29. September 2009 by Democratic Party News - The News of the Democratic Party.

The Nevada senator threatened to use a budgetary tool called reconciliation — also known as the “nuclear option” — which would allow Democrats to pass key parts of health care legislation with a simple majority, as opposed to the 60 votes usually needed to avoid a filibuster.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid threatened on Tuesday to use a procedural maneuver to steamroll opponents of health care reform, even as a Senate panel began delicate negotiations over a package that could have the best chance at passing. 

The Nevada Democrat, who has issued similar threats before, spoke as the Senate Finance Committee began debate over Chairman Max Baucus’ reform plan. Reid threatened to use a budgetary tool called reconciliation — also known as the “nuclear option” — that would allow Democrats to pass key parts of the legislation with a simple majority, as opposed to the 60 votes needed to avoid a Republican filibuster. 

“If we can’t work this out to do something within the committee structure, then we’ll be forced to do the reconciliation,” Reid said, adding that he views that as a “last resort.” 

“It remains to be seen as to whether we will have to do reconciliation. I am confident and hopeful we won’t have to do that, but time will only tell,” Reid said. 

Republican Sen. Richard Burr, N.C., said reconciliation would be a “grave mistake,” and that Reid underestimates the public concerns over the bill. 

“I don’t think it’s a threat. I think that’s what Harry Reid intends to do,” Burr told FOX News. 

But the Senate Finance Committee pushed through tense and intensive talks Tuesday to reach common ground on the Baucus plan. Senators have filed 564 amendments, and on Tuesday afternoon Baucus released a slew of changes. 

Among them, Baucus agreed to cut in half the penalty attached to a government-mandated requirement to buy health insurance. Under the changes, families could be charged a maximum of $1,900 for failing to meet the requirement — as opposed to $3,800. 

Baucus also agreed to raise the threshold for insurance plans that would be subject to an excise tax. Under the revisions, plans worth $8,750 for individuals and $23,000 for families would be subject to the tax — the thresholds were previously $8,000 for individual plans and $21,000 for family plans. 

And he agreed to increase the value of tax credits low- and middle-income people would receive toward insurance. Officials said Baucus decided to commit an additional $50 billion over a decade toward making insurance more affordable for working class families. 

The Finance Committee is the last of five panels to have a say before the full Senate debates legislation. 

Baucus’ legislation is designed to make coverage more available and affordable, while restraining the growth in the cost of medical care generally. Its 10-year price tag is below $900 billion, according to the Congressional Budget Office. 

Baucus made numerous concessions to Republicans in his unsuccessful stab at bipartisan compromise, jettisoning calls for the government to sell insurance in competition with private industry, as well as a proposed requirement for large companies to offer insurance to their workers. 

In his opening remarks, Baucus sought to preempt Republican criticism. 

“Despite what some may say, this is no ‘government takeover’ of health care,” Baucus said. “Our plan does not include a public option. We did not include an employer mandate. And we have paid for every cent.” 

But Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa, the panel’s ranking Republican, said the White House and Democratic leaders short-circuited the bipartisan talks by imposing a mid-September deadline. “I find it utterly and completely appalling,” he said. 

Grassley criticized many of the plan’s key components, from a requirement that all Americans get insurance, to the taxes that would pay for subsidies to make the coverage affordable. He also said the bill falls short in guaranteeing that illegal immigrants won’t get government help to buy insurance, as well as in preventing funding for abortion. 

The concerns are bipartisan. 

A number of committee Democrats had raised concerns about whether subsidies in Baucus’ bill are generous enough to make insurance truly affordable for low-income people. There also are worries about the new tax on high-cost insurance plans, which critics fear would hit some middle-class workers, including many union members in risky occupations such as mining and police work. 

Those concerns were shared by Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, whose support could become even more critical if legislation makes it to the Senate floor.

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29. September 2009 by Democratic Party News - The News of the Democratic Party.

Sixty-six percent (66%) of voters nationwide say they’re at least somewhat angry about the current policies of th e federal government. That figure includes 36% who are Very Angry.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that only 30% are not angry about the government’s policies, including 10% who are Not at All Angry.

Adding to the voter frustration is the fact that 60% believe neither Republican nor Democratic political leaders have an understanding of what is needed today.

Among those who are Very Angry about government policies, 80% say that neither political party’s leaders have the answers.

Ninety percent (90%) of Republicans are at least somewhat angry along with 44% of Democrats and 77% of those not affiliated with either major party.

More than seven-of-10 Republicans and unaffiliated voters say the neither party has the answers. Democrats are more evenly divided.

Forty-three percent (43%) of voters nationwide are at least somewhat concerned that the political anger will spill over into violence, as some politicians have suggested. Twenty-two percent (22%) are Very Concerned.

Sixty-three percent (63%) of Democrats are worried about the threat of political violence, while 71% of Republicans are not concerned. Among those not affiliated with either major party, 63% are not concerned.

Among all voters, 54% are not that worried about potential political violence, including 36% who are not very concerned and 18% who are not at all concerned.

Those who are most angry are the least concerned about violence. Among those who are Very Angry at the government’s policies, just 15% are Very Concerned about the possibility of violence. Among those who are Not at all Angry about government policies, 51% fear violence.

This unhappiness with government policies and leaders is reflected in numerous other Rasmussen Reports surveys. Americans, for example, now view being a member of Congress as the least respected job one can hold.

Fifty-seven percent (57%) of voters have an unfavorable opinion of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and they express similar negative views, not quite as strongly, about the other top Democratic and GOP congressional leaders.

After a modest bounce following his recent health care speech to Congress, Obama’s approval ratings continue to track in negative territory in the Rasmussen Report daily President Tracking Poll.

Opposition to the helth care plan proposed by the president and congressional Democrats has now hit a new high, Voters continue to oppose the government bailouts of General Motors and Chrysler, and opposition has grown to the president’s plan for greater government regulations of the financial sector.

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29. September 2009 by Democratic Party News - The News of the Democratic Party.

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