For weeks, ever since Scott Brown won the Massachusetts Senate race, we’ve been wondering what the next move on health care reform legislation would be. Now we know.
President Obama has summoned Democratic and Republican leaders to Blair House on February 25 for a half-day meeting to iron out their differences. And the whole thing will be broadcast on C-Span.
Well, pardon my lack of excitement, but I think the whole thing’s a waste of time.
Maybe that kind of meeting would have been helpful a year ago, but it’s too late now.
We know this gang of Republicans will agree on nothing. They’ve already said they want the president to scrap the whole bill and start over again. They want nothing but the status quo.
In my view, President Obama should forget about getting bipartisan support for health care. It’s not going to happen – and it’s only going to prolong the process.
Instead, he should focus on Democrats: Bang out the differences between the Senate and House bills – and ram it through the Senate, using reconciliation, with all Democratic votes.
Americans love Social Security, even though no Republicans voted for it.
Americans love Medicare, even though no Republicans voted for it.
And Americans will love universal health care, even if no Republican votes for it.
That’s my parting shot for today.
