Senate Democrats who thought they had found a workable compromise on health care reform learned otherwise from independent Sen. Joe Lieberman over the weekend.
The Connecticut senator, whose vote is critical to the bill’s prospects, threatened Sunday to join Republicans in opposing health care legislation if it permits uninsured individuals as young to 55 to purchase Medicare coverage.
Lieberman expressed his opposition twice Sunday: first in an interview with CBS, and more strongly later, according to Democratic officials, in a private meeting with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.
Reid, who is hoping to pass the legislation by Christmas, needs 60 votes to overcome Republican objections and has been counting on Lieberman to provide one.
But appearing on CBS, Lieberman said of the Medicare proposal, “Though I don’t know exactly what’s in it, from what I hear, I certainly would have a hard time voting for it because it has some of the same infirmities that the public option did.
“It will add taxpayer costs. It will add to the deficit. It’s unnecessary,” he added of a provision that Reid last week hailed as part of a breakthrough between liberals and moderates.
Democratic aides, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Lieberman later told Reid he would support a Republican-led filibuster against the bill if it contained the Medicare provision or permitted the government to sell insurance in competition with private companies.
The same aides added that Lieberman had responded differently last week when Reid asked him privately about the proposed Medicare provision. “He voiced support for the idea,” said one official. Lieberman’s public comments last week were also generally favorable. The aides spoke on condition of anonymity, saying they were not authorized to comment publicly.
In an interview that aired Sunday night — but was recorded last week — President Barack Obama voiced optimism about his call for sweeping legislation to expand coverage while cracking down on the insurance industry.
“I think it’s going to pass out of the Senate before Christmas,” he told CBS’ “60 Minutes.”
Republicans say that’s unlikely. (AP)
