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Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Health / Politics McDermott: Weighing Options on Health Reform

Posted by Eli Sanders on Wed, Jan 20, 2010 at 5:11 PM

Would Seattle congressman Jim McDermott be on board with the idea of having the House of Representatives pass the senate's health care bill unchanged, now that Scott Brown has terrified everyone in the senate into paralysis?

McDermott's spokesman, Ed Shelleby, replies:

Rep. McDermott and his colleagues in the House are still weighing all of the options and trying to figure out how best to proceed. Everything is pretty much on the table but he’s still optimistic that the final bill will include pieces from both the Senate and the House versions.

Right now, he’s taking a deep breath to get a sense of what this election means and how it will affect the landscape. Still, Congress has the chance to pass some of the most meaningful change to social policy in 75 years and while the election will change the dynamic in the Senate, Rep. McDermott has no intention of giving up the fight.

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Why the hell does everyone have to be so damn equivocal and "take a deep breath?" Isn't it overwhelmingly obvious what the next step is? The House should pass the Senate bill, warts and all, then try to fix it through reconciliation. Pass it, fix it.

I know this would involve putting the interests of the American people ahead of maintaining the perception that you're looking out for the interests of the American people. I know, God forbid, this would actually involve accomplishing something.

But hey, maybe we can follow Barney Frank's advice, go back to the Republicans yet again to seek in vain for some kind of compromise on health reform, and see this issue consume the rest of 2010 the way it consumed 2009. Oh, the voters will just love that, Barney!

Posted by cressona on January 20, 2010 at 6:06 PM

Plain English translation: " "

Posted by bullshit business as usual on January 20, 2010 at 6:48 PM

McDermott is exactly the type of vulnerable Lib Gasbag that would be popped by the Republican rapiers!

Posted by Men In Tights on January 20, 2010 at 6:59 PM

What does this election mean?

Easy.

It means "grow a pair and stop acting like Republicans or we'll elect them instead".

Posted by Will in Seattle

on January 20, 2010 at 7:17 PM

@4 One way to start is by throwing the ball on their court. Simply confront them, put them on the spot light for all their constituencies to see and ask them if they believe that the working people that they supposedly represent deserve to have health insurance. Then all will see them for the rotten SOB's that they are. They have nothing to add but shouting the half-measures of tort reform here and there.

Posted by Loveschild

on January 20, 2010 at 7:42 PM

The House isn't going to "pass the Senate bill." The House wants to get elected again, just like the Senate does.

McDermott's spokesperson said nothing, just as no Democrat will say anything now except "We won't give up." They're busy discussing just how they can gracefully give up. "Reach across the aisle" my foot -- the door is closed on the Republican side; instead, the Dems should read Machiavelli or the Republicans will continue to stomp on us.

Posted by sarah68 on January 20, 2010 at 9:20 PM