Why'd He Do It?

Okay, I'll admit to some serious self-congratulating today upon learning that Arlen Specter, the longtime Republican Senator from Pennsylvania was switching parties, which will finally provide Democrats in the Senate with their filibuster proof 60 vote majority to pass legislation and render Republicans on the Hill truly useless. After all, my last blog post on March 25th outlined precisely why I believed Specter would switch. To save himself!

But why did Arlen Specter make the move now? Three words ... HEALTH CARE REFORM!
Perhaps the current Swine Flu outbreak was the impetus. Specter has been a huge advocate for the Centers of Disease Control and the NIH, and generally votes in support of anything expanding health care access and affordability. In that regard, he almost stands alone in the Republican Party of today.

In the current budget, which the House just approved, the Democrats insured they would have wiggle room to prevent a Republican filibuster by leaving the option open for a procedural maneuver known as budget reconciliation if the Republicans again choose to thwart a major health care initiative such as universal coverage, which has the support of the vast majority of Americans.

Unfortunately, there are some weak kneed "moderate" Democrats in "red" states who've been warning that if the Senate Democratic leadership resorts to a budget reconciliation maneuver because they come up short of the required 60 votes to cut off debate and move to a vote, they'll be less inclined to support the legislation.

With Specter's vote and the inevitable seating of Al Franken in Minnesota, the discussion is almost mute. The Democrats won't need a single republican vote to pass health care reform!

Hallelujah! There is light at the end of the tunnel!

And to Senator Specter ... this may end up being your greatest legacy to date!