As I noted earlier, Senate Finance Committee Democrats talked health care yesterday in what appears to have been a productive meeting. So productive, in fact, that Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-WV)–who has said he can’t support the bill–now says he’s “very” optimistic that the panel will pass legislation.
“The meeting we had last night helps me say that,” Rockefeller told the Washington Post‘s Ezra Klein.
Separately, Rockefeller said that Baucus has already begun making assurances to committee Democrats that their concerns will be addressed. “[I]t was the best meeting we’ve ever had with the chairman. He told me they’d make sure CHIP is preserved. He knows he needs our votes.”
Tipping his hand a bit, Rockefeller added, “That’s why I said I wouldn’t vote for the bill. Democrats need leverage.” He says he already has 25 amendments ready to go when hearings on the bill begin.
Rockefeller says that Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME) is under intense pressure from within her party to defect, but, as we’ve been noticing, she seems to be holding firm…at least for now.
