CBO Score Today Is Unlikely, Dem Aide Says, As Christmas Eve Vote Looms
Upping the tensions among Senate Dems who are nervously eyeing the calendar, the Congressional Budget Office is not likely to release its “score” of the Senate health care bill today, according to a senior Democratic aide.
Every delay is excrutiating for Dems, because their margin for error is extremely tight if they are going to pass the bill before Christmas break.
Also, the senior Dem aide offers some details of the schedule that they’re eyeing right now, which may include a final vote on Christmas eve:
Senate leaders right now are hoping to file cloture on the package of changes to the bill known as a “manager’s amendment,” as well as on the underlying bill, over the weekend, setting up the first cloture vote on the manager’s amendment for Monday morning.
There would be a second cloture vote on what’s known as the substitute amendment on Tuesday at 7 AM. The cloture vote on the underlying bill would be Wednesday at around 1 PM.
Dems think it’s conceivable that they could have a final vote on the bill on the 23rd, but if the GOP continues the foot-dragging Dems are prepared to vote on Christmas eve, and expect it could well come to that.
So that’s where we are. It’s a nail-biter.
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comments getting eaten?
All outcomes on cloture votes are predetermined ahead of time so there is no nail biting going on. If there aren’t the votes for cloture, the measure is generally not brought up.
Richard, I meant it’s a nail biter in terms of the timing.
NR, apologies. Is anyone else having comments problems?
Greg:
Every delay is excrutiating for Dems, because their margin for error is extremely tight if they are going to pass the bill before Christmas break.
Why is Xmas break such an important date? Do they think passage somehow becomes less likely if they wait?
Why do they have to finish this by Christmas day? Why don’t they just stay during Christmas break to finish this.
“Senate leaders right now are hoping to file cloture on the package of changes to the bill known as a “manager’s amendment,” as well as on the underlying bill, over the weekend, setting up the first cloture vote on the manager’s amendment for Monday morning.”
So Congress doesn’t even get the bill to read until this weekend, and no CBO score, and then they are expected to vote on Monday?
They have to pass it by Christmas because there will be more angry townhallers over break.
Hey News Reference – this is Mary, from the product team. do you mind emailing me at profiles@whorunsgov.com so I can get some more details?
It’s sad, I’m generally supportive of passing the bill if the forced corporate-buy in is removed, but it’s difficult to support something that is like an old Hollywood caricature of quicksand: The longer it takes the worse the situation gets.
Right wingers have effectively forced a situation where Dems are going to take the fall for forcing Americans to buy corporate-insurance.
This the NAFTA 1994 election disaster all over again.
http://seminal.firedoglake.com/diary/8372
Again, it was corporate pushed NAFTA that took out Dems in 1994 and now it’s likely that corporate pushed payments-to-corporate-med-ransomers will have much worse repercussions than any of the ivory tower “wonks” think it will.
The activists on the ground have a clearly better understanding of the political repercussions that such a forced corporate-buy will have: It’s BAD, VERY BAD.
I am still excited about this bill. I am not going to let Joe Lieberman ruin it for me. This is a huge accomplishment no matter what anyone says about it now. If Obama passes this I am putting my Yes We Did bumper sticker on my car. I have been waiting to see what happens with health care.
Good. Give us a Christmas present.
“I am still excited about this bill. I am not going to let Joe Lieberman ruin it for me.”
I’m wit u, Lola.
Ok, OT – I’ve got 12 people coming to dinner Saturday night. For an hors d’oeuvres, I’m pickling shrimp. I have large shrimp – about 30-40 count to a pound. I bought 6 pounds, but that’s a half a pound a person and I’m wondering if I should just do 4 pounds.
Suggestions?
greg – if everyone else is gone, what do you think? Six pounds or four?
1 pound for 2 people is my rule
DTR – Ok, I’ll pickle all 6. I started out that way and then started 2d guessing myself and really this is not the time to be doing that.
Thank you! {{mwaah!}} I threw you a kiss.
For an appetizer I would think that 4 lbs for 12 people would be perfect.
So, using tena rule of thumb, if sbj suggests 4 lbs you should probably go with 6!
I thought about splitting the difference and just pickling 5, but what’s another pound at that point?
Will this CBO score include or exclude that surprise cap provision Reid put in at the last moment? Seems to me the “no cap” version everyone wanted included will cost scads more.
The Repugs have slowed this down to nothing, so I have no problem with not calling a recess until the matter is considered. I’m sure the Senate dining room can provide a nice Christmas dinner, although there are some who should just get a plate of coal dust.