Published on December 15, 2009 at 2:20 AM
"The White House is encouraging Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) to cut a deal with Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) and eliminate the proposed Medicare expansion in the health reform bill, according to an official close to the negotiations," Politico reports.
"But Reid is described as so frustrated with Lieberman that he is not ready to sacrifice a key element of the health care bill, and first wants to see the Congressional Budget Office cost analysis of the Medicare buy-in. The analysis is expected early this week. 'There is a weariness and a lot of frustration that one person is holding up the will of 59 others,' the official said. 'There is still too much anger and confusion at one particular senator's reversal." Lieberman told Reid on Sunday that "he would filibuster the bill if it allowed Americans ages 55 to 64 to purchase coverage in Medicare" (Brown, 12/14).