From The Hotline for Thursday, Oct. 8, 2009

How Soon Is Now?

Thursday, Oct. 8, 2009


While all eyes may be on Baucus and Reid today, the pressure is ultimately on Pelosi. Just how many more tough votes can the vulnerable members of her caucus take?

--The CBO's (preliminary) seal of approval boosts Baucus' chances of getting a "bipartisan" vote on his health-care bill. Combine this w/a growing cast of ex-GOPers supporting reform and this a.m.'s stock slide for big HMOs, and it's clear the Hill and Wall Street see something passing this year.

-- The biggest hurdle for Baucus: To keep a final bill as close to the cmte version as possible. The report comes at the same time that House Dem liberals claim to be closing in on 218 votes for a "robust" public option. Will those calls grow weaker now that the writing's on the wall for a Finance plan? Given the efforts liberals have thrown into getting a public option in the final bill, however, it seems hard to believe they'll back down now.

-- Meanwhile, the House voted to allow Rangel to keep his gavel - but for how long? The Dem House majority was built on the backs of men named Abramoff, Foley and DeLay. So doesn't Pelosi have to take his gavel away if the ethics cmte finds impropriety? Also, if Rangel is out, next in line is Pete Stark; not exactly a stranger to controversy.

--For Pelosi, keeping liberals happy - whether on health care or cmte assignments - while not making moderate Dems feel any more vulnerable in '10, has become an increasingly difficult balancing act.

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