Ezra Klein has the scoop (apparently), and the AP is picking up on it.
It's a numbers crunch on votes, and on the money to be spent, and the deficit reduced, and it looks like supporters of the bill have another piece of good news to keep the momentum going into the vote (whenever it occurs). The CBO's numbers look good.
Some momentum from Minnesota was added yesterday when Representative Jim Oberstar announced that he is a solid "yes" on voting for the bill. This announcement prompted "Catholics United" to start airing TV ads thanking Rep. Oberstar for his support of the the bill. The ads are part of a "broader national campaign to underscore Catholic support for health care reform," according to a statement released by the Catholic group.
According to a Democratic source, CBO has finished its work and will release the official preliminary score later today. But here are the basic numbers: The bill will cost $940 billion over the first 10 years and reduce the deficit by $130 billion during that period. In the second 10 years -- so, 2020 to 2029 -- it will reduce the deficit by $1.2 trillion. The legislation will cover 32 million Americans, or 95 percent of the legal population.
To put this in context, that's more deficit reduction than either the House or Senate bill, and more coverage than the Senate bill.
How they got these numbers, and whether there are important qualifiers, will be easier to say once CBO releases its analysis. But the bottom line is that this is the exact sort of score that Democrats wanted, and is in fact considerably better than some had come to expect they would receive. Coverage is better than the Senate bill, which will reassure liberals, and deficit reduction is better than either bill, which will reassure conservatives.
With the unveiling of the health reform reconciliation compromise set for noon ET, Democrats are beginning to leak results of the long-awaited Congressional Budget Office score of the provisions. They're pretty good.
The deficit over the first ten years drops by $130 billion compared to the baseline. Importantly, especially for wavering Democrats like Brian Baird, it reduces the debt by $1.2 trillion in the second ten years. Apparently, the CBO says that the bill would reduce Medicare expenditures by about 1.4% per year, extending the solvency of the program by nine years. Thirty-two million Americans will be covered -- about 95% of all those eligible. The cost over decade one: $940 billion. The release today will help Speaker Nancy Pelosi fulfill her promise of providing 72 hours to review the bill before the vote, which is on tap for Sunday.
First union to endorse in Third District race says Meffert will stand up for workers
EDINA, MN - Today the Teamsters Local 120 announced their support of Jim Meffert for Congress in Minnesota's Third District, the seat currently held by first-term Republican Representative Erik Paulsen.
Meffert said, "One of the most important things we can do to help struggling Minnesota families is make sure every parent can count on a good job at a fair wage. The Teamsters are leaders in the fight to improve working conditions, create good local jobs and strengthen our economy. I am proud to have earned their endorsement, and I look forward to working with them as we prepare to win the Third District seat for working families."
"In Congress, I will fight for a real jobs bill that puts Minnesotans back to work," Meffert added. "We have billions of dollars of repairs that need be made on our roads and bridges. We can invest in new infrastructure like broadband lines and a 'smart' electrical grid. We know that we'll create 18,000 jobs for every $1 billion we spend on public infrastructure. I'll fight to make these investments, restart our economy and build a foundation for long-term growth."
The Teamster Local 120 is the largest Teamsters Local union in Minnesota and the fifth largest in North America. Their endorsement adds substantial volunteer and organizing capacity for Meffert, who is steadily gaining support in the race to win the DFL endorsement on April 10th.
Jim Meffert is running for Congress to help get Washington working for Minnesota families again. As a nonprofit leader, Meffert has fought to expand health care access and lower costs. As president of the Minnesota Parent Teacher Association, Meffert has stood up for students and teachers and fought to improve Minnesota's public schools. Meffert is seeking the DFL endorsement and has strong support among Third District party leaders and legislators.
A letter from Teamsters president Brad Slawson, Jr. said, "Teamsters Local 120 is proud to endorse Jim Meffert to represent Minnesota's Third Congressional District. From his support of pension protection to his endorsement of the Employee Free Choice Act, he has committed to working on behalf of the American middle class. The issues he has championed as a candidate prove that Local 120 members would strongly benefit from his representation in Washington, D.C."
Perhaps the Democratic members of Congress should declare defeat and go home to prepare for the 2012 elections. They have already given away so much that what else can matter?
Public option is now off the table as was impeachment, charging war criminals, universal health care and much of what could benefit the American people. That means that buried under all the good things in the Health Care Reform bill, there is a multi-billion dollar payoff for the insurance companies. The public option was but a baby step toward the ideal the rest of the civilized world enjoys, single payer universal health care. Citizens will be mandated to give money to insurance companies.
I've been thinking about the DFL endorsement battles, and the battle to get elected in general. It's what I do. I think about elections, and how to win them, and how to organize to win them(among other things, I think about music, good books, and long walks on the beach). We all know that it really is a battle sometimes, elections can be rough.
We, as members of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party have the same general outlook on the issues. We are a big tent, so there is a wide array of viewpoints, a wide array of ideas, and a wide array of how to implement those ideas that flow through the veins of the DFL. It's good to offer a strong defense of one's candidate. It's good to be excited about someone who you think can do all the things you want them to be able to do. But what else do our candidates really need from us and us from them?
I believe, as supporters, our candidates need us to ask them the hard questions, and to tell them the truth rather than painting a rosy picture if the horizon is darkening. Our candidates need us to ask them what they want from us, and we need them to ask for our help. We need to trust our candidates and their staffers' framework for the volunteer work that they ask of us. We need to know that they need us, and remember that they need us so that they can know about that particular thing (issue), or that particular person ("Tiffany, the DFLer from down the road?" "Yeah, she'd be a great volunteer! But don't call her on Tuesday until after 3pm.").
We're the candidates' local connection. Our candidates need us to be a mouthpiece (or keyboard, as it were), but our candidates need us to represent them in an honorable and non-politically damaging ways. I say this in particular to remind everyone that the internet can be unforgiving (there are snipers everywhere). Our candidates need us to listen, and our candidates need to let us in on their strategic thinking at least a little bit, (if we can be trusted (how do we measure that? I'm not sure.)) so that we can understand. We need to level with one another to understand what we want from each other. They need to set our expectations, and we need them to surpass ours. Our candidates need us to be able to think about the "big picture." Our candidates need us, uncommitted and committed alike, to tell our neighbors now why a DFLer is a better choice in a generic general election match-up in the fall.
After the endorsement/primary battle is over, our candidates need us all to work together again to make the phone calls, to walk and knock on those doors. Our candidates need us to come together and drink the wine of a united front rather than sipping on our sour grape juice alone in the corner. They need us, and the party needs us to go out and talk to our neighbors about why it is so important to vote in any election. They need us to help drop "off-year" from the presidential/occasional voter's vocabulary.
These are the things that we need from one another in order to ensure success.
(Somehow, I think Dusty might be bringing this up on the radio tonight, on AM950, at 6:00 pm.... - promoted by TwoPuttTommy)
I've got a bone to pick with Maureen Reed. Yesterday Maureen Reed's campaign sent out a really whiney email implying that people are trying to twist her campaign's record. I figured I should probably chime in, you know because I'm bored and whatnot.
In the email Reed sent out she says people are claiming that she'll run as an independent and corrects the record saying that she's running as a 'Proud DFLer'. Ok fine, she PREVIOUSLY ran as an independent and claims rather boldly that she can rally independents. The reality is that her 2006 run dramatically underperformed other independents who've run in CD6. I don't know who or what a Binkowski is, but it seems to know more about reaching independents in CD6 than Maureen Reed.
About that independent record of hers... It's probably the reason Tim Pawlenty is waltzing off into the 2012 Presidential campaign sunset right now. Sure T-Paw bested Mike Hatch by 21,108 votes, and much of the blame can be pinned on the Hatch campaign, BUT the 141,735 votes that Maureen Reed helped peel away certainly can't add much to her proud DFLer status. By my count that's 120,000 reasons for us to blame Maureen Reed for Pawlenty's re-election.
We are told by the US Senate "Leadership" and the White House that, "We don't have enough votes," to pass the public option. What? More Washington speak to cover loss of Congressional integrity.
Translated to human speak, "The insurance industry has purchased enough votes to block public option."
Some 70% of the American people want the public option, which is only a baby step toward what's needed, single payer universal health care. An important baby step.
About 25 senators (including our Al Franken - Amy is thinking about it) have signed the Bennett letter seeking a reconciliation solution. The Republicans are automatic no to anything. That leaves 44 Democrats siding with the insurance thugs.
What price? How many pieces of gold did it take for these 44 elected senators, sworn to uphold the Constitution, to defy the American people? Congress should publish a price list for legislation and forget the idea of democracy.
Despite being snowed in, today Congress is taking up a jobs bill in Washington. Just in time for Rep. John Kline to promote his vision for pulling Minnesota, and the rest of the nation, out of the current economic stall and into something resembling actual economic growth. So what is this vision for rebuilding the American economy, and thus, the American middle class?
Why, it's to do nothing. Of course.
Despite the fact that health care expenditures threaten to eat up nearly two-thirds of our national budget, Kline advocates hitting the pause button on health care reform. Despite the fact that our nation's military is strained to dangerous levels, Kline advocates against repealing the odious Don't Ask Don't Tell policy that prevents thousands of Americans from enlisting and serving openly. And when it comes to creating a domestic policy that would create jobs and rebuild crumbling infrastructure like with the Stimulus package, Kline's response has been to, you guessed it, do nothing.
Now Kline has taken that do nothing approach one step further, parroting protectionist talking points as he gears up for reelection. His most recent mailer praises his efforts at protecting Minnesota's economy and jobs. If he was really interested in protecting the economy he would be advocating strongly for health care reform--and meaningful reform that actually provides expansive coverage and meaningful cost control and consumer protection guarantees since rising health care costs are the single greatest threat to long-term sustainable economic recovery facing this state and the nation.
Tackling health care reform is also a great way to build jobs. Health care compliance, administration, and servicing is one of the fastest growing employment sectors both locally and nationally and even groups like UnitedHealth and Mayo acknowledge that reform efforts will likely require them to recruit and hire new employees. If Kline were truly interested in protecting Minnesota's economy he would be working towards enabling growth in our strongest, and most dependable industries like health care.
This do nothing, wait and see approach serves only one interest and that is not the welfare of Minnesota. It is the obstructionist agenda of the Republican party. So in a sense, Minnesota does need some protection--protection from the likes of John Kline.
While most of the focus for progressive health care reform fell on the now seemingly doomed Public Option, let us not furrow our brows in defeatism and relegate H.C.R to some errant Ask.com Most Overrated Topics Of 2009 list just yet. As a faithfully progressive Christian, I believe the federal budget should be seen as a moral document, and equality in healthcare access for our citizenry as a social imperative. The Senate HCR bill, while turning its bluedog back on the Public Option still calls for many groundbreaking changes to improve healthcare affordability and access to Americans, including:
consumer protections (such as prohibition of rate inflations based on pre-existing condition, gender and age)
more affordable coverage for workers coverage expansion (including expansion of Medicaid and aids/incentives for small-employer coverage)
more affordable coverage for seniors, particularly on prescription drugs
private healthcare cost containments
Don't those seem like progressive issues worth fighting for?
So, skip the wake and stay alert. View the AFL-CIO compiled breakdown of the comparisons between the House and Senate bills. And you can lobby Congress this Wednesday, January 13, by taking part in the AFL-CIO sponsored Call-In Day to help continue the fight for real H.C.R. reform. Call toll-free 1-877-3-AFL-CIO (1-877-323-5246) and urge your representative to vote for health reform that does not tax health care benefits, requires employers to pay their fair share, and reduces costs to individuals. And you can still ask for that Public Option, too. Sick, but not yet dead.
Using some straightforward statistical techniques, Nate Silver has analyzed, based on the PVI of Members' districts, who is most (and least) valuable to the Democratic caucus.
This is pretty simple, really. Note that the method does not account directly for a congressman's party. This is deliberate. It's not proper, for instance, to compare Stephanie Herseth-Sandlin, the moderate congresswoman from South Dakota, to a typical Democrat, or even a typical Democrat in a conservative district, because if she were to retire, we can't take for granted that a Democrat would replace her. In fact, in South Dakota, she would probably be replaced by a Republican. Is Herseth-Sandlin -- even though she breaks with her party somewhat frequently -- more valuable to the Democrats than a typical congressman from South Dakota would be? That's what we're trying to get at.
Really fascinating stuff -- Minnesota's Tim Walz just makes the list at #25, with an R+1 PVI in his district, but sticking with his Democratic colleagues on all the important votes in the analysis. As so many times before, Walz deserves kudos and support for his continuing good work in Washington and at home in his district.
If it's surprising not to see Collin Peterson on the Least Valuable list, remember that his district's PVI is pretty strongly Republican -- the point is to identify members whose districts are much bluer than their votes on important issues have been. Peterson has opposed his colleagues on some pretty important stuff, but he has a much better argument than Artur Davis or Parker Griffith that his votes match his district.
The other interesting thing to note here is the spread of Blue Dogs across both lists -- as with any group of political individuals, there are those who provide value, and those who subtract it. It's this kind of value analysis that, really, the DCCC could be doing to establish some under-the-radar defense targets. Simply put, the D-trip should not be asking for donations to defend members like the recently party-switched Griffith or Alabama's Bobby Bright, when they oppose every one of the party's priorities.
Tarryl Clark has pulled in another endorsement as she seeks to become the DFL nominee to face Michele Bachmann in the 2010 MN-06 race. This time it's Rep. Jim Oberstar (D-MN).
I'm proud to support my friend, Senator Tarryl Clark, in her campaign for Congress.
Tarryl is a seasoned, experienced legislator. She knows her district, and she knows central Minnesota. She knows the needs of the people of this area -- their economic needs, their transportation needs, and their community service needs. She knows how to work in a legislative environment, to work across party lines and to bring people together for a consensus to build a better future for us in Minnesota.
Tarryl is a winner-she's already won in this district. With your support, she will win this campaign and serve the people of Minnesota effectively.
We need Tarryl in Congress - and you can make sure she gets there. Please join me in supporting Tarryl Clark.
(tarrylclark.com)
For the past few years, I've been saying "GOP Now Stands For 'Greed Over Principles'."
Rep. Ed Markey, D-MA says differently. Let's look!!!
Markey: You know the G.O.P. used to stand for Grand Old Party. Now it stands for grandstand, oppose and pretend. They grandstand with phony claims about non-existent death panels. They oppose any real reform and with this substitute they pretend to offer a solution while really doing nothing. G.O.P.--grandstand, oppose and pretend and make no mistake about it the Republican substitute is not real reform. It does nothing to curb skyrocketing healthcare costs. It does nothing to provide real insurance coverage to millions who are now uninsured. It does nothing to stop the unfair practices of insurance companies. I urge my colleagues to vote no on the Republican do-nothing substitute.
Specifically, who might have Rep Markey been referring to, as a Grandstander, Opposer and Pretender"? Let's look!!!
I'll be short, I know you have a lot of work to do.
Later today you will be voting on H.R. 3962, the Affordable Health Care for America Act. Your college from Michigan, John Dingell, made a very compelling case to vote yes on the bill. Since 1957 Representative Dingell has worked tirelessly to provide quality healthcare coverage to all Americans. This is as important a bill as you will ever vote on. Reforming the healthcare system in America to provide care to all has been a core Democratic Party priority since President Harry Truman proposed universal health insurance nearly 64 years ago. But you both remain publicly undecided on this bill.
You are both great Democrats. You do Minnesota proud. You've got some concerns, some good, some bad. But this is the bill before you. It's a good bill. And today you have one of the biggest choices of your career to make. You will take a vote that will go down in history.
I have confidence that you'll do the right thing. Don't let Minnesota down.
I took a look at Tarryl Clark's FEC filing and found some interesting things. The 18 PACs who gave only make up $48K of the $308K she raised. That's only 15.5%. It also shows who believes enough in her to donate. Pretty decent list.
Keith Ellison
Jim Oberstar
Collin Peterson
Progressive Patriot's Fund
What's that you say? You don't recognize Progressive Patriot's Fund? That's Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI), one of our progressive heroes in the Senate. It's his leadership PAC. Here's what he said about his PAC.
"When we founded the Progressive Patriots Fund, we promised to support candidates and go around the country, playing a key role in the larger effort to build the Democratic Party throughout America," Feingold said. "The strides we made this cycle have been astounding and with the Democratic victories yesterday, we're one step closer to getting our country back on track."
...
"Throughout the country, we saw firsthand that people everywhere want a party that fights for health care for all Americans, works to protect and create jobs, takes the steps necessary to ensure fiscal responsibility, and does everything in their power to fight terrorism while also protecting our freedoms," Feingold said. "We believe in a 50-state strategy and although we came up short in a few races yesterday, we laid the groundwork for Democrats to win in the years to come. While many groups just targeted sure winners, we made sure to help candidates across the board. Some were a long shot but it wasn't that long ago that I was a long shot Senate candidate here in Wisconsin."
Together, we've supported causes and campaigns over the years, many of them near and dear to our hearts. But few campaigns present us with the opportunity to make as significant a change as in Minnesota's 6th Congressional District.
That's why I'm supporting Tarryl Clark in her campaign for Congress. And I hope you'll join me today.
I believe that Tarryl Clark can lead the 6th District in a new direction. She will unite us behind positive solutions - a stark change from the controversial comments and partisan rancor we've seen over the past few years. She will focus her time and efforts on listening to her constituents and turning ideas into action.
She's already done it here in Minnesota. Tarryl is a vigorous campaigner and a tireless leader in the Minnesota Senate.
As a community advocate and then as a State Senator, Tarryl has always stood up for Minnesota's working families. From raising the minimum wage to ensuring our seniors aren't scammed by predatory lenders; from ensuring access to early childhood education to investing in our state's treasured colleges and universities; from strengthening reintegration services for our returning veterans to building our transportation infrastructure, Tarryl has always fought for our families and our communities.
I'm proud to call Tarryl my friend, and I know that she will make a tremendous Member of Congress.
But to get there, she needs your support today.
I hope you will join me in supporting Tarryl's campaign for Congress. Your contribution of $250, $100, $50, or whatever you can afford will help ensure Tarryl's campaign is off to a strong start.
Minnesota has a long tradition of electing people with a deep-rooted belief in public service. Tarryl Clark will continue that tradition, and I ask you to join me in supporting her campaign.
Sincerely,
Walter F. Mondale
p.s. Tarryl's first fundraising deadline is tomorrow - September 30th. Please join me in supporting Tarryl's campaign and make your contribution today.
