Brent Budowsky, columnist for The Hill, joins the 2nd hour of Thursday's show to discuss the midterm elections and what the Democrats can do to stop the Republicans.
Comedian and frequent ED Show contributor Lizz Winstead joins the 2nd hour of Thursday's show to discuss the insanity of the GOP.
The Discovery Channel Hostage-taker, who was shot to death by police on Wednesday, said he did it because he hated the channel's programming. We'll bring you the latest.
Senate Democrats warm to reconciliation Posted on 2/24/2010
Reconciliation is gaining acceptance among moderate Democrats because they say GOP opposition may force their hands.
The shift among this small group of centrist senators could mean the difference between success and failure for health care reform.
Sen. Bayh Comments Sen. Evan Bayh, D-IN, said, "Obviously, if the minority is just frustrating the process, that argues for taking steps to get the public's business done."
Bayh said, "At the same time ... Republicans would probably shut the place down, but you could argue they are doing that anyway."
Sen. Landrieu Comments Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-LA, said Republican obstructionism is the reason why she could embrace the parliamentary maneuver to pass health care reform.
Landrieu said, "I'm staying open to see how these negotiations go forward. I've not generally been a big supporter, but the Republican Party, the leadership, has really been very, very, very disingenuous in this process."
Sen. Nelson Comments Sen. Ben Nelson, D-NE, said he doesn't prefer reconciliation, but it may be the only way.
Nelson said, "I'd like to see as many votes as possible,. But at the end of the day, with the obstructionism going on at the level that it is, I'm more interested in what's in the package than I am in the process of how many votes it takes to get it through."
Sen. Conrad Comments Senate Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad, D-ND, fired another warning shot Tuesday about the limits of reconciliation.
Conrad said a narrow bill might pass muster with the Senate parliamentarian, but not a measure nearly as broad as the proposal put forth by Obama.
Sen. Conrad said, "Reconciliation was never intended for substantive legislation, policy legislation."
He said, "There are all kinds of hurdles to writing major legislation through reconciliation."
25 Senators Support Public Option The number of Senate Democrats voicing support for including a public option in the final healthcare bill grew to 25 Tuesday.
There seems little chance of reaching the necessary 50.
Robert Gibbs Comments White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said that President Obama chose not to include a public option in the healthcare plan he released on Monday based on an acknowledgment that the Senate simply lacks the votes for such a maneuver.
Gibbs said, "We have seen, obviously, that though there are some that are supportive of this, there isn't enough political support in a majority to get this through."
Gibbs said, "The president took the Senate bill as the base and looks forward to discussing consensus ideas on Thursday."
Speaker Pelosi Comments Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-CA, did not criticize the lack of a public insurance plan in Obama's bill.
Pelosi said House Democrats can support the major parts of the healthcare proposal released by the White House.
She said, "We're very pleased with what the president put up on the Internet."
Referring to mechanisms to create competition and lower healthcare costs, Rep. Pelosi said, "There are other ways to do that," .
Pelosi said, "We intend to do that in the bill. [The public option] seems to me the best way to us, but that will depend on what the Senate can pass on the Senate side."
Rep. DeFazio Comments Rep. Peter DeFazio said, "We're really beginning the process in the caucus over again."
DeFazio is a supporter of reviving the public option through reconciliation.
