Top Dem Defies Obama Health Care Deadline

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid Says Senators Won't Vote on Health Care Bill Until After the August Recess

(AP)  Updated 5:00 p.m. ET

Senate Democratic leaders on Thursday abandoned plans for a vote on health care before Congress' August recess, dealing a blow to President Barack Obama's ambitious timetable to revamp the nation's $2.4 trillion system of medical care.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., delivered the official pronouncement, saying, "It's better to have a product based on quality and thoughtfulness rather than try to jam something through."

His words were a near-echo of Republicans who have criticized what they have called a rush to act on complex legislation that affects every American.

Obama shrugged off the delay.

"That's OK, I just want people to keep on working," Obama told a town hall meeting in Cleveland. "I want it done by the end of the year. I want it done by the fall."

Reid said the Senate Finance Committee will act on its portion of the bill before lawmakers' monthlong break. Reid then will merge that bill with separate legislation passed by the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee earlier this month.

The process will be difficult since Finance, led by Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., is seeking a bipartisan deal while the health committee bill was passed by Democrats on a party-line vote.

Obama had pushed for votes in the House and Senate before August to ensure that lawmakers had enough time to meld the two bills into comprehensive legislation by December — before the start of a politically charged congressional election year.

Obama has made nearly daily appeals for the overhaul in the past two weeks and has summoned more than a dozen lawmakers to the White House to make his case. At stake is a massive remaking of the system. So is Obama's credibility.

At the town hall, Obama likened his health care effort to the race to put a man on the moon 40 years ago, saying some dismissed President John F. Kennedy's effort as "foolish, even impossible" and were proven wrong.

"Reform may be coming too soon for some in Washington, but it's not soon enough for the American people," Obama said.

Reid said the decision to delay a vote was made Wednesday night in hopes of getting a final bill that can win at least 60 votes in the Senate.

He said he had listened to requests from senior Republicans working with Baucus to allow more time for a compromise to emerge.

"I don't think it's unreasonable," he said.

Some Democrats are frustrated with the pace of fulfilling Obama's goal of expanding coverage to Americans who lack it and containing rising costs.

"The Finance Committee keeps dragging their feet and dragging their feet and dragging their feet. It's time for them to fish or cut bait," Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, said in a conference call with Iowa reporters.

But at the same time, nine freshman Senate Democrats, largely from swing states, sent a letter to Baucus urging him to keep working toward a bipartisan solution.

In the House, Democratic leaders are struggling to win over rebellious moderates and conservative rank-and-file party members who are demanding changes to their version of the legislation. The dispute has forced Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Henry Waxman, D-Calif., to postpone work on the bill for three straight days while he negotiates.

Waxman's committee is the last of three House panels trying to finish the $1.5 trillion, 10-year legislation that would create a government-run plan to compete with private insurance, increase taxes on the wealthy and require employers and individuals to get health insurance.

Many of the provisions of the legislation wouldn't take effect until 2013 — after the next presidential election.

Rep. Jim Clyburn, D-S.C., the third-ranking House Democrat, said a Thursday morning, 90-minute meeting of the leadership was particularly contentious. He said lawmakers should abandon plans for their monthlong break if the House hasn't passed a health care bill.

"We must stay here and get this thing done," he said at a news conference. "I feel very strongly about that. ... I think it will affect our standing with the American people if we don't do this."

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., didn't rule out going into August to get the bill done but said it might not be necessary.

"I'm not afraid of August. It's a month," Pelosi said. "What I am interested in is the sooner the better to pass health care for the American people."

"We will take the bill to the floor when it is ready, and when it is ready we will have the votes to pass it," Pelosi added. She stood by — but didn't repeat — a claim she made Wednesday that she has the necessary votes now.

Underscoring the deep divisions among Democrats was concern among members of the Congressional Black Caucus that Obama and the leadership were making too many concessions to the fiscally conservative Blue Dog Democrats.

Leaders of the Black Caucus said they had requested a meeting with Obama.

"We felt it was important that more than one voice be heard," said Donna Christensen, the congressional delegate for the U.S. Virgin Islands who is leading the caucus' health care efforts. "When we hear phrases like 'squeezing more savings out of the system' ... we're concerned that what may be taken out will be provisions that are critical to our communities."

The black caucus wants to make sure that any overhaul retains core provisions such as a public health insurance option that guarantees coverage for everyone.

"We don't want to see them negotiated or eroded away," said Rep. Danny Davis, D-Ill.

[Questionews]

Turncoat Democrats!!
Don't they understand that it's not about putting out good legislation, it's about party loyalty & marching lockstep with what Obama dictates to them? These traitorous Democrats deserve to have cue ball shoved in their mouths & get a good whipping from Mistress Pelosi!! (She charges an extra $25 if you want her to call you dirty names)

[xlib]

I understand the thug's pit bull, rahm "krag maga" emanuel, is handling this rogue dems. They will pay, and pay dearly.
Good to see that some dems have gonads but I fear they will be clipped.

[speakinup22]

I found it funny that whomever took this picture made Dingy Harry's halo slipping off to one side.

I do have to say though, this is one of the few intelligent comments he has ever made. Holding off so that the bill gets done properly, and NOT in haste.

[Questionews]

"Senate Democratic leaders on Thursday abandoned plans for a vote on health care before Congress' August recess, dealing a blow to President Barack Obama"




I have heard that Presidents enjoy a blow once in a while.

[xlib]

Yep, he sure did.

[creeper00]

Go sign Congressman Fleming's petition to have our elected representatives covered under the same plan they inflict on us.

http://fleming.house.gov/

[xlib]

That would be a good thing and while we're at it, how about the have with holding for Social Security. Bunch of elitist, ruling class, slugs. Everyone of them.

[nottellin1]

Here is the solution, open public clinics for Americans without insurance. Drs including specialists could volunteer their services, pro bono, in gratitude that there is no national govt plan.

[jsd330]

vista8636 Read the 1000 page bill congress submitted. Page 16 forbids private insurance from selling plans after the bill goes into effect. Check the facts before you post. Stop listening to the half truths from Obama and read the facts. Obama even admitted that he has not read the bill, he doesn't have a clue whats in it.

[trapbreaking]

A week ago Obama was saying it was a deadline. Now it is O.K. to not have the vote before congress recesses. Which is it Obama? Don't have the votes? Of course not or it would be law already.

.

[thusspokezara]

I hope that Mr. Obama will not sign any bill where the poor continue to be discriminated against. Right now if you are poor and have public insurance you cannot pick your doctor. I cannot walk into the office of a Park Avenue dermatologist and say "Hey Dr. Fine look at my wart" I have to go find a clinic somewhere, wait 6 montns to be seen. In the meantime my wart gets bigger and bigger.

[nottellin1]

Oh yeah, Bam Bam is gonna give you the same coverage congress has, if you beleive that, you are sadly deluded. HC may become less discriminatory because only those who pay cash will be able to choose their doctor. FYI-Most decent private HC plans limit your choices too so you can just dream on about having Dr Fine look at your wart.

[TheMasses2009]

It's all that white cop's fault.

[Illuminated1]

DIRTY HARRY!

Looks like one of the turncoat democrats I have been referring to on the posts here on cbs turns out to be Harry Reid....I wonder how much money he took to delay the vote.
I've always stated the democratic party has republican moles inside their circle...It all started with Reagon.

My advice is for Nevadans to exercise their right to impeach that SOB, too many americans will now suffer because congress has to have its vacation.

[trapbreaking]

Voice of America


Public support for health-care reform slipping

Recent public-opinion polls show that while Mr. Obama remains personally popular, support for his policies on the economy and health-care reform are slipping.
Andy Barr is with the political website Politico, which conducted a recent poll.

"Across the board in this poll, trust has dropped off about ten percent for the president. Trust for some of his top programs including the economic stimulus package has dropped off, and you know there are some concerns for the other side of his legislative agenda," he said.

[trapbreaking]

The over 50% isn't the latest polls.


53% Now Oppose Congressional Health Care Reform
Wednesday, July 22, 2009 Rasmussen

The health care reform legislation working its way through Congress has lost support over the past month. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 44% of U.S. voters are at least somewhat in favor of the reform effort while 53% are at least somewhat opposed.

[TheMasses2009]

I'm 100% somewhat in favor of 10% of the GOPs 40% plan.

[vista8635]

The most elegant and simple Universal Health Care solution is to roll Medicare, Medicaid, and the Veterans Health Administration into a Unified National Plan. Then citizens who choose to join the plan would simply contribute taxes to the National Plan, like they do for Social Security. We would pay the medical professionals good salaries, and let them do their jobs. Government would use its power to keep health care costs down. Problem solved!

People who choose not to join can pay for private HMOs, PPOs, HSPs, EHSAs, SOSs, HDAs, IOUs, etc.

[proudindependent]

Hey Reid!, Demos, Republicans...get off your deadasses! go to work...remember over 50% of the American people wanted Health Care reform in November...not a August vacation. Here's the deal...since the American people want health care reform, put 3 health care reform bills together 1. by republicans 2. by the democrats 3. outside experts
put them on the ballot in November and the American people will vote for one of them. THEN each January since the politicians can't decide crap...there will be 3 to 4 items of importance put to the American people for thepoliticians to work on. They can work together or go there own way etc. They have till each November to have something together for the American people to vote on. Then we vote and then it becomes law. If the politicians cannot formulate a a plan for the 3 or 4 items for the November ballot...ALL politicians house and senate lose there term and have to be relected the following November...this will get them off their ***** and get fresh ideas and politicians who want to work for what we elected them for AND in a way set term limits. Let's put this idea up for vote!

[noloyalisti]

Unfortunately this pretty much proves what I have been saying all along, health insurance companies are the own and run the Congress. The United Corporate States of America may be the most corrupt country on earth.

The rich corporate CEOs are happy with the status quo of stealing the American people blind. They only need have the lobbyists push some buttons and give their servants bribes and nothing gets done.

[saturn05]

Dems are starting to sound and act like Repubs. If you don't like an idea, why do you have to sound like you are an enemy of your party's President. You are making Obama and the Democratic party look weak and stupid. Reid, you need to reign yourself in and be a little more diplomatic. Sometimes I hate being in the Democratic party. They always end up hurting themselves.

[noloyalisti]

Obama is still trying to appeal to Republican who cannot be reasoned with. They are a failure and were wrong about EVERYTHING. They are completely controlled by greedy, rich white men (big corporate CEOs).

Because he didn't come our with a vengeance telling his enemies (and those of the American people) where they can go, he let the spineless and nutless Dems put this essential change off.

[xlib]

Oh yea, that' right! You dems haven't been in DC for what, centuries?? Do a bit of research and see who is in bed with Wall St there libster, it's not the Republicans. Goldman Sachs donated EXCLUSIVELY to the dems, EXCLUSIVELY!
Funny that the Republicans have been left out of everything since the thug's coronation.
As for greedy white men, remember madoff?? Well, his resume consisted of donating to clinton, rangle, schumer, the thug and the democratic party.
So, get with the times there, libtard. Times of changed and your class envy doesn't work anymore.

[TheMasses2009]

Do you know the way to San Jose?

[stillwaters6]

yeah...it's near Gotham City.

[trapbreaking]

The Speaker of the House says she has the votes, but won't call for a vote! LOL!!! What does that tell you? Reid says no vote before fall. What does that tell you? If they had the votes they would be calling for the vote yesterday.

It tells me that there are still a few thinking people in congress that aren't going to allow this budget busting boondoggle pass.

.

[stillwaters6]

only for now...the KOS has not been released...KEEP WATCH...everything has to go on record for now...

TAG HEUER...

[stillwaters6]

hmmm..remember the hospital scene in The Dark Knight starring Heath Ledger???