Snowe's idle threat: will likely support filibuster.

[ProSense]

Snowe: I Do Not Support Opt Out Compromise, Would Likely Filibuster Public Option Bill

Brian Beutler

In a huddle with reporters moments ago, I asked Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME) for her thoughts on a public option compromise that would allow states to opt out of a national government insurance program, and her answer could slow down the proposal's considerable momentum.

"I don't support that," Snowe said.

Asked further whether she would participate in a filibuster on a bill with a public option, she went almost all the way.

"I've said, I'm against a public option...yes...it would be difficult" to support allowing the bill to proceed to a vote.

Snowe and other centrists say they'll withhold their support on a motion to proceed to the bill on the Senate floor (which will require 60 votes in and of itself) until the legislation is fully pieced together and the CBO has weighed in. She and other centrists want to ensure that the bill meets their specifications before it goes to the floor, so that they won't bear the burden of rounding up the 60 votes needed to change the legislation during debate.

I'm sure the Senators in the 60-strong Democratic caucus who will not vote for a bill that doesn't include a public option are shaking in their boots.

It works both ways: Reid can side with the majority of Senators and insert a public option in the bill and have the anti-public option crowd come up with 60 votes to remove it.

[TwilightGardener]

1. I am just supremely tired of this lady.

[Vincardog]

2. Note to Reid put the PO in and see it they have 60 votes to kill it

[Mass]

5. And tell your guys to vote for the motion to proceed.

[Vincardog]

15. Bingo tell the ConservaDems to vote like Democrats on the motion to proceed. They can vote their

donors wallets on the final vote when it does not matter.

[Mass]

3. First, he needs to keep his 60 senators in line in a vote for a motion to proceed.

If he can do that, Snowe's threat is weak, of course. But can we trust Lieberman to vote for the motion to proceed, and can we trust Reid to do the right thing.

[ProSense]

7. If Reid adds it to the bill on the floor

they need 60 votes to remove it.

[Mass]

8. You misunderstand me (and Snowe's threat). There will be a motion to proceed to bring the bill to

the floor. This motion needs 60 votes. It is the motion she is threatening to vote against.

Hopefully, no Democrats will be foolish enough to follow her example.

After that, if the PO is in the bill, they will need 60 vote to take it out, but the first step must be passed.

[AndyA]

4. Boot her butt to the curb.

What a flake. What's the percentage of voters in her state that want a public option? What needs to happen for this woman to represent her constituents instead of her failing party's "values"?

[Mass]

6. She is a Republican. What did you expect? The real question is why do Dems always fall for this.

[joeycola]

9. and why does the WH continue to bow to her?

[ProSense]

11. Elected Dems have not fallen for it.

Snowe is media hype. Rockefeller, Brown, Schumer, Harkin and others have basically said to hell with those who don't support a public option.

Harkin

“There are 52 solid Democrats for the public option,” said Senator Tom Harkin, the Iowa Democrat who is chairman of the health committee. “Only about five Democrats oppose it. Should the 52 give in to the five? Or should the five go along with the vast majority of the Democratic caucus?”

[Mass]

12. And were all complimenting her for her vote (even if her vote was clearly

inconsequential).

Now that it could be needed, she clearly bails out.

[ProSense]

13. Complimenting her for her vote is not the same as kowtowing to her

ROCKEFELLER: If - if we calculate so finely and so exquisitely, we’re going to lose our leadership and our momentum. And right now, yes, we did get her vote. As she said yes for this one, it doesn’t mean for the next round of votes.

But we can’t sort of hedge and say, what’s Olympia going to do. We’ve got to decide what we want. Now you’re on the whole floor with all Democrats participating, or you’re close to that point, and Harry has to speak for the whole caucus.

And, you know, there were 30 Democrats that signed a petition asking Harry for a public option. So, you know, it’s not bad.

And the other thing, Al, you have to consider is that the public option is not just about the public option. The public option is about two things. One is there has to be a counterweight to the malevolence of the insurance industry - there has to be, otherwise they’re just going to do what they’ve done for all of these years - you know, endless profits and no return. ]

link

[tularetom]

10. Her 15 minutes are just about over

I don't give a rats ass if she votes for the public option, supports a filibuster, winds her watch or eats a bug. She's a very annoying individual and not very bright. She needs to STFU and return to the obscurity which she so richly deserves.

[Botany]

14. don't talk about it ms. snowe do it

stand up against what 3/4 or more of what all americans want.

We don't need 60 votes we need 50 + 1 (Joe Biden) let 'em filibuster and kill off the republican party