There never was any chance that the Senate would pass a robust public option (pegged to Medicare reimbursement rates) in the original bill that they would seek to merge with the House bill. In fact, no one I know thought that the Senate would pass any form of a public option in their original bill. If there was going to be a public option, it was going to be added in the Conference Report, and the impetus for it would be from the House legislation. Unfortunately, it turned out that even the House cannot pass a robust public option. That makes their negotiating stance with the Senate weaker. But, all is not lost. Harry Reid made up for the House’s weakness by strengthening the Senate’s hand. He included a public option in the base Senate bill, meaning that it will take 60 votes to take it out. But, in making such a decision, Reid put health care reform at risk. He needs 60 votes for cloture, and that means that he needs all 60 members of his caucus to give him the procedural votes required to overcome filibusters. Joe Lieberman is a member of that caucus, and he needs to be on board.
Sen. Joe Lieberman has reached a private understanding with Majority Leader Harry Reid that he will not block a final vote on healthcare reform, according to two sources briefed on the matter.
The unpredictable Democrat-turned-Independent last week publicly stated he would join Republicans in filibustering the Democratic legislation after Reid (D-Nev.) announced he had included a government-run health insurance plan in the bill.
But sources said Reid’s staff is telling liberal interest groups that Lieberman (Conn.) has assured Reid he will vote with Democrats in the necessary procedural vote to end debate, perhaps with intentions to change the bill.
The only reason that Lieberman would cave on this issue is if Reid had threatened his committee chairs. So, good on Reid. He may trust Joe Lieberman, but he seems to know when to give him a good poke, just to be sure.
