Dems Drop Medicare Buy-In?
(December 5, 2009 - Photo by Brendan Smialowski/Getty Images North America)
Since Joe Lieberman sent Senate Democrats in a tailspin with his talk of returning to the Republican side of the healthcare issue, Dems have been trying to figure out a plan to bring the Connecticut Senator, and anyone else getting the itch to defect, (Sen. Ben Nelson) back on board. In a closed-door-Senate-only Democrat caucus yesterday, they tried to iron out a plan that would accommodate those across the broad ideological spectrum that is their party. There is still no report as to what they came to terms on if anything at all, but all appeared optimistic when the meeting drew to a close. Many of these lawmakers will also make a stop at the White House today as well to likely go through a similar ritual with the Chief Legislator as well.
Even an expansion of Medicare, initially proposed as a backup to the government insurance option, appeared unlikely to survive following a closed-door senators-only meeting of the Democratic caucus called to consider trade-offs necessary to assure 60 votes for the bill. Medicare is the government program providing health care benefits to the elderly.
“Put me down tonight as encouraged about the direction these talks are going,” Sen. Joe Lieberman, an independent from Connecticut, said late Monday, only 24 hours after he rattled Democrats by threatening to oppose the legislation over the Medicare expansion provision.
Obama invited all Senate Democrats to the White House for a meeting Tuesday afternoon that held promise of a unity event. Obama needs every one of them to hang together to give him the 60 votes required to overcome Republicans united in opposition to the sweeping health overhaul measure.
[...] Dems Drop Medicare Buy-In? [...]