Meet The New Gang; Just Don't Call Them A Gang

The Hill is reporting that a new bipartisan group of seven senators has been formed to try to pass “bipartisan” health care reform.

The new Senate group includes GOP Sens. Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe of Maine, Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) and Democratic Sens. Ben Nelson (Neb.), Claire McCaskill (Mo.), Landrieu and Ron Wyden (Ore.). Four of the members — Snowe, Collins, Lieberman and Nelson — played a significant role in helping pass Obama’s $787 billion stimulus package.

But these lawmakers are hesitant to call themselves a Gang of Seven, or any other type of gang. They are still wincing at the memory of the weeks of protracted negotiations among members of the Finance Committee that failed to produce a much-hoped-for bipartisan agreement.

Will this new gang (that is not a gang) succeed where others have failed? Only time will tell. It should be noted that five of the seven senators have publicly stated their opposition to a new national public option that would be available on day one.

Women's Liberation, Senate GOP Style

Arlen Specter's abandonment of the Republican Party should make it easier for three female GOP senators to make tough decisions. When the Senate Republicans had just enough senators to filibuster any Democratic piece of legislation, there was a strong sense of pressure to remain united. Now the Republican senators can't stop a united Democratic Caucus. There is no longer a practical reason for the GOP to form a fully united opposition.

The Senate Republicans will soon be feeling the freedom of irrelevancy. This new-found freedom should make life easier (although maybe not more enjoyable) for Susan Collins, Olympia Snowe, and Kay Bailey Hutchison. Senator Collins and Snowe are now the two remaining moderate Republican senators. Since the Republicans no longer have the numbers to maintain a filibuster, they should dramatically ratchet down their pressure on these two to toe the party line. Collins and Snowe should be able to vote based on their conscience instead party considerations.

Senator Hutchison is not a moderate, but Specter's defection should give her greater freedom of action. Hutchison has been considering a run against Texas Governor Rick Perry. She would need to resign from the Senate to dedicate her time to a state-wide campaign. If she resigns there is a small but real possibility that a Democrat could win her seat in a special election. There was an argument that she should not give the Democrats a chance at getting to 60 in the Senate. Since the Democrats will now get 60 anyway, there is little reason for Hutchinson not to run.