December 15th, 2009

Philadelphia Inq Reports:

With no votes to spare, the idea raised doubt among some Democrats as well as the GOP.

WASHINGTON – Senate Democratic leaders appeared poised last night to abandon efforts to create a government-run insurance safety net in their push for a health-care overhaul, as they attempted to close ranks around a bill they hoped would win the backing of all 60 members of their caucus.

Democratic negotiators had already disappointed liberal lawmakers by jettisoning a full-fledged public insurance plan a week earlier. Last night, party leaders conceded that the compromise they crafted to replace the public option – which included a proposal allowing people as young as 55 to buy into Medicare – also did not have sufficient support from Democratic moderates to overcome a likely Republican filibuster.

Majority Leader Harry Reid (D., Nev.), after consulting with senior White House officials, rallied his caucus in a closed-door meeting, reminding senators that there was broad consensus behind most of the provisions in the $848 billion package and warning them of the consequences of not passing a bill before the end of the year.

“Democrats are not going to let the American people down,” he said after the meeting. “I am confident that by next week, we will be on our way to final passage.”

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