The Lieberman Filibuster?
Saturday night’s victory for health care reform in the House has only deepened the apparent resolve of Connecticut Independent Joe Lieberman to block reform legislation in the Senate, continuing threats of a filibuster in order to prevent any kind of vote on reform.
Lieberman told Fox News Sunday that the public insurance option included in both the House and Senate versions of reform legislation is “unnecessary” and that he will block legislation from coming on the Senate floor via filibuster (presumably by working in concert with Senate Republicans) “as a matter of conscience,” an odd choice of language when discussing health care and a bill that would cover 36 million uninsured Americans.
If the public option plan is in there, as a matter of conscience, I will not allow this bill to come to a final vote, because I believe the debt can break America and send us into a recession that’s worse than the one we’re fighting our way out of today. I don’t want to do that to our — to our children and grandchildren.
Lieberman did hint at a willingness to deal with Senate Democrats (his former colleagues) and the White House by expressing his support to “do health care reform this year.” What is less than clear is what it would take for Lieberman to get on board with reform given his consistent opposition to President Obama’s proposals and now the two bills that have taken shape in Congress.
Lieberman’s threats are not being taken seriously among top Senate Democrats or the White House. Odds are that Joe will not be able to play the role of health care reform kingmaker.
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Sanity comes from the middle? Whod a thunk it.