Freedom Line Blog

From the chatter on the Internet and in the newsrooms you’d think Maine Senator Olympia Snowe’s vote in favor of the Baucus health care “reform” bill out of committee is newsworthy. According to the Associated Press, Snowe’s “Yes” turns a starkly divided blue-red, 13-10 vote into a 14-9 “bi-partisan” shocker. To wit:

But Snowe’s decision gave the vote a significance that transcends partisan divisions. For months, congressional Republicans have been virtually unanimous in denouncing the Democratic bills as an unwarranted expansion of government influence.”

So, even though “for months” congressional Republicans have been “virtually unanimous” in criticizing Democrats’ plans to overhaul American health care, one Senate Republican voting “aye,” constitutes a landmark in bi-partisanship?  Hardly.  Even Snowe acknowledges that she’s only voting for this version of the health care bill, and remains undecided about the inevitable modified version(s) still to be written. 

The real story here is how Snowe managed to dominate an event that would have had exactly the same effect had she been fly fishing today. Snowe’s vote isn’t about switching sides in a policy debate, or answering history’s call. It’s about solidifying her standing as a moderate to be negotiated with when Democrats need Republican cover for passing liberal legislation. Although Baucus failed to get a true bi-partisan bill out his committee, he did succeed in snaring a token R. One hopes an enterprising reporter at one of the Washington dailies will keep a close eye on the next few Appropriations bills to see how much Maine just benefited from its Senator selling her (qualified) support.

The Senate Finance Committee just approved Sen. Max Baucus’ version of health care “reform.”  The vote was 14-9, with all Democrats voting for the bill.  The only Republican voting for the bill was Olympia Snow (R-ME).

The bill will now be reconciled with the Health, Education, Labor, & Pensions (HELP) Committee bill.

Despite expressing “concerns” about the Baucus “health care reform” bill, Senator Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) announced she will vote “yes” today in the Senate Finance Committee.

The Senate Finance Committee will vote today on the latest version of health care “reform,” the Baucus Bill.  Senator Baucus is expected to strike the gavel around 10:00 am (EST), with a vote expected later in the afternoon.

Make sure to call your Senator and tell them to vote “No” on the Baucus Bill.  The Congressional Switchboard number is 202-224-3121.

Here are the members of the Finance Committee, Senators that could decide the fate of health care in the U.S.

• Max Baucus (D-MT)
• John D. Rockefeller (D-WV)
• Kent Conrad (D-ND)
• Jeff Bingaman (D-NM)
• John Kerry (D-MA)
• Blanche Lincoln (D-AR)
• Ron Wyden (D-OR)
• Charles Schumer (D-NY)
• Debbie Stabenow (D-MI)
• Maria Cantwell (D-WA)
• Bill Nelson (D-FL)
• Robert Menendez (D-NJ)
• Tom Carper (D-DE)

• Charles Grassley (R-IA)
• Orrin Hatch (R-UT)
• Olympia Snowe (R-ME)
• Jon Kyl (R-AZ)
• Jim Bunning (R-KY)
• Mike Crapo (R-ID)
• Pat Roberts (R-KS)
• John Ensign (R-NV)
• Mike Enzi (R-WY)
• John Cornyn (R-TX)

Rarely does Congress ever get anything right.  Two weeks ago, the Senate Finance Committee decided to hold a vote on the Baucus Bill before the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) had a chance to put a price tag on the legislation.

Well, today the committee has decided that it should wait at least 24 hours before voting on the bill, in order to allow the CBO a chance to examine the legislation.  Most of the senators still haven’t read the entire monstrosity, but at least they’ll know the price tag.