http://liberalvaluesblog.com/?p=11030 Defending Liberty and Enlightened Thought Wed, 10 Feb 2010 01:46:53 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 http://liberalvaluesblog.com/?p=11030&cpage=1#comment-226739 Ron Chusid Tue, 10 Nov 2009 18:39:13 +0000 http://liberalvaluesblog.com/?p=11030#comment-226739 She is referring to the need for 60 votes to change the Senate bill while it is in the Senate--not the number of votes needed after reconciliation. She is referring to the need for 60 votes to change the Senate bill while it is in the Senate–not the number of votes needed after reconciliation.

]]> http://liberalvaluesblog.com/?p=11030&cpage=1#comment-226737 Eclectic Radical Tue, 10 Nov 2009 18:34:54 +0000 http://liberalvaluesblog.com/?p=11030#comment-226737 I'm skeptical of Boxer's claim that this Senate is 'much more pro-choice' than the House. The Progressive Caucus may not be the lever that turns the House, because of Blue Dogs and Republicans, but because it <strong>is</strong> the strongest single voting bloc in the House it is the fulcrum on which House votes turn. Liberal Democrats in the Senate do not have quite the same power as their House counterparts. The mood of the Senate leadership regarding bipartisanship and consensus has tended to undermine the power liberals do have.   I do think we're seeing a bit of a liberal Rennaissance in the Senate because of the Baucus bill and the debate over a public option, but I'm not sure this translates into a more 'Pro-Choice Senate.' I think a lot of the folks looking to see a public option passed are also looking to do what they feel they need to do to get it done.   I do think Senator Boxer is right that 60 votes aren't there. At the same time, I'm not as convinced as she is that 60 votes will be necessary if Stupak-Pitts is still in the House bill during reconciliation. There are some GOP Senators from New England who might vote for a public option in return for something like Stupak-Pitts.   I’m skeptical of Boxer’s claim that this Senate is ‘much more pro-choice’ than the House. The Progressive Caucus may not be the lever that turns the House, because of Blue Dogs and Republicans, but because it is the strongest single voting bloc in the House it is the fulcrum on which House votes turn. Liberal Democrats in the Senate do not have quite the same power as their House counterparts. The mood of the Senate leadership regarding bipartisanship and consensus has tended to undermine the power liberals do have.
 
I do think we’re seeing a bit of a liberal Rennaissance in the Senate because of the Baucus bill and the debate over a public option, but I’m not sure this translates into a more ‘Pro-Choice Senate.’ I think a lot of the folks looking to see a public option passed are also looking to do what they feel they need to do to get it done.
 
I do think Senator Boxer is right that 60 votes aren’t there. At the same time, I’m not as convinced as she is that 60 votes will be necessary if Stupak-Pitts is still in the House bill during reconciliation. There are some GOP Senators from New England who might vote for a public option in return for something like Stupak-Pitts.
 

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