Dems. to boot GOP out of health care conference negotiations

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In a controversial move designed to stave off the procedural hurdles promised by the GOP to slow down health reform, Democratic leaders from both sides of Congress intend to reconcile the two health care reform bills without bothering to include the GOP in the process.

Conference Committees come with their own procedural rules – rules that can be used to prevent the Dems. from meeting their goal of delivering a bill to the president for signature by February 3rd of this year.

Under Senate rules, three separate votes are required before negotiators for the two houses may hold a formal meeting. While the three normally are agreed to within seconds, each may be filibustered, and Democrats would then have to produce 60 votes to cut off debate.
Additionally, Republicans would have the right to demand votes on nonbinding proposals once negotiators for the two houses were appointed. That could, in turn, require Democrats to vote on political controversies such as wiping out the legislation’s proposed cuts in Medicare, the type of issue that could easily be turned into attack ads in next fall’s campaign.
Via ABC News

While giving the Republicans the boot should make for a speedier resolution in merging the House and Senate bills – although it really is going to primarily be a process of the House acquiescing to the Senate version without the loss of too much face -the decision is not going to go down without a huge amount of controversy.

Up until now, the Democrats held the high ground in the argument that the GOP wished only to kill the health care legislation rather than work to improve the ultimate legislation. While removing the GOP leadership from the process may make sense for the purposes of getting it done, considering only one Republican in the House and Senate combined actually voted for reform, the GOP will forever be able to argue that (a) they were completely excluded from the all-important conference committee wherein the bills are reconciled, (b) the Democrats have proven that they have no interest in working with Republicans and (c) the Democrats have chosen to conduct this vital national business behind closed doors.

The opening shot in what promises to be the ‘next big thing’ for the media to obsess upon was today fired by C-SPAN CEO, Brian Lamb, who delivered a letter to leaders of both the House and the Senate requesting that the negotiations be opened to C-SPAN’s cameras so that the American public could bear witness to the proceedings.

Not surprisingly, in a letter responding to C-SPAN’s request, House Minority Leader John Boehner wrote,

As House Republican leader, I can confidently state that all House Republicans strongly endorse your proposal and stand ready to work with you to make it a reality. Hard-working families won’t stand for having the future of their health care decided behind closed doors. These secret deliberations are a breeding ground for more of the kickbacks, shady deals and special-interest provisions that have become business as usual in Washington.
Via Fox News

Much as it pains me to say it, Boehner has a point.

While there is no doubt that the GOP intends to do everything it can to procedurally slow down the process, the reality is that public support for health care reform has taken a serious hit over the past few months. While this is not unprecedented when complicated legislation is involved, the tricky bargains made with people like Senator Ben Nelson -whose state is henceforth to be taken off the hook for its share of Medicaid costs while the remaining 49 states remain obligated to pay their  50% share – have cast an even darker hue over the proposed reform.

Finishing the job behind closed doors and without the GOP leadership is going to be a PR nightmare for both the congressional Dems. and the White House while further driving public opinion in the wrong direction.

The move is particularly damaging to the president. FOX has been quick to point out  (and will continue to point out) Obama’s words during the primary debate held in Los Angeles on January 31, 2008 while arguing health care reform with Hillary Clinton.

That’s what I will do in bringing all parties together, not negotiating behind closed doors, but bringing all parties together, and broadcasting those negotiations on C-SPAN so that the American people can see what the choices are.
Via Fox News

While I appreciate the importance of getting a final bill to the president’s desk as soon as possible, I’m not sure this strategy is adding up.

With so many Democrats in the Senate feeling threatened by health care legislation, particularly Sen. Nelson who has taken a huge hit in the polls back home since registering his ‘aye’ vote to block a filibuster and would love to find a way to change his mind, this is a dangerous game.

The White House and Congress needs to rethink  this decision as it has all the markings of winning a battle while creating a perfect scenario for losing the war.