Sen. Mitch McConnell, the Senate's top Republican, "promised Sunday morning that he and his members will attend President Obama's health care summit on Thursday 'ready to participate' but said the Democrats are being 'arrogant' by refusing to scrap their legislation and start over," The Washington Post reports. The Kentucky senator, who was speaking on 'Fox News Sunday,' "dismissed the idea of a GOP boycott, saying that 'we're discussing the -- sort of the makeup of the room and that sort of thing, but yeah, I intend to be there and my members will be there and ready to participate.' McConnell said, however, that his party will continue to oppose Democrats if they try to use the parliamentary tactic called 'reconciliation' to pass parts of their health care agenda without 60 votes in the Senate."
"White House Communications Director Dan Pfeiffer said in response that 'the upcoming meeting is an opportunity to get beyond oft repeated and completely false talking points like these. . . . The President is coming to the meeting with an open mind and he hopes the Republicans do as well'" (Murray and Shear, 2/21).
Politico reports: McConnell said "that Democrats have been 'arrogant' in their push to pass health care legislation. 'I think they're having hard time getting the message here. The American people do not want this bill to pass, and it strikes me as rather arrogant to say, 'Well, we're going to give it to you anyway'" (Lovley, 2/21).
The Hill reports: "It's 'not clear' whether enough Democrats will defect on a majority-vote procedure on health legislation to stop it," McConnell said...."
"At issue is the process Senate Democratic leaders have indicated they will use to finish healthcare reform legislation. That process, called budget reconciliation, would allow senators to pass final changes to the original health bill they'd passed in December using only a simple majority of votes, instead of the 60 normally needed to end a filibuster" (O'Brien, 2/21).
The Associated Press/Washington Post report: "Two governors are hoping Democrats and Republicans can work out a compromise on a health care. ... GOP Gov. Arnold Schwartzenegger of California says if Washington lawmakers really want to serve the public, they'll try to find 'that sweet spot' of agreement. A Democratic governor, Ed Rendell of Pennsylvania, says a compromise will mean Republicans giving the OK to some Democratic ideas and Democrats willing to take on some GOP ideas" (2/21).