Snowe Voted Yes Knowing the Trigger Won't Make It In The Final Bill

[berni_mccoy]

In fact, while the Trigger can't even be considered now, the PO has a real chance of being in the final bill.

Here's why the Trigger won't be there:

1. It's not in either the Senate Finance or HELP Committee bills and therefore can't be added in the merger.
2. If it does get added as an amendment, it will require 60 votes in the Senate to do so. There are not 60 votes for the Trigger.

These are all part of the Senate Rules and Snowe knows them well.

[redqueen]

1. I like how you keep pointing out these facts.

:)

[berni_mccoy]

2. Thanks redqueen.

:D

[gateley]

3. Well then I say good for her. I hate how she held us hostage (how the Dems

allowed her to do so), but she saw the writing on the wall and did the right thing. That's admirable.

Thanks for this!

[stray cat]

4. Some of your dems were the problem - thanks to Snowe as a repub for being a better dem

[gateley]

5. Agree. And thankfully in the end, ALL the Dems voted in favor. Some of that

partisanship that we're so used to seeing only from the Republicans.

[bobbolink]

8. "Our" Dems? Are you watching this from out of country?

[Eric J in MN]

6. The people writing the merged bill can put whatever they want in it. NT

NT

[berni_mccoy]

7. By Senate rules, they can not do that.

[Eric J in MN]

10. One bill has a public option and one doesn't.

What do the rules say to do in that situation?

[berni_mccoy]

11. The bills must be merged. But adding a new component like a trigger requires ammendment

And the rules are clear about amendments, how they are added in committee and on the floor. Merging an element from one bill to another is part of the process. Adding is a different one.

[jpak]

9. Snowe pulls another Snowe Job - don't be fooled - she's a Republican and will dance their tune.

just sayin'