Chairmen Insist on Public Plan Blue Dogs Remain Opposed
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VOL. 54, NO. 143 WEDNESDAY, JUNE 10, 2009 $3.75 Chairmen Insist On Public Plan Blue Dogs Remain Opposed By Steven T. Dennis and Tory Newmyer ROLL CALL STAFF House Democratic chairmen plan to disregard conservative Blue Dogs who are opposing a government-sponsored health in- surance plan as part of a sweeping reform bill, in what is shaping up to be the biggest internal battle of President Barack Obama’s young agenda. Just days after Blue Dogs insist- ed that no public option be includ- Bill Clark/Roll Call ed in the package — except as a Sen. Chris Dodd, seen at a news conference Tuesday on the impact of high health costs, is right in possible fallback that could be the middle of issues at the top of the Congressional agenda — and he faces a tough re-election fight. “triggered” years from now — the File Photo powerful chairmen unveiled a draft Rep. Charlie Rangel: “We’re bill that strongly backs a public op- going to have a public plan.” Dodd Juggles Triple Challenge tion without such a trigger. “There won’t be any considera- of writing the bill — Rangel, En- By David M. Drucker Housing and Urban Affairs chair- tion of the trigger,” Ways and ergy and Commerce Chairman and Emily Pierce K Street has mixed views of man, but he also is acting as a stand- Means Chairman Charlie Rangel Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) and ROLL CALL STAFF health proposal, p. 9. in for an ailing Health, Education, (D-N.Y.) said. “We’re going to Education and Labor Chairman President Barack Obama’s am- Labor and Pensions Chairman Ed- have a public plan and we’re not George Miller (D-Calif.) — re- bitious goals of rewriting the books thin Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) ward Kennedy (D-Mass.). Com- going to wait two, three, five years leased a four-page outline of their on health care and financial mar- can spread himself. plicating his day job further, the to see what happens and then trig- bill Tuesday that includes a public ket regulation by year’s end appear Not only does Dodd wield the Connecticut Democrat is facing ger it. We’re going to have a plan.” health insurance plan. increasingly dependent on how gavel as the Senate Banking, See DODD, page 24 The liberal chairmen in charge See HEALTH, page 26 D.C. Vote Obama Walks Fine Line On Hold By Keith Koffler agenda. But by staging events on entirely of his making. By Emily Heil ROLL CALL STAFF employment and the budget He inherited wars in Iraq and and Elizabeth Brotherton President Barack Obama says deficits in the first two days of this Afghanistan; an economy and a fi- ROLL CALL STAFF he can — and indeed must — han- week, he highlighted the political nancial system near collapse; sev- For Now umps and Bruises. dle a dizzying array of vital issues risks inherent in such a juggling eral large companies actually in By Emily Yehle The Senate never in order to keep the country afloat act. collapse; a bellicose nuclear North ROLL CALL STAFF B has been a place for while pressing ahead with his Obama’s task list is long, and not See AGENDA, page 28 Voting rights advocates indefi- the faint of heart — but nitely postponed their efforts to looking around the cham- pass the District of Columbia ber these days, one might House Voting Rights Act, citing an assume the place is down- inability to strip out an amendment right dangerous. Leahy Sets a Date; GOP Jeers that would gut the city’s gun laws. The Senate hallways re- The bill, which would give D.C. semble an infirmary this By Jessica Brady that Sonia Sotomayor would ap- more time for review. its first-ever Representative, week, with several high- ROLL CALL STAFF pear before his panel on July 13. “I’m disappointed that we are stalled in March because of the profilers sporting canes, Senate Judiciary Chairman But minutes after Leahy left the being rushed to complete this poison-pill amendment. Under slings, casts and splints Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) came to the floor, Republican groans con- process,” Judiciary ranking mem- pressure from the National Rifle while they heal from an floor Tuesday and kicked off his sumed the chamber as GOP Sena- ber Jeff Sessions (Ala.) said. “I Association, many pro-gun Mem- See HOH, page 18 first stint overseeing a Supreme tors charged that Sotomayor’s don’t think it’s a good way to begin bers were unwilling to vote for an Court nomination by announcing lengthy judicial history required See COURT, page 30 amendment-free bill. Majority Leader Steny Hoyer NEWS NEWS VESTED INTERESTS VESTED INTERESTS AROUND THE HILL (D-Md.) tried for months to come INSIDE Jefferson taps Lawmakers rail FEC nominee It’s becoming Library of up with a compromise, but on For the latest news McCrery as over transfer John Sullivan tough to Congress updates go to Tuesday, he all but admitted defeat. expert witness of Gitmo faces the retroactively extends global For complete coverage “As a result of there not being www.rollcall.com at trial, p. 3. prisoner, p. 3. Senate, p. 9. deregister, p. 9. reach, p. 33. of Capitol Hill softball, go to sports.rollcall.com/softball See VOTING RIGHTS, page 20 The race is on to build tomorrow’s electric vehicles. And Michigan is charging ahead. Getting one million plug-in hybrid electric vehicles on the road by 2015 will require extraordinary resources and expert manufacturing knowledge. To achieve federal goals for energy independence and clean vehicles, Michigan awarded the most aggressive advanced battery incentives ever offered — more than $700 million worth — to jump-start this critical American industry. Now more than ever, Michigan is uniquely wired to manufacture advanced automotive batteries. Battery industry leaders are coming to Michigan from around the globe to build a new multi-billion dollar vehicle electrifi cation industry and global supply chain. As the epicenter of automotive research, Michigan has more than 65,000 engineers and a highly skilled technical workforce ready to get the job done. Find out about Michigan’s comprehensive plan for the new advanced battery manufacturing network — visit MichiganAdvantage.org/chargingahead. Together, we can deliver American solutions for the clean vehicle future. MichiganAdvantage.org/chargingahead Wednesday, June 10, 2009 ROLL CALL Page 3 McCrery Tapped as a Witness for Jefferson Jury Selection Begins in Corruption Trial By Jennifer Yachnin performed by Members,” defense attorney ROLL CALL STAFF Robert Trout wrote. “He will explain gener- Former Rep. Jim McCrery (R) will serve ally that Members often provide assistance as an expert witness on behalf of fellow to their constituents in the form of obtaining Louisianan and ex-Rep. William Jefferson information from, and/or facilitating inter- (D) in his criminal corruption trial. actions with, U.S. government agencies, and According to documents filed in the U.S. that they do that in order to maintain their District Court for the Eastern District of Vir- constituents’ political support.” ginia, McCrery may be called to testify about “He is expected to testify that in his opin- the “duties and the activities” of House law- ion, while certain of these activities have come makers. to be customarily performed by many Mem- “Congressman McCrery will describe the bers, there is significant variation among constituent service or ‘case work’ activities Members concerning the nature and extent of Christina Izzo/Roll Call activities performed,” Trout continued. Former Rep. William Jefferson and his wife, Andrea, arrive at the courthouse in See JEFFERSON, page 18 Alexandria, Va., on Tuesday for the first day of jury selection in his trial. Senators Slam Transfer of Prisoner By Jackie Kucinich ROLL CALL STAFF By Emily Pierce plained that accused African embassy but twice, saying these guys should not be utting the R in Armed. The House ROLL CALL STAFF bomber Ahmed Khalfan Ghailani’s Tuesday brought into the U.S.” Republican Steering Committee Republicans and some Democrats bris- arrival in New York for trial was akin to Pres- Last month, the House and Senate sepa- Pon Tuesday named Rep. tled Tuesday at the Obama administration’s ident Barack Obama thumbing his nose at rately passed bills barring detainee transfers Howard McKeon (Calif.) to succeed decision to bring a suspected terrorist from Congress. to the U.S. until Oct. 1 at the earliest. Cur- Rep. John McHugh (N.Y.) as the the Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, military prison “They brought him here in defiance of an rently, the two chambers are trying to ranking member on the House Armed to the United States for trial. overwhelming vote of the United States Sen- change that language on the supplemental Services Committee. Meanwhile, two Senators threatened to ate,” Senate Republican Conference Vice war spending conference report to allow the In giving the job to McKeon, the hold up action on the supplemental war Chairman John Thune (S.D.) said. “Clearly administration the flexibility to move more panel passed over Rep. Roscoe spending bill if Democratic leaders do not the administration is trying to use this as sort detainees to the U.S. for trial. But the issue Bartlett (Md.), the second-most-senior include their measure to bar the release of of a test case for their plans to move more has delayed a resolution of the conference, Armed Services member, and Rep. detainee abuse photos. and more of these people into the states. But given that many Democrats have recoiled at Mac Thornberry (Texas), the panel’s House and Senate Republicans com- you have the Senate on the record, not once, See GITMO, page 22 fourth in line.