You can get a feel for the upcoming bipartisan 'healthcare summit' by the list of who is invited and who is not invited. The Hill reported yesterday that House and Senate Budget Committee leaders are not included in the meeting.
According to the article:
"Obama's administration on Friday released a list of its invitees to the Feb. 25 summit, but topping the conspicuous absences were the top budget-writers in each chamber. For the Senate, the list excluded Sen. Judd Gregg (R-N.H.), the ranking Budget Committee member who in recent weeks has been publicly courting the Obama administration for a seat at the table in the talks, and committee chairman Kent Conrad (D-N.D.)."
If the leaders of the Budget Committees are not invited to this meeting, what is the purpose of the meeting?
The people invited to the meeting were:
"The invitee list focuses on leadership members, plus the top members of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee and Finance Committee and the House's Ways and Means Committee, Energy and Commerce Committee and Education and Labor Committee."
I suspect that the Republicans feel that they have to attend this meeting as a show of good faith, but I would strongly suggest that they stay home. President Obama has refused to scrap the current healthcare bill and start from scratch--despite the fact that public opinion is overwhelmingly against the bill. The Democrats have also refused to rule out the possibility that after the meeting they will use the reconcilliation process (only needs 51 votes in the Senate) to push the current bill through. There is a real question here as to whether or not this meeting is being held in good faith. I really think the Republicans should stay home, release their own healthcare plan, and then ask if anyone really wants to talk.
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