Sen. Dick Durbin admitted today many of the speeches from his colleagues at the health care summit were old hat, and said that regardless of the outcome the Democratic leadership will forge ahead with passing legislation.
Durbin (D-IL) told reporters outside the White House that there were no surprises at the summit because “Working with these people for a long time, I could give some of their speeches and they could give mine.”
Tomorrow, leaders will get together and plot a way forward but he wouldn’t say if reconciliation would be the process used to pass the legislation.
“If nothing comes of this we’re going to press forward. We just can’t quit. This is a once in a political lifetime opportunity to deal with a health care system that is really unsustainable,” Durbin said. “We will sit down in leadership and if we have some helpful Republicans, this could be an easy assignment. But if not, it could be a little harder.”
He said while Obama is attempting to find basic common ground, it’s not clear any agreement is forming.
“I’m glad the president is trying, the American people want him to try to find some common ground … I hope we get it done,” Durbin said.
Durbin also seemed to suggest the public option is no longer part of the debate.
“We’ve kind of been through this battle in the Senate … and you lose a handful of Democratic votes on the public option,” Durbin told TPMDC who served as pool reporter for a brief portion of the day’s events.
Durbin said while he supports the public option, it’s not where the discussions are going.
