On the Sunday talk shows, lawmakers disputed how the Democrats should proceed on health overhaul legislation.
The Associated Press: "Some lawmakers have suggested that a separate bill with changes that are supported by Republicans and Democrats would be one route toward progress on the health care overhaul. But a member of the Senate Finance Committee, Democratic Sen. Kent Conrad of North Dakota, says he doesn't see how lawmakers could get two health care bills through Congress and coordinate them well." Conrad spoke on CBS' "Face The Nation" (8/23).
Politico: "Senator Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) is signaling that he's nearly ready to give up on bipartisan health care reform talks in favor of options that could be pursued solely by Democrats. On NBC's 'Meet the Press' Sunday, Schumer made three separate mentions of trying to push a health care bill through the Senate with all 60 Democratic votes, regardless of whether Republicans are on board. 'We could get a public option that could be passed with the 60 democratic votes we have,' Schumer said."
"Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), who joined Schumer on the show, said Democrats should not try to use reconciliation to force through a bill which could not overcome a filibuster in the Senate. 'If they use that, that would be an abuse of the process,' Hatch said" (Gerstein, 8/23).
Related KHN story: Democrats' Strategy To Avoid Filibuster Carries Serious Risks
The Associated Press in a separate story: "Sen. John McCain says President Barack Obama will have to drop proposals for a government-run health insurance option if he hopes to reach congressional agreement on health-care reform ... The Arizona Republican proposed that Obama meet with members of both parties in Congress to find areas of agreement, abandon the public option, and then make clear exactly what he wants in the legislation. McCain appeared on ABC's "This Week" (8/23).