Senate Democrat fuming at Lieberman
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/12/14/art.lieberman.jpg caption="Senate Democrat fuming at Lieberman."]
Washington (CNN) - Senate Democrats struggled to find a way forward on health care legislation Monday in the wake of Sen. Joe Lieberman's announcement that he will oppose a leading compromise proposal Democrats saw as their best way to get the 60 votes needed to pass a bill.
Privately fuming at the Connecticut senator, Democrats wrestled with whether to meet his demand to remove an expansion of Medicare from the bill - a move that would anger liberal Democrats who believe they've already made concessions on a government insurance option.
Democrats "may have to do what Mr. Lieberman wants," liberal Sen. Tom Harkin of Iowa said to CNN.
Democratic leaders, who had hoped to file procedural motions this week to end debate and begin voting on the bill, called a special caucus meeting for 5:30 pm Monday to assess their bleak situation.
"It's hit a rough spot," acknowledged a Democratic leadership aide who said there is a "decent level of concern" about the fate of the compromise bill.
Asked if Senate leaders are scrambling to find a "Plan C" - something that could attract Lieberman without losing liberals - the aide said they are "working on it."
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Simple,
Reconciliation provision & pass the thing with the public option intact ...
The GoP slimeballz used the tactic to give their rich friends a tax break in 2001; now's the time to use it for something far more important ...
get it done, period ...
Must be 'Pick on Joe' day.
Too bad for the rest of his caucus that Joe's right.
who cares? The left wing liberals threw him out of the party and he came back and smacked them down in the election!
It sure is fun visiting this little echo chamber and figurately seeing all these socialist pigs squeal....LOLOLOL
Kick his sorry butt out of the Caucasus and remove his Chairmanship. The only person he is looking out for is himself!!
"With the exception of the President, one person should not have that much power over congress. It is unconstitutional and Mr. Lieberman should be impeached!!"
You can do better than that Fake Sniffit. Clearly it's not impeachable. You'd be better off trying to make me sound stupid by not overdoing it. You overplay your hand.
Senator Lieberman is a man of experience and integrity. I trust his judgement and appreciate his courage.
But to the Dem's, he's your buddy when you need him to vote your way..