November 29th, 2009:

Re: Senate Opens Health Care Debate: Dem Coalition Fracturing Already, by RICARDO ALONSO-ZALDIVAR | 11/29/09 10:51 AM |

(snip) Reid wants to finish by Christmas; he may not get to.

He’s hoping that Democrats will stick together on procedural matters, where Senate rules require 60 votes to advance. That would allow for different views to be heard on the underlying questions. But such an accommodation might not always be possible.

Senate rules require 60 votes to advance? No, Republicans require 60 votes to advance. There would be no requirement for 60 votes on a cloture vote to end debate if Republicans do not filibuster. The fault here lies with the obstructionist Republicans standing in the way. The fault is not a fractured Democratic Party. The AP writer goes on to say:

For example, the National Right to Life to Committee says unless there are big changes, it will count the procedural motion to allow a final up-or-down vote on the legislation as tantamount to a vote on abortion.

Who gives a f**k about what the National Right to Life to Committee says? They can’t vote on the floor of the Senate. That’s no more of a threat than any other lobby has attempted. Remember the study heralded by AHIP last October that they commissioned from Price Waterhouse Coopers about what the Senate bill would do to premium prices? Remember how PWC backed away and leaked it out that AHIP had asked for a study on only certain parts of the bill? Well, This National Right to Life has no more claim on this bill than AHIP.

This is just wild hair-on-fire speculation propelled by the often right-wing slant from the Associated Press. The AP needs to go back to civics class. Sixty votes is only necessary on a cloture vote if there is a filibuster on moving to the vote for passage. If the Obstructionist Republicans, the party of no, would do what is right for America, we would not be concerned with 60 votes.

__________________________________________________-