Harry Reid’s Hurdles

Although the London Summer Olympics are nearly three years away (Get your tickets now, it’s going to be crowded), it seems that Reid started early to perfect his high hurdle jump. With a number of key Senators from his own party standing in different places on the same issue, Reid must somehow appease each Senator’s concerns if he wishes to pass healthcare reform.  Though we will have to wait and see if he can win a political gold medal for his work on Capitol Hill, let’s consider some of the key obstacles to successful passage of a healthcare reform package… 

Joe Lieberman – Independent, Connecticut :  Out of the starting gates, one time Vice-Presidential nominee Joe Lieberman (D-CT) could prove to be the key hurdle for Senator Reid.  A registered Independent, Lieberman has voiced his strong opposition to the idea of a government-run insurance option – a plan Reid has vowed will be included in the Senate bill. While Lieberman has indicated support to open debate on the Senate floor, he has publicly stated he will not support a maneuver to end debate if major changes are not made – or, a filibuster threat. Still, Senator Reid, who remains in close contact with Lieberman, expressed he was “confident” they could reach a compromise.  Christopher Dodd (D-CT) on a morning talk show this past week ended a discussion on financial reform with the comment, “Joe’s going to support healthcare reform.”  We’ll wait and see…

Blanche Lincoln – Democrat, Arkansas : A key Senator who is up for reelection in 2010, Blanche Lincoln represents a strongly conservative state and is currently trailing in recent polling data . Seriously concerned about the overall cost of the healthcare reform package and whether or not the proposal will reduce the federal deficit, Lincoln has been opposed to a government-run insurance plan. Her vote is a crucial bellwether on whether or not the Senate will pass a healthcare, bill and just as importantly, her vote will no doubt play a crucial role in her upcoming campaign.  Lincoln has yet to decide how she will vote…

Ben Nelson – Democrat, Nebraska : A centrist Senator hailing from a mostly conservative state, Nelson has been a key skeptic on the need for a public option and the Democrat plan for striping the insurance industry of its antitrust exemption.  As a former insurance executive, his position should come as no surprise to Senator Reid who has recently shown a willingness to drop the provision in exchange for Nelson’s support.  But, Nelson’s commitment has not yet been stated…

Evan Bayh – Democrat, Indiana : The top concern for this moderate Senator has been the inclusion of a proposed tax on medical device manufacturers – a key industry in Indiana. While Reid has offered to strip the med-device tax from the final Senate bill, Bayh is also expressing concerns on the overall final projected costs of the proposal. Explaining that he will not announce his decision to vote without seeing the Congressional Budget Office estimate, Senator Bayh is more likely to support Reid’s bill than not...

And, in the wings there are the other moderate Democrats – Baucus (D-MT), Conrad (D-ND), Collins (D-ME), and others – who are playing less visible, but equally important, roles in the debate on the shape of the final healthcare reform bill.   Not to be forgotten are the more liberal wings of the Democrat party, including Schumer (D-NY), Rockefeller (D-WV), and others who continue to raise their concerns.  And, let’s not forget Olympia Snowe (D-ME) – after all, winter is now upon us, and it seems that all Democrats love snow these days…

So, while it is a bit difficult to envision how Reid will jump over all of these high hurdles, we should expect this seasoned politician, who was a boxer before he became a hurdler, will begin a series of horse trading and political arm-twisting – if not direct punches – to gain passage of the bill.  Let the games begin…

Kevin Fickenscher, MD

The views and opinions expressed herein are my own and do not necessarily represent the views and opinions of Dell Services or its affiliates.