!!!
Brown never portrayed himself as a die hard conservative. He campaigned as an anti-establishment independent Republican - from Massachusetts no less. How can you NOT expect him to consider voting for a jobs bill like this considering his campaign rhetoric to help get congress moving on job creation/helping the economy.
I am not worried about this jobs bill vote, health care will be the issue.
“Ben Nelson (D) voted against it.....what’s that make him?”
Saving his ass.
Scared of his disgruntled Cornhusker constituents who want to tar n feather the creep.
AGREED!
You guys are forgetting the oldest rule of politics which coincides with the oldest profession. _ _ _ _ your customers not yourself. Republicans and Democrats see their own political survival first and foremost as their value. They are going to find a way to have health care get caught up and not come to a vote, because they will be out in 2012 or their next term. The effect will not be at voting time...no no... it will be much sooner. Money flow. There will be no money into their accounts and tons funneling into their opponents accounts. Which will mean they will actually have to campaign in their districts to survive. And incumbents do not like to have to stoop so low as to go back to their home districts to ask for “their “ job back.
The dems will not pass this, or fund it if they do. They will not go down on Obamas sinking ship.
Half a loaf is better than none. We all knew Brown was a Northeastern Republican - that’s the best we’re going to get from there, for now. That’s just reality.
The "cost" of the Republican bill included tax cuts.
Of course, even tax cuts won't save us right now. The problem is Health Care, Cap 'n' Trade, Card Check and the various minions in the administration who plan to regulate any business out of existence.
Who wants to hire or expand in that environment.
Shut up, Scott. As though anyone would believe you after you railed against excessive spending, and then voted for a job ‘stimulus’ bill!!!!
Scott Brown is just like a partially rotten apple-—the kind where you cut out the rotten section to make the rest of it ok.
He is a Mass. Republican. He is vastly better than the alternative. I thank God we have him there, while disagreeing with many of his individual policies.
If you insist on too much purity, you’ll have 25 pure Republicans in the Senate - who cannot do squat!
Ben Nelson (D) voted against it.....what's that make him?Another Democrat douche-bag in fear for his job?
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA-Men!!!!
Actually, the Republicans wanted everything in the bill that Scott Brown voted for and MORE. I am withholding judgement on Mr. Brown. I think he has some tricks up his sleeve, many of them that may please you.
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