If there is any question that Sen. Lieberman wields power over the national debate on health care, you need to look no further than the latest headlines.
The White House wants Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to make a deal with Lieberman, an official close to negotiations told Politico. A deal could kill a proposal to expand Medicare. Politico is quoting an official close to negotiations.
White House Communications Director Dan Pfeiffer has denied that, Ben Smith reports in his Politico blog.
This latest, albeit contradicting information, comes the day after, Lieberman went on CBS’ "Face the Nation" and threatened to join Republicans in opposing health care legislation if it allows uninsured individuals as young to 55 to purchase Medicare coverage.
The Medicare proposal was offered as a compromise to the public option, Politico reports, the proposal that also drew Lieberman's ire.
Reid, Politico reports, is frustrated with Lieberman and has called a special Democratic caucus meeting at 5:30 p.m. on Monday.
Lieberman spoke out twice on Sunday about the elements of the legislation he opposes. First, in an interview he gave to CBS’ "Face the Nation."
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"Though I don't know exactly what's in it, from what I hear, I certainly would have a hard time voting for it because it has some of the same infirmities that the public option did,” Lieberman said of the Medicare proposal on CBS.
Later, he more strongly spoke out in a private meeting with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. Democratic aides, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Lieberman told Reid he would support a Republican-led filibuster against the bill if it contained those provisions.
“On Friday, Sen. Lieberman told Sen. Reid that he had problems with the Medicare buy-in proposal,” Marshall Wittmann, a spokesman for Lieberman told Politico. “Sen. Lieberman affirmed that position with Sen. Reid (Sunday).”
Reid hopes to pass the legislation by Christmas and needs 60 votes to overcome Republican objections. He has been counting on Lieberman to provide one of those 60.
Last week, the aides said, Lieberman had responded differently last week when Reid asked him privately about the proposed Medicare provision and he supported it.
Lieberman says he did not flip-flop to oppose the expansion of Medicare as part of health care legislation, as Democratic leaders struggled to get President Barack Obama's top domestic initiative on track for passage by Christmas.
"Contrary to the claims of anonymous aides, Senator Lieberman told (Majority Leader Harry) Reid on Friday that he had problems with the Medicare provision," said Wittman, a spokesman for the Connecticut Independent.
"This position was also told to negotiators earlier in the week. Consequently, Senator Lieberman's position came as no surprise to the Democratic leadership. Any contrary charge by aides who cowardly seek to hide under the cloak of anonymity is false and self-serving," he added.
On Tuesday, members of the political action group MoveOn.org plan to rally outside Lieberman's Hartford office.
