Reich -Why the Gang of Six is Deciding Health Care for Three Hundred Million of Us

Friday, August 21, 2009
Robert Reich's Blog
http://robertreich.blogspot.com/2009/08/why-gang-of-six-is-deciding-health-care.html

Last night, the so-called "gang of six" -- three Republican and three Democratic senators on the Senate Finance Committee -- met by conference call and, according to Senator Max Baucus, the committee's chair, reaffirmed their commitment "toward a bipartisan health-care reform bill" (read: less coverage and no public insurance option). The Washington Post reports that the senators shared tales from their home states, where some have been besieged by protesters angry about a potential government takeover of the nation's health care system.

It's come down to these six senators. The House has reported a bill as has another Senate committee, but all eyes are fixed on Senate Finance -- and on these three Dems and three Republicans, in particular. But who, exactly, anointed these six to decide the fate of the nation's health care?

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It's not even as if the gang represents America. The three Dems on the gang are from Montana, New Mexico, and North Dakota -- states that together account for just over 1 percent of Americans. The three Republicans are from Maine, Wyoming, and Iowa, which together account for 1.6 percent of the American population.

So, I repeat: Why has it come down to these six? Who anointed them? Apparently, the White House. At least that's what I'm repeatedly being told by sources both on the Hill and in the Administration. "The Finance Committee is where the action is. They'll tee-up the final bill," says someone who should know.

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2009_08/019581.php
The Political Animal
Steve Benen August 21,2009
GANG OF SIX LOOKING FOR SCISSORS

For most of the early summer, the political world waited on six members of the Senate Finance Committee -- centrists and center-right members from rural states -- to approve a bill. They couldn't. Members wanted more time, and got more time. It didn't matter. Hopes that the Senate might pass a measure before the August recess were dashed because the so-called Gang of Six wanted to negotiate some more.

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Late yesterday, the Gang of Six managed to connect over the phone. They reportedly raised the idea of moving the reform legislation even further to the right.

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At the risk of beating a dead horse, note that the only reason to "rein in the scope" of reform, and try to make the efforts much cheaper, would be to satisfy the demands of conservative Republicans -- the conservative Republicans who oppose health care reform, and who intend to vote against the bill anyway.