Well, this is better than a kick in the teeth, though I’m sure that Rahm Emanuel,* will do his best to prevent either a vote, or an actual law for the creation of such an entity.
*But remember, the Cossacks work for the Czar.
Category: Congress
Are There Republican Moles in the Lay-Staff of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops?
I was listening to NPR this morning, and they were talking about the position of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops regarding healthcare reform and abortion.
Any time that anyone talks about their position, this morning, it was a law professor, the consensus is that the position of the Bishops is coming from somewhere in the Twilight Zone: There is simply no basis in realities of law, precedent, legislation, or the manner in which regulation is derived from statute to suggest the Senate language will allow for federal funding of abortion.
This raises an obvious question: Why does the professional staff of the Conference hold a position at such extreme odds with every lawyer, and almost every other Catholic organization out there, most recently the Catholic Health Association and 59,000 nuns?
The only answer that I can come up with is that the professional staff working in their offices have been captured by partisan Republican operatives.
Either there are Republican operatives working and generating legal and legislative opinions, or the staff has been browbeaten by the loud right wing lay activists, most notably Bill Donohue and his Catholic League, and so the staff is taking its talking points from Republican operatives.
In either case, it is clear that the staff is NOT providing competent or good faith advice.
Perhaps a look at the senior lay staff at the organization, and their backgrounds might be warranted by some news gathering organization. (I sent an earlier version of my theory to Josh Marshall, if you know of any other investigative organizations, please forward this to them.)
Note that I am not suggesting that the Bishops themselves are operating as partisan political operatives, simply that their staff may be operating as such.
The House Vote Can Occur Sunday
Because, as per Pelosi’s promise, there is 72 hours from the CBO report, and the unveiling of the bill, and when the vote is taken.
Well, the report is out: $1.3 trillion over the next 20 years.
Personally, I’m dubious, simply because either this is an end, which means that insurers find loopholes to screw us, or it’s a path to something more akin to European style healthcare, in which case, it gets a lot better.
In any case, it looks like a vote will occur after 2:00pm on Sunday.
Dennis Kucinich to Votefor Healthcare Bill
He announced it yesterday afternoon.
Of course, we haven’t seen the pressure that he got applied to the Blue Dogs, once again proving that you don’t count if you are a liberal.
Your Moment of Schadenfreude
Because I love it when Rachel takes someone down hard
J.D. Hayworth was defeated in 2006 largely because he was one of the most, if not the most, compromised candidates by his ties to Jack Abramhoff.
Well, now he’s on Maddow, and claiming that John McCain’s investigations of the Abramhoff affair in 2004 exonerated him.
What actually happened was that McCain did his best to cover up all the dirt in 2004, because he wanted to run for President in 2008, which meant getting the Republican nomination.
So, now that Hayworth has had his ass kept out of jail by McCain, Hayworth is running a scorched earth primary challenge against him.
Heh.
BTW, Dennis G. at Balloon Juice has the full story, and McCain’s cover-up is a remarkably sordid tale.
Heh.
I wonder when McCain starts leaking stuff from his files tot he press about this.
Heh. Heh.
Breaking: Pelosi Says Dems Have the Votes
I think that the bill really sucks, though not as much as the status quo, and I doubt the “Camel’s nose under the tent” argument, but still from a purely political calculus, this is good news.
I just hope that she’s twisted Blue Dog arms hard, they always seem to the carrot, and never the stick.
Who Says That Irony is Dead
David Malpass, a former Bear Stearns economist is running for US Senate seat from New York against Kirsten Gillibrand.
I guess that he had to run, because serial killer Theodore Bundy is dead.
What is his pitch? That, “We need jobs and growth,” and that taxes are too high.
Seriously dude, you used to work for Bear Stearns. The idea that you are going to somehow create jobs, when you were at the epicenter of an epic collapse that you were in part responsible for is simply ludicrous, but he finishes up with this:
We need financial reform legislation but one that gets us toward more jobs and growth, not one that gets us toward more Washington
Does he really think that the voters are stupid enough to hand him the keys to financial reform?
You know, a campaign slogan of, “I know how to stop crime, because I was a criminal,” might sell in Louisiana, but not in New York.
H/t Americablog.
Dodd’s Bill Is Out, and I Think It’s A Sellout, but ………
You see, it places the Consumer Financial Protection Agency (CFPA) in the Federal Reserve, which means that a small regulatory firm intended to defend the consumer is in a really big organization that is intended to defend banks.
Remember: Consumer protection was the Fed’s bailiwick in the run up to the, so this clearly appears to be a sell out, only, as an equally confused Paul Krugman notes:
…But here’s my puzzle: the bill, as I understand it, calls for an independent Consumer Protection Agency, with a director directly appointed by the president, but one that is “housed” at the Fed.
………
Does it mean that the staff will all be long-term Fed employees? Then that would, to at least some degree, compromise the agency’s independence. Or is it purely a cosmetic issue? If so, who exactly is being diverted?
I’m not prejudging this — there’s a lot to look at. But I’m puzzled.
What it does have is:
- The Volker Rule.
- The ability to sue credit ratings agencies.
- He is insisting that the bureau (downgraded from agency) would be, “Autonomous from the Fed,” and just co-located.
- Resolution authority for large institutions.
I think that the real question here is two fold, transparency and independence.
As to transparency, the question is whether Freedom of Information Act laws apply to this organization as they do to other regulatory institutions, or is it a paranoid secret black hole like the Federal Reserve.
As to independence, the question is whether it gets to, under the limitations of civil service regulations, hire its own staff, and draw up its own budget.
If it does not have this authority, it is a paper tiger.
Alan Grayson Remains on My List of People that you Do Not Want to Piss Off
Once Again, Alan Grayson shows why he is on this list, with his response via press release to Sarah Palin.
It’s a PR, so I can quote it in full, and it’s brilliant so I will quote it in full:
On Friday night, Sarah Palin came to Orlando, and attacked Rep. Alan Grayson. This is what she said:
“I got to meet quite a few candidates who are lining up in a contested primary who want to take out Alan Grayson. And I think Alan Grayson — what can you say about Alan Grayson? Piper is with me tonight, so I won’t say anything about Alan Grayson that can’t be said around children. [Good one, Sarah!] But thank you, Florida, for allowing candidates in a contested primary to duke it out over ideas and principles and values, all with the same goal, and that is unseating those who have such a disconnect from the people of America. That’s what the goal is here in this race against Alan Grayson. Please fight hard, and do this for the rest of the country. Fight hard, and send a conservative to Washington, DC.”
Palin, the former half-term Governor, current-nothing and future-even-less, charmed the all-Republican audience with her folksy folksiness and her homespun homespunnery. Atypically, Palin was wearing clothes that she had paid for herself. At the end of the event, she shared her recipe for mooseface pie.
In response to Palin’s attack on Rep Grayson, Grayson actually complimented Palin. Grayson praised Palin for having a hand large enough to fit Grayson’s entire name on it. He thanked Palin for alleviating the growing shortage of platitudes in Central Florida. Grayson added that Palin deserved credit for getting through the entire hour-long program without quitting. Grayson also said that Palin really had mastered Palin’s imitation of Tina Fey imitating Palin. Grayson observed that Palin is the most-intelligent leader that the Republican Party has produced since George W. Bush.
When asked to comment about what effect Palin’s criticism might have, Grayson pointed out, “As the Knave’s horse says in Alice in Wonderland, ‘dogs will believe anything.'” Earlier, as the Orlando Sentinel reported, Grayson said, “I’m sure Palin knows all about politics in Central Florida, since from her porch she can see Winter Park,” which is part of Grayson’s district.
Grayson said that the Alaskan chillbilly was welcome to return to Central Florida anytime, as long as she brings lots of money with her, and spends it. “I look forward to an honest debate with Governor Palin on the issues, in the unlikely event that she ever learns anything about them,” Grayson added, alluding to Politifact’s “liar, liar, pants on fire” evaluation of much of what Palin has said .
Scientists are studying Sarah Palin’s travel between Alaska and Florida carefully. They hope to learn more about the flight patterns of that elusive migratory species, the wild Alaskan dingbat.
Let’s be clear here: I don’t think that every Democratic office holder or candidate talk this way, but I think that it is essential for some Democratic office holders or candidates to talk this way.
A New Candidate That I Endorse
Connie Saltonstall, who is running against Bart Stupack in the primary in MI-1.
What can I say, she is not a Nearderthal on abortion, and she didn’t get subsidised rent from the Christofascists known as the family, so she is now on Matthew Saroff’s Act Blue Page.
The Next Senator from Illinois Will Be a Republican
First, the Dems nominated a guy, Alexi Giannoulias, whose family made its money from the dodgy Broadway Bank, and he was its loan officer during the bubble years.
And now, we have this:
Boston Blackie’s owner hit with bank fraud charges
Nick Giannis a big financial supporter of Alexi Giannoulias
March 11, 2010
By RUMMANA HUSSAIN, ABDON M. PALLASCH and FRANK MAIN Staff ReportersOn the same day Senate hopeful Alexi Giannoulias tried to shift the spotlight off his family’s struggling bank and onto his opponent’s bank ties, police arrested a major Giannoulias contributor and customer of the family bank as he tried to flee the country ahead of check-kiting charges.
Nick Giannis, owner of the Boston Blackie’s restaurant chain, was caught at the Canadian border with his Greek passport as he was being driven by a man believed to be an employee, sources said.
And it should be noted that one of the reasons that he got the Democratic nomination was that he is a close friend, a basketball buddy, of Barack Obama, though there was not, to the best of my knowledge any endorsement made during the primary.
He’s Just Not That Into You
It looks like Democrat Chris Dodd has dumped Republican Bob Corker in his efforts to create financial reform, and has announced that he will be releasing a Corker-less proposal on Monday:
Senate Banking Committee Chairman Christopher Dodd said he will release his version of legislation to overhaul financial rules, signaling that talks on a compromise with Republican Bob Corker have collapsed.
Dodd, a Connecticut Democrat who had been negotiating with Corker since last month, will release his proposal March 15 and hold a committee meeting to consider changes in two weeks, according to a statement released today.
“I have been fortunate to have a strong partner in Senator Corker and my new proposal will reflect his input and the good work done by many of our colleagues,” Dodd said. “Our talks will continue and it is still our hope to come to agreement on a strong bill all of the Senate can be proud to support.”
Note that he did not mention Richard Shelby, the ranking Republican on the committee, which I think was a deliberate snub; Shelby refused to do anything even approaching good faith.
I am not certain of the dynamics.
It could be that he realized that Corker was actually just trying to delay, that there were unbridgeable differences, or that the recent stories on how Bob Corker was doing the bidding of his campaign donor payday lenders skeeved him out.
My guess is that, at it’s core, Dodd did not want to spend any more time making the bill worse for just one Republican vote.
Senate Majority Leader’s Wife & Daughter in Accident
They were rear ended by a semi-truck, and the injuries are described as serious but not life threatening:
Both Reid-Barringer and Reid were wearing seatbelts and were transported to Inova Fairfax Hospital in Falls Church. The driver of a 1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee and the driver of a 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt, also involved in the crash, were transported to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
“Mrs. Reid has a broken nose, broken back and broken neck. Lana has a neck injury and facial lacerations. Both Mrs. Reid and Lana are conscious, can feel their extremities, and according to doctors their injuries are non-life threatening,” Jon Summers, a spokesman for Sen. Reid (D-Nev.), said in a statement late Thursday afternoon.
One note here: Wear your damn seatbelts.
But Note: Strident Does not Mean Crazy
Case in point, Alan Grayson, and his Public Option Act, which require the Secretary of HHS to set up a medicare buy-in at cost.
It’s only 4 pages long, and I’d love to see it hit the floor, because it would seriously jam-up the ‘Phants and the Blue Dogs.
H/t C&L.
Full press release after break.
GRAYSON INTRODUCES PUBLIC OPTION ACT
Bill Opens Up Medicare To Anyone Who Can Pay For ItMarch 9, 2010
Washington, DC
Congressman Alan Grayson, D-Fla., today introduced a bill (H.R. 4789) which would give the option to buy into Medicare to every citizen of the United States. The “Public Option Act,” also known as the “Medicare You Can Buy Into Act,” would open up the Medicare network to anyone who can pay for it.
Congressman Grayson said, “Obviously, America wants and needs more competition in health coverage, and a public option offers that. But it’s just as important that we offer people not just another choice, but another kind of choice. A lot of people don’t want to be at the mercy of greedy insurance companies that will make money by denying them the care that they need to stay healthy, or to stay alive. We deserve to have a real alternative.”
The bill would require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish enrollment periods, coverage guidelines, and premiums for the program. Because premiums would be equal to cost, the program would pay for itself.
“The government spent billions of dollars creating a Medicare network of providers that is only open to one-eighth of the population. That’s like saying, ‘Only people 65 and over can use federal highways.’ It is a waste of a very valuable resource and it is not fair. This idea is simple, it makes sense, and it deserves an up-or-down vote,” Congressman Grayson said.
In keeping with the “Grayson style,” the bill is clear and concise. It is only four pages. You can read the bill here.
OK, Eric Massa is Nuts
OK, look at the video, and it’s clear that this guy has some very real problems.
That being said, Massa’s vote against the House healthcare bill was from the left, he felt that it was too weak, and so the idea that the Obama administration in general, and Rahm Emanuel in particular, might have a personal interest in taking him down.
There is nothing more than Rahm likes than cock punching DFH’s,* and so I am reasonably certain that he’s high-fiving over this development, but the talk of a conspiracy I is premature.
I can see how Rahm might be inclined to do this, I just don’t think that he did.
As I have said before, I think that too many Dems remember the Mark Foley, and when this came up, the Democratic leadership did the smart thing.
*Dirty F%$#ing Hippies.
OK, This is Freaky
So, Eric Massa (D-NY-29) will resign Monday, following an ethics investigation regarding sexual harassment of a male staffer. He claims that it was simply, “Salty language,” and that the main reason was his diagnosis of Cancer, but this is decidedly odd.
One of the odd things here is that his resignation makes passing healthcare reform easier, because he is a conservative, though not officially a Blue Dog, Democrat, who voted against healthcare reform the first time around, so his exit removes a “no” vote.
I May Have Been Premature Condemning Dodd
Christopher Dodd is saying that putting an emasculated CFPA inside the Federal Reserve is not a done deal.
Background here.
OK, This is Weird
I’m a big fan of Alan Grayson, the Democratic Congressman from Florida’s 8th district; he is intelligent, fearless, and takes moral stands that resonate with the voters.
Needless to say, the Republicans want him gone, and they are looking to take him down in what is a fairly closely divided district.
Well, they may find this difficult, because the latest poll shows Alan Grayson beating all challengers in the Republican primary:
Republicans like a politician who stands up for what he believes — even if he believes the Republican Party is populated by a bunch of “knuckle-dragging Neanderthals.”
The candidate leading the Florida GOP primary to determine who will take on Rep. Alan Grayson, the Democrat who represents the Orlando-based district, is none other than Grayson himself, according to a poll paid for by his campaign. Grayson is a freshman congressman who has drawn scorn from the GOP and has quickly built a nationwide following of progressives.
The poll has Grayson leading the 13 Republicans — among Republicans — with 27.8 percent of the vote. The congressman who mocked the GOP health care plan by saying that it amounts to telling people not to get sick and if they do, to die quickly, received more support than all of the Republican candidates combined.
I have always said that American voters respect a politician who says what he thinks, even if he says that he thinks that you are a c%$#sucker, and here we have documentary evidence.
Worst of All Possible Worlds
Charlie Rangel taking a temporary leave from his position as Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee.
While it’s unlikely that he will be back, and he does have ethical issues, the Democrats have split the baby again.
They could have faced down the Republicans, and maybe dug up a few of the skeletons in their closets, or they could have stripped him of his committee chairmanship, but by allowing the fig leaf of a temporary leave, they both knuckle under and leave the issue on the table for Republicans to talk about.
Worst of all possible worlds.
Better to be Lucky than Good
Harry Reid (D-NV) is polling almost as badly as Blanche Lincoln, but it appears that hi might win because a Tea-Bagger candidate will split the anti-Harry vote:
The race is expected to include at least one Tea Party candidate, Las Vegas business leader Scott Ashjian. And there’s evidence in the Mason-Dixon poll that Reid would benefit, should Ashjian become a serious third candidate in the race (which is a big if). The pollster pitted Reid against a nameless Republican and a nameless Tea Party candidate in a hypothetical matchup. Asked how they’d vote, Nevadans gave Reid a slight edge in three-way race. Reid got 36% of the vote, the GOP candidate 32% and the Tea Party candidate 18%.
I figure that Reid will pick up a few percent on the way to November, and that the Tea-Bagger will fall in the polls, so it gets interesting.