The health care bill is in trouble, but a series of narrow deals — each designed to win over a wavering senator or key interest group — is alive and well, despite voter anger over the parochial horse-trading that marked the rush toward passage before Christmas.With the exception of Nebraska Democratic Sen. Ben Nelson’s “Cornhusker Kickback,” which alienated independent voters and came to symbolize an out-of-touch Washington, none of the other narrow provisions that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid inserted into the bill appear to be in any kind of danger as Democrats try to figure out the way ahead.
Not only that, House liberals want to reopen the labor deal struck just days before Democrats lost their 60-vote majority — not to dial it back but to provide more generous protections from the tax on Cadillac insurance plans.
If you didn't previously grasp how Washington works, reading the article will be an education.
Healthcare is simply the mule for members of Congress to strap their earmarks to.
For reasons I'll never understand, Democrats persist in thinking that government-run health-care was, is and will be, popular with the folks, and thus guaranteed to pass into law. The perfect opportunity to slip in a backroom deal to benefit the special interests in say, Michigan or Louisiana and thus insure a steady stream of campaign cash to the career politicians.
What a job! Spend millions, get elected to Congress. Be a bag man for your campaign donors. Do it again each and every election cycle. What kind of A-hole actually wants a position like that?
