Democrats Plan B if Scott Brown Wins in Massachuetts

A new way forward on health care is gaining some traction among Democrats, who are preparing for the possibility that Democrat Martha Coakley will lose her bid to replace Ted Kennedy in the Senate, costing Democrats their 60th vote, which they'll need to overcome the filibuster.

But Coakley could well lose her race, depriving Democrats of the 60th vote they'd need to overcome a filibuster, and that unthinkable possibility is forcing party leaders to consider a Plan B.

As I noted last week, the House could simply pass the Senate bill unchanged, and Obama could sign reform into law. As recently as last week, a number of high-profile Democrats were saying that would never fly. But many are now suggesting that the House might still pull through, if House members are promised that the deal they agreed to last week will be passed separately--and quickly--through the filibuster-proof budget reconciliation process.

Jim Manley, spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, told the Boston Globe, the idea is "well within the scope of the rules of the Senate," and, indeed, the deal with labor is largely a change to the tax structure of the bill, which is the sort of issue the

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/01/plan-b-democrats-consider-how-to-p...

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• scott brown
• martha coakley
• massachuetts
• democrats
• republican
• health care
• obamacare

[mrstrings65]

people don't like the bill...can't they get it...screw this damn bill !!!

[countryboy1949]

Maybe they will get it after Scott Brown won Massachusetts tonight. If they have any sense now they will get it. Also today two Republican Governors were sworn in....one in Virginia and one in New Jersey.

[blondini79]

The democrat party plan B is how they are going to beat Sarah Palin in 2012. If an anti-abortion conservative republican like Brown can win in MA then Palin can win anywhere since she and Brown are about 100% agreement on the issues. Dems are already conceding that 2010 will be a disaster maybe losing both houses.

[countryboy1949]

The bad thing is the MSM is making her look bad every chance they get, just as they did Dan Quayle years ago and ruined his chances of running for president.

[KyleRoku]

Why should they mention a DailyKoS poll which is clearly from an organization who is in the tank for Democrats? Its the ONLY poll out of many which doesn't show Brown ahead. What? Are you afraid to mention that its a KOS poll? Why would you not want to mention the name of the poll since you think they are credible?

[countryboy1949]

@KyleRoku It doesn't really matter, even or ahead, it says a lot for what the Democrats are in store for come November. This Massachusetts race should have been a shoe in for any Democrat running for the seat, but it isn't.

[jhr4us]

Republicans = The Deceivers

[Wilone328]

Barak's Health Care Bill... Do you trust his administration's?? See my you tube profile to Learn exactly why Americas thoughts means something !

[SaxyPlayer96]

this system will not cut the middleman but add another one

[Urbania05]

tort reform is not in obama's vocab. neither is the term middle class.

[Urbania05]

and the quality is 25% of what we get.

[Urbania05]

so why destroy the programs already in place? you siad it yourself.. we have medicaid. i hate it... and i wouldn't say those nations are democracies. sorry... your facts are wrong... there is no good reason for this bill. every other country is in the crapper. the PIGS are about to financially fail miserably.

[MrTruthpatrol]

How old are you?

[Urbania05]

leave their healthcare alone. the system won't work by expanding it the way everyone in obama's admin. wants to.

[Urbania05]

we aren't going to have medicare by the time im 65.... so great program to model it after with it's unfunded liability. like my language now??