I have no words to describe what an amazing, powerful Senator she is.
I became a big fan of her after she was reelected easily in 2006, after going against George Bush to support children healthcare, which is now in
place under Obama.
I was KINDA disappointed with her vote for the 787-billion stimulus plan, because even though I supported and understood the rationale behind economic
stimulation, I thought the amount was too high, and she should have NOT gone against party lines to vote for the later few stimulus packages.
However, I am amazed as to how much power this Senator from small Maine wields over D.C.
Snowe stands as the woman with the most clout in Washington, poised at the intersection of ambitious efforts to change the nation's system of medical
care amid competing political forces. If she votes with the Democrats, Obama could secure the biggest win of his young presidency. If she sticks with
her Republican colleagues, it could prove as devastating to the president as the blow dealt to former President Bill Clinton in the 1990s when his
health care package failed.
The players and their ideas tend to cross her path — on Snowe's desk, at the other end of her telephone or just outside the paper-strewn hearing
room. Snowe serves on the Senate Finance Committee, whose issues include health care.
I don't fully support the government-run healthcare option, mainly because of TAX ISSUES. Can you imagine how much more we'd have to pay for
taxes?!?!
And of course, leave it to Senator Snowe, to find the beautiful compromise:
Snowe, who easily won a third term in 2006, is one of a minority in her state and the nation who does not support creation of a government-run option
to private insurance. Progressives in her state have chastised Snowe over the issue in a television ad.
Instead, Snowe has proposed using the public option as an incentive, or a threat, to private insurers who do not make their plans affordable by
certain deadlines. This "trigger" option, or some version of it, has survived the bitter debate and scrutiny to remain a viable option for
compromise.
I love the "trigger" option. It results in competition for private companies to step up their game, with punishment and opposition if they try to
rescind their payouts. AT THE SAME TIME, the taxes paid will no doubt be MUCH lower because it is not a FULL replacement of private insurance, thus
the money needed to support it will be much lower.
This plan is also bipartisan, for the most part, since she combines the direct public option of Democrats with the preferred legislation of
Republicans.
I am Democrat myself, but I really love Olympia Snowe for her bipartisanship (currently, as well as Gang of 14, etc.) and I feel that she doesn't
stick to being Republican for the sake of being Republican, refusing to cross party lines just "because she's Republican".
Loyalty is one thing, but she knows what people needs, and she knows how to make compromises, in a responsible, true self that does not infringe upon
her beliefs.
And then it sickens me to see this:
By all accounts, she retains courteous respect from her fellow Republicans and continues to lunch with them at weekly caucus meetings. Some grumble
privately about punishment if she votes with Democrats on health care. One possibility mentioned by some: challenging Snowe next year for the coveted
ranking GOP seat on the Senate Commerce Committee.
Here we have an example of party lines BLINDING politicians.
Snowe says nobody's threatened to punish her. They have little reason to alienate her now, because she could be the GOP's best chance of changing
the bill, in their view, into a less-onerous "government takeover" of health care. Also, she's been straight with them about her approach to
negotiations.
"She's been in constant communication with me all the way through the process," said Republican Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky.
"I think she's handled herself in a very responsible way," said Sen. Robert Bennett, R-Utah.
Please. Party lines are just there to denote differences. Politicians should do things they TRULY believe in, and not fear 'punishment' and other
shyt. I wish more Democrats would vote for Republican bills, and vice versa (You KNOW they WANT to!) and understand that CONSENSUS and COHESION are
the BIGGEST needs of our political situation today.
news.yahoo.com...
[edit on 28-9-2009 by KarlG]
