President Clinton tells Senate Dems clock ticking on healthcare
By J. Taylor Rushing - 11/10/09 02:15 PM ET
Former President Bill Clinton on Tuesday used his hourlong lunch with Senate Democrats to push for a healthcare bill this year instead of punting the issue to 2010.
Democrats say Clinton explained his missteps during the 1993 debate, avoided specifics such as urging a public option plan and zeroed in on the need for quick action.
"He focused on the importance of this year," said Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.). "There is a sense that the clock is ticking."
Another Democrat who spoke on condition of anonymity said Clinton stressed quick action and that "the perfect is the enemy of the good."
Clinton also was frank about his failure to pass healthcare during his presidency, added a third senator. Specifically, Clinton said he did not adequately explain to the public the impact of Senate filibusters and the need for reform. The former president later urged Democrats to educate the public about how their wages are impacted by the lack of reform.
One key difference Clinton told Democrats between 1993 and 2009, senators said: Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus wants a bill, while former Chairman Daniel Patrick Moynihan did not.
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http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/67197-clinton-spoke-of-necessity-in-meeting-with-senate-dems
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