Sen. Mary Landrieu said she will decide Thursday about whether to allow the health-care bill to get to the floor for debate in the Senate, according to Politico, effectively putting majority leader Harry Reid either one step closer or one step back to the 60 votes needed to surmount a Republican filibuster.
Regardless of which way she stands, it's sure to draw criticism for the senior Senator in Louisiana. If she votes to topple the filibuster it would anger Republicans in Louisiana, where the GOP has dominated statewide elections over the past couple elections; however, a vote against it would signal her out as one of the few -- perhaps the only -- Democrats to stand against the bill.
Landrieu told Politico that she has been concerned about three elements in the bill: that it drives down costs to small businesses and families, reduces cost for the government, and reforms the current system rather than adding in a public option.
"If we are not careful on this public option piece, you could eliminate private insurance. And that’s not what we want to do," Landrieu told Politico.
Landrieu said until she gets the projected numbers from the Congressional Budget Office, she's staying neutral on the bill. She said the initial reports of the CBO score are what she was expecting to hear. The article was written before the CBO announced the bill would cost $849 billion, so we'll have to wait to hear from Landrieu if that estimate sways her opinion one way or the other.
For a quick look at the numbers in the health-care bill, click here. According to the Wall Street Journal, the bill's cost is under Obama's $900 billion target ceiling, would cut the deficit by $127 billion over the decade, and it would cover 94 percent of Americans.
daphnola said on November 19, 2009 at 2:41 AM
EVERY MAJOR INUSTRIAL POWER ON THE PLANET , BUT THE UNITED STATES has national healthcare... Which is run by their doctors and hospitals NOT the government like the right wingers would have you believe..... The insurance companies and the POLITICIANS that the INSURANCE companies have in their pockets ....More than HALF OF ALL BANKRUPTCIES in America last year were due to healthcare costs ..... We have got to save our childrens children and so on ......We must stand up now so theyy wiill benefit .....
daphnola said on November 19, 2009 at 2:56 AM
I have always loved and VOTED for Mary Landrieu but lately shes acted like a REPUBLICAN once or twice, dont change MARY............. Remember the people you represent .....We need you , your strength , and your votes for our HEALTHCARE............PLEASE VOTE YES on the HEALTHCARE BILL ....thank you
annewahm said on November 19, 2009 at 6:22 AM
Sen. Landrieu we cannot afford this sham. It will NOT stop people from dying. That inflammatory claim is so ludicrous that not even the people spouting it believe it. What it will do is cause harm to those who already pay for they own health insurance by driving prices so high that we will all be forced to the waiting lines and inadequate care that government run health care will bring. The insurance industry must be changed, but changed for the BETTER. Harry Reid's plan hurts.
mrglockster said on November 19, 2009 at 9:26 AM
blame it on whitey and just vote hell no to all this communist think stuff.
belynda13 said on November 19, 2009 at 11:56 AM
Americans want commonsense, fiscally responsible healtcare REFORM. Not a Socialist takeover of our healtcare system!! The clowns in DC can't even get a letter delivered on time and people are willing to trust them with their lives? Just say NO to Nazi Nancy and her evil minions! B.
thugbuster said on November 19, 2009 at 5:03 PM
Hard decision for Mary. Blacks want all the freebies and whites do want to keep supporting and enabling the blacks with their never ending entitlements. Come on Mary we all know your political career is all tied to blacks, so you better vote yes for this health care fleecing. You wouldn't want to upset the black vote...........
biggyrat said on November 19, 2009 at 7:21 PM
...Does anyone really believe she will vote against the party...she is as liberal as they come...
doctorsaint said on November 20, 2009 at 10:52 AM
Anyone that's pro abortion then "humbly" receives communion in a Catholic Church has already pretty much established the fact that she is a blatant hypocrite. Will anything else she ever does surprise us? Don't hold your breath hoping she does the right thing. Her definition of the right thing is "whatever it takes to get the most votes".
cajuncafe said on November 20, 2009 at 11:53 AM
Too late she's already been bought and paid for by Harry Reid! Looks like she's porked up a lot too she she was sent to Washington.
nola7 said on November 20, 2009 at 5:04 PM
daphnola - you're a class #1 mor-on. Name 1 of those industrial powers you'd send either your Mom, Wife, Kids, Dad to for major surgery???? the fact is we already have a system to take care of those less fortunate. To your comments on the insurance co's - I know that's the latest liberal-democrat bandwagon but here's the fact, they only keep ~3% of their total revenue.... That still doesn';t give the government the right to bring out economy to its knees...further. I know you're so st_pid, you like the bait&switch from uncle Reid but for the rest of us - FREE thinking Americans, we know better.
stingray504 said on November 23, 2009 at 3:05 PM
Let's all join hands and close our eyes as they take one more step towards makng us slaves of the federal government.