The Senate and the Christmas deadline

NY Times:

On the 17th day of Senate debate on health legislation, it came down to this: A rock-ribbed conservative physician from Oklahoma squared off against a self-described democratic socialist from Vermont who was hoping for a full-throated debate on his proposal to establish a system of “Medicare for all.” The Oklahoman, Senator Tom Coburn, a Republican, had propounded a unanimous-consent request, stipulating that no amendment could be offered unless it had been publicly available for 72 hours, with an estimate of its costs.

Senator Max Baucus, Democrat of Montana and chairman of the Finance Committee, objected.

Minutes later, Senator Bernard Sanders, independent of Vermont, called up his amendment. “For the first time in American history,” Mr. Sanders said, “the Senate will debate a proposal to create a single-payer, Medicare-for-all health care system.”

Not so fast.

Mr. Coburn objected to Mr. Sanders’s request to dispense with the reading of the 767-page amendment.

So a relay team of Senate clerks began reading the proposal. After nearly three hours, Mr. Sanders threw in the towel and withdrew his amendment.

The conflict on Wednesday illustrated the frustration growing in both parties after more than two weeks of desultory debate, as Senate Democrats struggle to line up 60 votes and pass their health care bill before Christmas.

Democrats said Republicans were stalling and obstructing the most important social legislation in decades.

Republicans said Mr. Sanders had candidly avowed a goal that many Democrats secretly shared: a government takeover of health care.

“I admire Senator Sanders for his willingness to fight publicly for what many advocate only privately: a single-payer health care system funded and controlled by bureaucrats and politicians in Washington,” Mr. Coburn said.

The No. 2 Democrat in the Senate, Richard J. Durbin of Illinois, said Mr. Coburn was pursuing a “clear strategy” with support from Senate Republican leaders.

...

Why is Sen. Durbin surprised that Republicans are trying to defeat the unpopular Democrat health care bill? I suspect that Republicans are also hoping that Democrats will face some heated opposition to their bill at Town Hall meetings over the holidays.

What the Republicans are also doing is getting Democrats on the record at supporting provisions that voters passionately dislike. They are being set up for the 2010 election.