September 09 ,2009
No matter how powerful Obama's speech is tonight, there are a number of reasons health care reform may not play out as progressives hope-- and one of them is Blue Dog Democratic leader, Senator Max Baucus, the Montana senator who runs the Senate Finance Committee and plays such a key role in health care reform.
The Baucus Caucus: Democratic Senator from Montana, Max Baucus
Perhaps the most noteworthy moment in yesterday's press briefing by White House press secretary Robert Gibbs was the casual revelation that the White House has yet to see the legislation being drafted by Baucus, but the powerful health insurance lobbyists on K Street already have.
The relevant exchange, in full:
Q: The Finance Committee -- well, actually, Senator Baucus's draft has been now bouncing around for a few days on Capitol Hill. First, has the President seen it, his outline?
MR. GIBBS: I don't believe anybody here has -- we've seen what we've read in the paper, but I do not believe that we've seen paper on the plan, no. I understand it's bouncing around on K Street, not surprisingly, but I have not seen it here.
Q: Has there been any direct consultations between anyone at the White House and Senator Baucus, or anyone in the Group of Six since this outline began being floated on Sunday?
MR. GIBBS: I don't know how far back that would go. We continue to talk to all the players involved. Obviously, you know Speaker Pelosi and Leader Reid will be here momentarily. So he's going to continue to talk all those involved.
Q: What did you just mean by it's "bouncing around K Street"?
MR. GIBBS: I was told that K Street had a copy of the Baucus plan, meaning, not surprisingly, the special interests have gotten a copy of the plan that I understand was given to committee members today. It wasn't cryptic.
Q: I mean, but who is that -- are you impugning somebody here? I mean, it sounded like you were impugning, like, "Well, K Street has it."
MR. GIBBS: K Street is normally where associations and lobbyists have their offices. I'm simply making a point to Chuck -- (laughter) -- that those people have gotten a copy of health care reform.
Q: And why is that?
Q: And you haven't?
Q: Is it Max Baucus gave it to them? Is it the other members of the committee gave it to them? What are you saying here?
MR. GIBBS: Call some of your lobbyist friends, Chuck. I don't know how -- we haven't seen what was I think dispersed today, or what I'm told was dispersed today.
Q: Are you saying K Street got it; you guys haven't?
MR. GIBBS: Not surprisingly, yes.
