STUPID SENATE TRICKS--The Sen. Max Baucus Edition

In one small comment, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Chairman Max Baucus confirmed what opponents of the Obamacare bill have been saying all along; the Democrats don't care about getting input from anybody outside their shrinking network of supporters, they just want to ram through Government Control of health as soon as they can.

Witness this exchange from this morning:

Sen. Max Baucus, who chairs the Finance Committee, and is anxious to pass a bill on to the Senate floor as soon as possible so that Democrats can enact health reform this year, cut off Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz, the number two Republican in the Senate, accusing him of delaying and called for a vote on an amendment – one of more than 500 that have been offered to the bill - after 45 minutes of debate.

"I am not delaying. I am making an extremely important point," Kyl shot back.

"I don’t dispute that it is a good point, but it’s also delaying," said Baucus.

 Its a good point but he doesn't want to discuss it because it is delaying? That has to be one of the dumbest things I have ever heard come out of a Senator's mouth. And the amendment that Baucus was rushing to vote down...health care protection for seniors:

The amendment in question would have barred full implementation of the health care reform bill if it were apparent that up to a million seniors enrolled in private Medicare Advantage insurance programs could be shown to lose some of their benefits under the legislation.

..."Millions will lose coverage because of this bill," said Sen. Orrin Hatch.

Baucus, countered Hatch that seniors will lose more benefits without reform. The current system, he said is unsustainable, and opposing his bill is the same as a vote for "the status quo." He complained that Republicans do not have a serious, comprehensive alternative.

"Its correct, you won't see a Comprehensive GOP bill and there’s a good reason for that," said Sen. John Kyl, a while later in the midst of a lengthy speech.  "We don't believe in a massive government takeover!" he said, raising his voice.

At issue are the two main Republican gripes with the bill – First, that it cut costs in Medicare by scaling back payments to a program utilized by 10 million seniors – Medicare Advantage, which distributes public Medicare benefits through private companies. And second, that even the more moderate health reform bill envisioned by Democrats on the Finance Committee, would represent a massive government takeover of the health care industry.

 Not only do these guys have a lack of compassion for the people who the plan will hurt, but even worse is that they truly believe that only the progressive wing of Democratic party can provide any answers. It is that Hubris that will end up leading toward their defeat.