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Did Bill Clinton's visit sway any democratic senators on the issue of health care reform?
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Sen Ben Nelson believes that passing a bad bill is as politically dangerous as passing no bill
Former President Bill Clinton urged democratic senators to “pass something” or face losses in the next Congressional elections. Clinton’s comments came when he attended the weekly luncheon of the Democratic caucus.
Clinton’s invitation and the Republican response
Some senators seemed impressed by the presentation of the former President. Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) told reporters that Clinton made a very strong case for getting something done this year. Sen. Wyden is a member of the Senate Finance Committee which has produced one of the 2 major proposals for the Senate.
Read more about the Senate Finance Committee bill
New York’s Senator Charles Schumer reported that he felt the senators left the luncheon with the optimistic belief “we can get it done this year."
Moderate and conservative senators targeted
Resistance to the health care reform proposals is coming primarily from moderate and conservative Democrats who are alarmed at the prospective costs associated with the current bills.
Senators are not the only ones alarmed by prospective costs
Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) said Clinton told the lawmakers that they might not be able to get an ideal bill. He said Clinton urged them to “pass the best bill you can.” Sen. Nelson is the only Democratic Senator who has not voted to bring the a bill to the Senate Floor.
Will Clinton’s message be convincing?
It may be a good political message but not all the senators who are “on the fence” are facing reelection in the near future. In fact only 3 senators whose votes are not considered certain are up for reelection.
Important senators, like Ben Nelson, still have time before they have to run again. Nelson told reporters that while he agreed that Democrats should put together the best bill they can, he also believed that passing a bad bill would be just as much of a failure.
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