Reid on Senate Liberals choose public pressure

Aims Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) this week to secure the votes of moderate Democrats on Health Care Reform, a group of liberal Senators Monday without warning him to abandon the public-insurance option.

Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), who requested the meeting with Reid, said they believe that progressives are many options on the public - from Medicare-for each proposal to the Reid's proposal to create a plan to supply the national government for the state to opt out.

"Most of us in caucus as a strong choice public, supporting the way to Reid to make it," Brown said. "And we are confident that over time, as to broaden the debate and take us by amendment after amendment after this, we can get 60 votes."

He acknowledged various rates need convincing fashion, but said that little willingness among progressives back down.

The meeting served as another reminder that the public choice among Democrats through online. Even if Reid Able to convince mode rates, including Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) and Sen .. Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.), to vote with Democrats on a procedural motion debate to begin before, on the floor caucus to fight hard on the shape of the public plan.

A Senate aide said that plans to discuss health care bill passed by the procedural maneuver known as the reconciliation - a favored by progressive activists because it would enable the Democrats to circumvent the 60-vote filibuster threshold. Supports the majority of the Democratic caucus of the public choice, and only 51 Senators would be required to allow the reconciliation legislation.

But after the hour-long meeting, Senators rejected a report that discussed the reconciliation.

"You must talk to the majority leader," Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) Said.

Schumer said the meeting point was "very smple. A large number of members who feel very strongly about the public choice and how we can achieve. There is also among everyone in the room, and each person in the caucus we have a desire to get aa bill, so the question is how do you resolve their goals. "

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.), a moderate, present at the meeting as well, count reporters afterwards, that some compromise is necessary.

"They wanted to speak on the importance of the public choice to be in the bill, I understand," Baucus said. "But the biggest point that we must pass health care reform that hopefully by the end of this year. But we must pass it."

"I made the point that a child or 60 votes is a blessing and a curse," Baucus continued. "It is the curse side is difficult to obtain type 60. It is the blessing side of each person, each of the 60 Senators know that we must pass a health care reform. So there is not a strong driver to find that solution , to obtain a compromise to get some way to find a solution that bridges the gap between those who want to be strong with the public choice and the small Senators on the other side is not. There is always ways to get solutions here . "