(National Republican Senatorial Committee) – After several key Senators announced their opposition to Majority Leader Reid’s health care power play today, please see an on-the-record statement from the NRSC, as well as background information below:
“Harry Reid is learning first-hand the consequences of catering to liberal special interest groups instead of listening to your fellow Senators who are justifiably worried about the massive debt Congress is piling on this country. While Reid may have gained the political support of key left-wing voting constituencies by including the public option, his tone-deafness has led to resistance among members of his own political party and cost his health care legislation critical votes in the United States Senate.
“Over the last 24 hours we’ve seen first-hand why Harry Reid has some of the lowest poll numbers of any incumbent, in either party, facing re-election next year. He consistently pays more attention to the liberal special interests in Washington than to the interests of his constituents in Nevada.” – Brian Walsh, NRSC Spokesman
Reid Gains The Support Of Left-Wing Interest Groups:
“For Reid, It Was An Admission Of The Formidable Power Of Liberal Interest Groups. He Had Been The Target Of A Petition Drive And Other Forms Of Pressure To Bring The Public Option To The Floor, And Monday’s Move Made Him An Instant Hero On The Left. Americans United For Change Hailed Him For Refusing ‘To Buckle In The Face Of Withering Pressure From The Big Insurance Companies.’ Moveon.Org Admired His ‘Leadership In Standing Up To The Special Interests.’” (Dana Milbank, “Harry Reid, Shopping For Reelection Insurance,” The Washington Post, 10/27/09)
“Mr. Reid’s Decision Was Acclaimed By Liberal Organizations Like MoveOn, Families USA And Health Care For America Now, A Coalition That Includes Labor Unions And Civil Rights Groups.” (Robert Pear and David M. Herszenhorn, “Public Option Push in Senate Comes With Escape Hatch,” The New York Times, 10/27/09)
“Indeed, The Left Was Jubilant Monday. ‘We Haven’t Won Yet, Not By A Long Shot, But We’ve Passed A Big Milestone — We Have A Bill Going To The Senate Floor With A Public Health Insurance Option, Something The Pundits In Washington Predicted Would Never Happen,’ An Organizer For Health Care For America Now, A Liberal Group, Wrote In An E-Mail To Supporters.” (Carrie Budoff Brown, “Despite W.H. Worries, Reid Rolls Dice,” Politico, 10/26/09)
While Losing the Support of Key Swing Votes In The Senate:
Senator Joe Lieberman: “Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) said Tuesday that he’d back a GOP filibuster of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s health care reform bill. Lieberman, who caucuses with Democrats and is positioning himself as a fiscal hawk on the issue, said he opposes any health care bill that includes a government-run insurance program — even if it includes a provision allowing states to opt out of the program, as Reid’s has said the Senate bill will.” (Manu Raju, “Lieberman Says He’ll Filibuster Reid Plan,” Politico, 10/27/09)
Senator Olympia Snowe: “Maine Sen. Olympia Snowe says she would vote with fellow Republicans to block the Democratic health care overhaul if changes are not made to the version Majority Leader Harry Reid outlined this week. The Democrats will need 60 votes to get the bill past a threatened Republican filibuster, so Snowe’s vote would be crucial if Reid loses any of the chamber’s 58 Democrats and two independents.” (“Snowe Would Vote To Block Reid’s Health Care Bill,” The Associated Press, 10/27/09)
Senator Blanche Lincoln: “U.S. Sen. Blanche Lincoln says she’s reluctant to support health care legislation that would include a government-funded insurance option.” (“Lincoln Expresses Reluctance On Health Care Bill,” The Associated Press, 10/27/09)
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