(CNN) – Democratic Sens. Blanche Lincoln, Mary Landrieu and Ben Nelson, who have all expressed skepticism about the party's health care reform plan, were summoned to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's office Wednesday to get a sneak peak at his health care bill.
Reid spokesman Jim Manley said Wednesday the senator invited these three moderate Democrats into his office to give them the "particulars on the bill."
All have been withholding support on voting to start debate - and the fact that Reid is giving the three their own special briefing, before the broader Democratic meeting at 5 pm Wednesday, is a signal of their power.
Assuming no Republican senator joins Democrats in voting to end debate, Reid needs all 60 senators in his party's caucus to vote in favor of a so-called "motion to proceed."
If any Democrat votes no on proceeding to debate, Reid's health care bill will go down before it starts.
A source familiar with Nelson's thinking reminded CNN Wednesday that has historically supported beginning debate, and does not believe that has anything to do with whether he will support a final bill. Landrieu told CNN she is leaning toward a "no" vote on the motion to proceed.
Manley says Reid still believes the Senate will vote on the motion to proceed this Saturday.
From CNN Politics
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It is time to bring this to the floor of the senate. Landrieu just doesn't get it.
It looks like these three senators have been called to the wood shed by Harry Reid. Let's hope that they don't cave in and support this monstrosity.
Let's just pass this in reconciliation and be done with it. We're giving these wishy washy senators too much power. People need heath reform...not giveaways to big insurance companies. We NEED a robust public option!
love to be a fly on the wall.....
If they offered a choice to everyone maybe this wouldn't be that hard
maybe these senators can get the congress to do this it would be real nice.
Blue dog dems are nothing more than republicans in donkey's clothing because they know the republican party is no more...
These three should be ashamed! They are democrats from states where millions have no health insurance and they should support the President. If not, move over to the GOP and face the consequences.
Who cares what these turncoats are doing? Landrieu should be ashamed of herself after what she and her cronnies put the country through with their mishandling of Katrina. And now she wants to stop the most important legislation in a lifetime? I don't think so.
The Bluedogs better shape up or ship out–America is on the move and we will not be stopped by the dead weight of rabid right wingers and dillusional Democrats.
Move On, Step Over These Deadbeats, Move On Without Them–Let's Go.
It is time to forget the blue dogs aka republicans and pass hcr with reconciliation. What is infuriating to me is that Landeu has over 875,000 consitutiants without healthcare. 550,000 of the 875,000 are people who work and have no healthcare. over 1000 people attended the free clinic at new orleans yet she is uncertain about hcr. Maybe she should talk to the 875,000 constituants who have no healthcare in order to understand the severity of her inaction.
Don't Forget That Other Democratic Sellout Senator David Conrad Of North Dakota. If Senator Landrieu Does Take The Action She Claims To Take, There Will Be Hell To Pay.
I don't see the long-term advantage of having Uninsured Americans, the sooner we get all Americans covered and make it so that people get better care earlier not having to use the Emergancy Room as Primary Care, and Everyone having insurance so that every bill gets paid you'll see the hospital charges go down because they won't have to make the currently insured subsidise the uninsured.
Attention Dem (wit) Senators! Will you for once in your life stand together on an issue!!!!!! Republicans stick together for the good of their party even when they disagree and this bond has kept them in power more often than Dems. This is one thing the Dems can learn from conservatives. Democrats need to learn to stick together as a part. Come on "60" show your stuff and pass this reform. Trust me if the shoe were on the other foot 60 Republicans would have settle this by now, and moved on to other pressing issues. Stand together guys and get the job done. Your Democratic President will thank you!
See, republicans, how it's supposed to be done?
If you have members of your party, you try to include them, you have discussions with them, try to gain their support.
You don't ostracize them for not being pure enough to pander to your whacko fringe and send them packing in favor of extremist lapdogs.
Thisis how adults do it. Well, democratic adults.
reid and the democrats should stop trying to write a new bill and go with obama bill.
The wheeling and dealing starts. If you don't vote for this, forget about your district getting ....
It's sickening the way they work up there. We all know it's been going on for years and years, but enough is enough. Perhaps all of that transparency we were promised is finally working out? Or, are Americans finally getting interested now that the stakes are getting so high?
One thing I've never understood with the Democrats' strategy for trying to get the public option, or at the very least just get everyone insured period, is that they have never properly explained to the public how the system currently works.
The uninsured still get care. Some care they can and do pay for out of their pocket. Other times they can't pay for it and it becomes a loss to the health care provider. If they go to the ER (which no one can be turned away from) the care is very expensive. Any loss a health care provider has due to an uninsured individual not paying for care gets shifted to those that do have insurance. This in turn raises premiums.
We are already paying for the uninsured. We have been for decades. That's capitalism for you. One health care provider's loss is another person's increased premium.
These three are not MODERATE Democrats. They are CONSERVATIVE Democrats. CNN does not seem to be able to differentiate. Going over the healthcare bill with these three will do no good. They will not vote for anything that changes the status quo. They come from conservative states and by all rights should be republicans. None of them are right wing but they are hardly moderate regardless of what they would like to call themselves.
If any Democrat votes no on proceeding to debate, Reid's health care bill will go down before it starts.
No, it won't. It just means they'll keep coming back again and again. Like a bad dream.
I say bring it to the floor, then kill it!
A big reason the economy is stuttering is because entrepreneurs are timid with all of the looming doomsday legislation. Health Care, not conducive to expansion of business because of the inherent costs. Cap and trade, another one that adds to the operational cost of running businesses.
Everyone see how women now don't need mamograms until 50? THis was decided by a panel of non-medical "professionals," the same "professionals" who will be in charge of our new health care program.
WELCOME TO GOVERNMENT RUN HEALTHCARE!
This is exactly what will happen. The government will decide what is more "cost effective" and run with it. Nevermind that the numbers of breast cancer patients have been rising steadily over the last couple of decades.
Are these three really Democrats? They certainly are not keeping to the traditions of the Democratic Party. They appear to be big business Republicans in the pockets of the insurance industry. Why would any public servant not want to do what is best for the public.
You mean a sneak peek at his "God help me, I am about to lose my seat in the next election you gottsa save me plan"....sell-out.
I would say take names and kick behind in the next election for anybody who chooses to go against the will of the American people. It is called "for the people" not the big money hungry executives of the insurance industry. Just how quick were these same people to vote for the bail out of Goldman Sachs who is now getting ready to pay BILLIONS of dollars in bonuses to the very same people who helped sink this ecomony in toilet. We do not forget that quickly.
And if any of the three of them go along with Reid they might as well start packing up their office because their political career will be over.
The three of them are in the ins. pockets a little further than most. Back stabbers, all three!
let the waterboarding begin...socialized healthcare at any costs. Harry reid's motto