Baucus Could Lose Chairmanship Over Stalled Health Care Negotiations
Baucus Could Lose Chairmanship Over Stalled Health Care Negotiations
Four House and Senate committees have produced bills to reform health care, and a deal with conservative Blue Dogs in the House suggests that the final House committee involved in negotiations will release a bill shortly. Only Sen. Max Baucus’ (D-MT) Senate Finance Committee has been unable to reach a deal, with two key Republican Senators announcing today that they plan to delay progress even further until after the August recess. In light of the Finance Committee’s inability to move forward, several senators have decided to play hardball with the Committee’s chair:
In an apparent warning to Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.), some liberal Democrats have suggested a secret-ballot vote every two years on whether or not to strip committee chairmen of their gavels. [...]
“Every two years the caucus could have a secret ballot on whether a chairman should continue, yes or no,” said Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), the chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee. “If the ‘no’s win, [the chairman’s] out. [...]
Liberals are also upset by reports that Baucus and other members of the Finance panel have tossed aside the proposal to create a robust government-run insurance program.
Some senators suggest privately that Baucus might be more open to persuasion if his chairmanship is subject to regular votes.
Senate Democrats have already grown frustrated with the cloud of secrecy surrounding Baucus’ negotiations. Republicans receive regular briefings on the discussions, but Democrats have been largely left out in the cold, prompting one senator to warn that “[a]t some point, [Baucus is] going to have to worry about getting Democratic votes.” Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) told MSNBC’s Countdown last night that he is worried that Baucus’ strategy to convince Republicans to embrace reform is misguided:
I go back to 40 years ago when the Medicare bill passed. People like Bob Dole, Strom Thurmond, Donald Rumsfeld, Gerald Ford, as Members of Congress, they all opposed it. The fact is, in those days, the Democrats moved forward, they didn’t worry about “we have to have X number of Republicans,” their mission was: we’re going to get a good Medicare bill. … That needs to be our charge, not “we need a bipartisan bill.”
As of yet, Harkin appears to be the only senator willing to go on record in support of a plan to hold committee chairs accountable for their management — or mismanagement — of their committees. Even so, at least one other senator told The Hill that he would support such a plan: “Put me down as a yes, but if you use my name I’ll send a SWAT team after you.”
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Baucus needs to go. I will contribute money to any Dem candidate that opposes him in the next Senatorial primary.
July 30th, 2009 at 10:31 amBest news I’ve heard in a week. IF it’s true.
Would Reid really do that? Grow a pair, practically overnight? Hard to believe, ladies and gentlemen–hard to believe.
July 30th, 2009 at 10:33 amgood. strip him of his authority and let it serve as a lesson to the others like him.
July 30th, 2009 at 10:35 amHe needs to be a example of what is WE THE PEOPLE want. not WE THE INSURANCE COMPANY wants.
July 30th, 2009 at 10:38 amBaucus Could Lose Chairmanship Over Stalled Health Care Negotiations
One word: GOOD.
July 30th, 2009 at 10:39 amRepublicans receive regular briefings on the discussions, but Democrats have been largely left out in the cold,
Baucus is acting in a truly non-partisan fashion. Regardless of party affiliation, he is working only with those who are owned by the insurance companies.
July 30th, 2009 at 10:43 amI can’t wait…Baucus is representing the people, but, only the ones with money…
July 30th, 2009 at 10:44 am(202) 224-2651(Office) D.C.
(202) 224-9412 (Fax
(406) 586-6104 Montana
Everyone should call Baucus’ office and tell him what we think of him and his “compromises” and secret “negotiations.”
July 30th, 2009 at 10:45 amWe can tell him we will support his opposition.
Tell him he has to choose to either remain a Senator representing the public, or he can continue to cozy up to lobbyists and repugniscum and deal with his reputation.
Just another “i got mine, screw you” politician
July 30th, 2009 at 10:45 amLeftside Annie
i agree with the one word : GOOD
However I would like to add four more.
Its about dam time
July 30th, 2009 at 10:45 amScrew Baucus, get rid of him. And take that cowardly Harry Reid with him. All bought and sold, wholly owned subsidiaries of corporate America. Why bargain with the blue dogs or repigs? Take to the airways and light a fire under that b@stards who are pushing back against health care reform. The majority of Americans want a real plan. Which part of this don’t these b@stards understand? Oh yeah, that’s right, they have really big concerns about whether Obama is an American or not.
July 30th, 2009 at 10:45 amThe Baucus Caucus = A Party of One
Max appears to be more interested in how he looks on camera than how he looks to his fellow Democrats.
Briefing Republics while leaving out Dems is complete bullshit.
Remember, Max…
Republics are like mushrooms; kept in the dark & fed feces.
July 30th, 2009 at 10:46 amIt sure is nice to hear that some liberals are flexing their muscles!
Best news I’ve heard in some time.
My understanding is that, even with some evidence showing that the right’s misinformation campaign may have influenced some of our more gullible citizens, the public is still demanding to be represented at least as much as the health insurance lobbyists and that some sanity be brought to this country’s health care system.
Let’s tip this thing over to the side of the voters!
July 30th, 2009 at 10:47 amMY GOODNESS-PLEASE DO IT! Baucus needs to go. The Progressive and Liberal Democrats need to send a resounding message to the blue dog scumbags too!! GTFO NOW! Do right by the people or face a primary and get replaced.
July 30th, 2009 at 10:57 amIf they do toss his ass out (with gusto), here’s HOPING they don’t go by seniority to decide the next chair. Because we’d wind up with Blanche Lincoln who, coming from the state owned and operated by Wal-Mart, would be exponentially worse.
The best choice (for those not already chairing committees) would be Debbie Stabenow (or, in a pinch, Bill Nelson or Ron Wyden).
July 30th, 2009 at 10:58 amSherrod Brown would be an excellent replacement.
July 30th, 2009 at 11:02 amI’ll believe it when it happens but accountability is always a good idea. Of course none of this would be necessary if Harry Reid had so much as one half of one testicle.
July 30th, 2009 at 11:03 amObama Caves to the GOP on Healthcare Reform … Time to Vote it Down and Start Again
and leave every idiot involved in the compromise twisting in the wind.
July 30th, 2009 at 11:03 amif an honest healthcare plan isn’t passed, at the very least the corporate whores will be exposed for what they are.
July 30th, 2009 at 11:06 amThis is wonderful news…
now that it’s too f***ing late.
One of the great things about my Democratic Party is how tough we talk and walk when it doesn’t matter or after the fact.
Or I should say my ex-party, dependent on how this “reform” turns out.
July 30th, 2009 at 11:06 amEnnuiDivine says:
..Ron Wyden.
If I’m not mistaken, Wyden is a shill for Big Pharma.
But once again, a great talker who doesn’t walk the talk.
July 30th, 2009 at 11:08 amDo you have any evidence that Wyden is a shill? I’ve read he’s keeping an eye on these guys by staying close.
July 30th, 2009 at 11:13 amRegardless of whether or not we get health care reform out of all of this, my hope is that the American people will see the need to demand campaign finance reform. It should be obvious to everyone that the influence of corporations is keeping Congress from doing the right thing. Senators and Representatives are supposed to be representing people, not corporations. There is zero justification for allowing corporations to donate money to their campaigns.
Now, Congress Critters would whine and complain that “it costs so much to run for re-election” and resist doing what is right, but the ones who say that are being dishonest. It only costs a lot of money to run for the office the way they want to do it (by running lots of TV and radio ads and doing as little actual campaigning as possible.) Too bad.
There are other changes to our campaign finance laws that are needed urgently, but this is the closest one to being on-topic here. The people fighting the President’s proposals are not working on behalf of the American people, they are working on behalf of the corporations who finance their campaigns. This must end now.
And we must change the way health care is done in this country. Too many people are getting filthy rich off the suffering of others, and too many people are dying because of that greed.
July 30th, 2009 at 11:18 amGuys like Baucus are the reason I always say that we don’t have a 60 vote majority. Byrd and Kennedy are never available for a vote because of illness. That alone takes it down to 58. Then from there, we have a handful of Blue Dogs that always vote with the repubs. On a good day, Reid can muster a 52 vote majority. Many of these Blue Dogs come from areas where it is tough to get a democrat in office to begin with. But there are always liberal republicans in those same areas. Personally, I say throw out the Blue Dogs and replace them with either a true progressive, or at least a republican whose votes we can count on.
July 30th, 2009 at 11:20 amTime to get rid of the low-life corporate whore and traitor, Max Baucus who has no problem trading in the health and welfare of the American people in exchange for corporate $$$$$$$$$’s in his bank account.
July 30th, 2009 at 11:21 amBaucus seems to be the republicans best weapon..everything they want to stall a deal, Max gives them..he needs to be replaced…not just the chairmanship but overall!
July 30th, 2009 at 11:21 amThe sooner Baucus goes the better the man is a plague rat
July 30th, 2009 at 11:22 amWyden’s not AS big a shill for pharma as you might think. He’s received $88k from the healthcare industry in the past 5 years. Baucus has netted $500k.
Not to mention, Wyden was against the Bush tax cuts. His Healthy Americans Act is imperfect, but he could definitely gain some “bipartisan” support without completely sacrificing the demands of the left.
i.e., if a public option stays strong in every other committee, he’ll be the one to reconcile it with the finance committee and make sure it’s in the final bill.
July 30th, 2009 at 11:23 amThere are trillions to be wasted on a stupid screwed-up freakshow like Iraq, but there isn’t a trillion to be had for our own citizens.
What a disgrace!
July 30th, 2009 at 11:28 amEnnuiDivine & AlphaLiberal:
Sorry, I don’t trust Wyden. He may not be “as big a shill”, for Big Pharma as I think he is, but he’s keeping some sorry *ss company on healthcare reform. I’ll cross my fingers he ends up on the right side of this issue, but I doubt he will:
>>…Gang of Sickos: Six US Senators Sell Out Constituents for $11 Million from Health Industry
July 20, 2009 by Healthcare-NOW!
Sicko #3: Democrat Ron Wyden of Oregon has raised more than $1.4 million in campaign contributions from the health, insurance, and pharmaceutical industries over the course of his career, averaging almost $300 per day since taking office in February 1996. Comments may be addressed to Senator Wyden via his Senate contact page (Oregon residents only) or by …<<
http://www.healthcare-now.org/gang-of-sickos-six-us-senators-sell-out-constituents-for-11-million-from-health-industry/?ref=patrick.net
http://www.blueoregon.com/2009/07/yesterdays-wyden-wtf-moment.html
July 30th, 2009 at 11:32 amOnce again the bipartisan bull$hit get s in the way of progress and the people who don`t have or are struggling to pay co-pays and deductibles.After watching Bill Moyers interview with Wendell Potter I was amazed at the true facts of the health care industry, and it`s process for making money for Wall St by raising rates for employers whose employees are costing the Ins. company to much money in claims,it`s called Medical loss ratio and this of course is only one determining factor which is not very widely known and of course we all know about denying claims and rescission of benefits.This is the best reason alone to get single payer for all of us and get the profits over people to stop.Ron Williams the CEO of Aetna who made $30 million last said in a town hall meeting “that reform is needed before bringing more competition on board”.So this should tell us all we as Americans need to know, these slimy bastards only care about money.Please watch the Bill Moyers interview online and read about Remota area medical expeditions wand what they do.
July 30th, 2009 at 11:35 amBush had to spend a lot of money in Iraq in order to support Iraq’s National Health Care System.
July 30th, 2009 at 11:37 amevangenital, We will spend $2.4 trillion on health care in 2009 but we will only spend $550 billion on defense, omething is wrong here and we all know it, not that I am advocating more for defense and I know I am comparing aplles to oranges but I think we see that health care cost us more lives in year 18,000 vs 8 years of this Iraq and Afghanistan nonsense of 4500 soldiers.Health care reform is a war we can`t afford to lose.
July 30th, 2009 at 11:40 amI am not advocating more war, is how it should read. sorry.
July 30th, 2009 at 11:41 amBaucus is a whore for the health insurance oligarchs.
July 30th, 2009 at 11:45 amgood gawd…
you mean there is NOT “a plan to hold committee chairs accountable”???
REALLY???
July 30th, 2009 at 11:48 amLike anything has “changed”.? Baucus and to many to mention on both sides are no good for our people, country and constitution…. 2 side’s of the same coin, one side more tarnished than the other, maybe…Pola ticks and religion are big business and both have a major plan to rid the masses of their money, free thinking and freedom, all the while filling the leaders pockets and backing the huge businesses that distroy our earth…..More war’s are always a big plus with that huge bloated bunch also….With the exception of one or two back there in the swamp called DC they all need to be replaced, many need to be locked up..That will not happen either, look what’s happened to accountability and investigation’s…
We need a third party, one with real balls and holding to our constitution and the people of our country….Peace, Blessings & Justice
July 30th, 2009 at 11:48 amAs far as I can tell, the only major accomplishment of the Iraq stupidity is the creation of yet another Islamic theocracy, this time a Shiite theocracy closely tied to the Iranian thugs.
Thanks again to the Bush/Cheney crowd of chickenhawks, service evaders, war profiteers and moralizing hypocrites for this “great” result.
July 30th, 2009 at 11:50 amIt’s about time the liberals learned to turn that screw. Welcome to Bat Country, Sen. Baucus…
July 30th, 2009 at 11:57 amIt’s apparent that with precious few exceptions, senators rake in massive amounts of money from the healthcare industry. Stabenow: $277k over the last 5 years. Cantwell: $203k. Carper: 86k. Lincoln: 245k. Menendez: 253k (impressive, as he hasn’t even been in Senate 5 years). Nelson: 332k. Rockefeller: 256k. Schumer: 103k.
And i’m not going to bother mentioning the GOP. It’s a foregone conclusion they’re all bought and paid for by the healthcare industry.
July 30th, 2009 at 12:04 pmMy mistake on Wyden. He also received 35k over the past 5 years from Pharma.
July 30th, 2009 at 12:05 pmThere has to be some parliamentary maneuver for the Dems to dislodge the bill or get the other Senate committee bill to the floor for a vote. I am not sure that the new rule would affect the current committee rules. It is up to the public to pressure Baucus to get the bill to a vote sooner than later. Public opinion can be very powerful, especially if Obama throws the weight of his office into the fray.
July 30th, 2009 at 12:06 pmSen. Baucus represents a sparsley populated conservative state, yet he seems to have more power than the President. Why are Democrats so passive? Would Republicans tolerate this situation if the tables were turned?? Also, with all these details about how much money these legislators receive from the healthcare industry why is the right still in control of the President’s message with lies about the plan killing old people and forcing people to give up their existing plans?
July 30th, 2009 at 12:10 pmThe Progressives of the House and Senate need to have some legislation in the can that the insurance lobby will object to more than it objects to the government option. It needs to be something that can be passed without Republicans or Bluedogs.
July 30th, 2009 at 12:12 pmTwo possibilities that spring to mind are an end to for-profit health insurance and hospitalization, or the lifting of the industry’s exemption from anti-trust law.
Just write the legislation and hold it in the can pending the outcome of the health industry reform. If the reform effort fails, or is too watered down to be effective, then pass the legislation, and see how aggressively cantankerous they are next time.
Just why is it that the other Dems have not taken Baucus into the cloakroom and explained to him that his secretive crap is not acceptable to the other 50 odd dems?
July 30th, 2009 at 12:23 pmWell, good for these Democrats who are reminding Baucus that he only has his Chair because Democrats all over the country won a Senate majority.
Is it too much to ask Senator Baucus to please stop spitting in our eye?
July 30th, 2009 at 12:29 pmIt’s no wonder is issue is a cluster — there is a total of SIX different committees working on it. That’s too many chiefs or cooks, whichever you prefer.
Just one version, HR 3200 runs over 1,000 pages. No wonder people don’t have time to actually READ the bills before they vote on them. Just think if each committee comes up with its own version and each one is over 1,000 pages, that’s a hell of a lot of paper and god knows how many trees.
July 30th, 2009 at 12:47 pmHelen Rainier says:
Yeah it would be waaaaay too difficult to just take the age and income restrictions off Medicare/Medicaid. A little bit of whiteout or an eraser.
July 30th, 2009 at 12:53 pmNo one really believes bull dog baucus is a dem, do they ?..He is voted in by reich winger in Montana for crap sake….Like I have said a million times before the d or r after the name mean’s nothing, by their deeds and word’s we all know what they are….Less than whores…I can respect a real whore, they are honest enough with their profession, not true with most in DC…With the exception of a few in office they are all down right evil and scum of the earth…P. B. & J
July 30th, 2009 at 12:57 pmWitch1 – it sure is upsetting isn’t it? I heard a ‘joke’ recently by Bill Maher that more or less goes, “Democrats have moved to the right and the right has moved to the mental hospital” haha, but, for me, not so much.
For anyone left of center there seems to be almost nil representation.
And the corporations seem to wield more power than ever.
July 30th, 2009 at 1:22 pmI’d love to see Baucus voted out of the Senate so he loses his public option health insurance.
July 30th, 2009 at 1:28 pmInteresting comments. I only take exception to people who claim or think that the majority of Americans support any of these plans that are being floated at this time. The fact of the matter is that the majority of Americans want to see some changes in the health care system, but nothing to the extent being proposed by the President or the Democrat lead House or Senate. The majority of Americans like their health care and receive health care that is the best in the world. I know many of you liberal readers will not read it, but take a look at the link to this article where some very interesting numbers are talked about.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204619004574318334081271414.html
The bottomline: Anyone who thinks the majority of Americans want this is wrong and the Democrats are not representing the will of the majority. The President and all who vote for this will pay a price at the polls in the next election. Unfortuantely the damage may already be done to the counrty and our health care system.
July 30th, 2009 at 1:39 pmGeeVee says:
You are full of shite. Little wonder, I cant expect anything from someone so stupid they dont even know the name of the largest political party in America. Dont give me the Wall St Journal and tell me about what America wants. All polls show Americans want universal healthcare period. Also Obama campaigned on JUST THIS ISSUE and won the election anyone that doesnt understand THAT is plain stupid. The damage is already done to our healthcare system. 18,000 Americans DIE per year due to lack of access to healthcare anyone who doesnt understand that is a moron. Americans want a change that will stop that. See if you can possibly understand ANY of this
July 30th, 2009 at 1:48 pmTime to dust this one off!
July 30th, 2009 at 2:04 pmSorry, GeeVee, but the majority of Americans do want the change, do want affordable health care and do want our country to be better than whatever makes a megabuck for the rich.
And if you want some real proof, look at the President’s approval ratings. His personal ratings are still high but he is taking a hit because he isn’t pushing Congress hard enough on this issue. The mandate is there, the opposition is rich, the people are angry.
July 30th, 2009 at 2:11 pmLet’s get representation on this from senators in states with larger populations. These guys are used to wielding power over a very small number of people relative to many other states in the USA. Time to give them a bit of a heave-ho
July 30th, 2009 at 2:14 pmI just sent a fax to Baucus – his phone lines have been busy. Faxes are hard to ignore.
July 30th, 2009 at 2:17 pmJust sack him from the committee already. He’s done enough damage.
July 30th, 2009 at 2:26 pm“Baucus Could Lose Chairmanship Over Stalled Health Care Negotiations”
Ok. Good start would that it were true.
Replace Reid and Rahm while we’re at it.
SOON!
July 30th, 2009 at 2:33 pm#50 Mary, back at ya…Yep!….Guess the thing that chaps me the most is all our polatician’s have a better socialized healthcare than we do and even when they are voted out of office it continue’s for life along with huge pensions equal to their pay as well as their spouses…Bad marriage in my mind..We get them till death do us part regardless of the poor record’s.. Ugh!….P,B. & J.
July 30th, 2009 at 2:44 pmWE NEED REFORM NOW
http://www.reuters.com/news/globalcoverage/healthcarereform#healthcarevideo
Tells you how many needs even a decend healthcare.
July 30th, 2009 at 2:54 pmDoes anyone have evidence that Senator Baucus is not just trying to design a bill that will get 60 votes? Are other committee chairmen really likely to go along with the proposed rules change?
July 30th, 2009 at 3:45 pmI hope the HC issue will at least EXPOSE these porkers for what and who they are.
July 30th, 2009 at 3:54 pmHopefully the PEOPLE will get the truth and how these DINO are status quo obstructionist wannabe’s like the GNOPers.
Looks like the Dems are about to eat their own.
July 30th, 2009 at 4:13 pmConservative MORON
FOAD you worthless piece of shite
July 30th, 2009 at 4:19 pmI called his office two days ago. I told the woman who answered the phone that Baucus had better get with the program or even though he is not up for re-election–for six years–we will have him un-elected the same way we got President Obama elected–$25.00 at a time. I was told that I made no difference because I don’t live in Montana. Well, enough money can do anything. I implore everyone to call his office and tell him WE WILL NOT FORGET–NO MATTER WHEN HIS TERM IS UP! We don’t just need a bill that will get 60 votes-we need a strong public option.
July 30th, 2009 at 5:10 pmFaxing is a great idea– FAX-202-228-1493 or PHONE 202-224-2651
blue53 says:
I called his office two days ago. I told the woman who answered the phone that Baucus had better get with the program or even though he is not up for re-election–for six years–we will have him un-elected the same way we got President Obama elected–$25.00 at a time. I was told that I made no difference because I don’t live in Montana.
She is wrong. If enough people contribute to an opponent, then Baucus will need to spend a lot of money defending his seat. A Dem primary challenger could make his campaign expend alot of money that he will not have enough for the general election.
July 30th, 2009 at 5:16 pmI was wondering where all of Benedict Arnold’s relatives had migrated to. The citizens of Montana should be more carefull in their research which includes checks, balances and oversight before voting for a traitor like Baucus. Look what happened when the country took George Bush’s word at “FACE VALUE.” He was elected and promptly gave the country his usual trademark, the teutonic gesture with the middle finger.
July 30th, 2009 at 5:27 pmI think our system will work as intended. I expect Baucus to lose his chairmanship in 2010.
July 30th, 2009 at 5:47 pmThe reason the “Democrats” want Republican support is because they know they are going to not just give you a crappy bill, but a punitive one written by the for-profit health insurance lobbyists. They want to be able to point the finger come election time.
July 30th, 2009 at 7:01 pmWhy is it that when republicans have the majority the dems just play dead or go along quietly? Why is it when the dems have the majority the repugs still seem to be in control? Since the repugs have proven themselves as traitors to we the people that leaves the dems. What is obvious is the leadership has very little credibility left with us out here in the heartland. There was a time when the Democratic party held the interests of the American public to heart. There was a time when a liberal attitude and progressive thought held hope for a democracy that would provide good government for, of, and by the people. Now that the repugnicans have revealed their true purpose of being conservative for themselves and to hell with the public and the fact that they are socialists when it comes to expenses and greedy pigs when it comes to profits. They have absolutely no political virtue whatsoever.
July 31st, 2009 at 7:43 pmIf the dems can’t get us single payer healthcare, if the dems can’t get the fed off the monopoly board, if the dems can’t restore the rule of law and punish the criminal elements who brazenly demonstrated a willing disregard for the law, if the dems can’t recover the billions and trillions of taxpayer monies now in private bank accounts of former government officials and or their corporate accomplices then they are either complicit or they are too weak to be worthy of the support of the American public. I am demanding the democrats to pick up the ball and run it into the end zone or you will be a club without any fans. Your time is running out. What we need is heros not zeros.