i think chuck schumer is going to be the key person with harry reid. he's close to harry reid.put the bills together, reid have already said it, there will be a public plan option in the bill that goes to the floor of the senate. good-bye, max baucus. >> michael medved, this is not the way the republicans wanted it to play out. they wanted a big fight here. what's going to happen? >> the way the republicans wanted it to play out was not to have a big fight and not to have a public option. the problem here for democrats is it's so difficult for democrats to get together on this. precisely because the american people aren't together on it. the american people are worried. they're worried about the fact that it's a lot of backstage wheeling and dealing and internal conflicts in the democratic party that's going to end up taking over one-sixth of the american economy and saddling us with more debt than we can handle. >> gentlemen, let's switch gears and talk about military issues. 40,000 more troops to afghanistan. that's what the generals want. general mcchrystal. what do you thin

greta: what does senator harry reid have for his state? >> what we have been told is that he already has an amendment passed that says his state will essentially be held harmless, that they will get full funding for this medicaid mandates. well, why should nevada get back, and the rest of the country does not -- that they will get full funding for this medicaid mandate. greta: are there any that have joined on with you? and the second one is have you heard back from your two u.s. senators? >> on the first question, there are democratic governors that are concerned. the one from tennessee in particular has been very strong on this issue. secondly, i have actually talked to my united states senators. both have indicated that they are very, very concerned. i would like to have it addressed with the senate finance committee, but if not, on the senate floor. greta: i am going to take a look at this amendment, because it seems that every state should have the same burden. good luck. >> thank you. greta: up next, was it just a photo op or a real

for reelection are running a critical ad in his home state of nevada. >> i'm watching to see if harry reidrong and effective enough as a leader to pass a public health insurance option. >> now the white house is backing reid although they have said a public option, robin, is not a must for health care reform this time around. >> there are always strong opinions on both sides of the debate. let's talk about our viewers, what they're saying on our facebook page. >> doing well as usual. kelly posted and said they should include a public option. goal is to cover all americans so without that, how will everyone be covered? then there's amy, if you think insurance is expensive now, just wait to see how expensive it is when it's free. the government should not run a government health insurance plan because they have yet to run a successful business themselves. keep letting us know what you think. whether you agree or not, we look forward to see what you have to say. >> rich, thank you. >>> negotiationses are under way after complaints of racism at a chicago nightclub. student leaders at washingto

now, this week, senate majority leader harry reid took his pitch to the internet. as dana bash reports, this may not be just about health care, but also about reid's political survival. >> important week for our country -- >> reporter: a call to action posted on youtube. >> make sure you contact your representatives back here in washington and push hard. we want a health care bill we want the public option. . >> reporter: a blast of e-mails all week pushing the public option. it's reid who put it in the health care bill. senator reid's leadership was on full display, said one e-mail. he took a courageous stand in the public option. why the sales job? >> the liberal side of the party has questioned if we could get it done. whether or not the leadership was behind it. >> questioned senator reid? >> sure. >> penny lee a former reid aide admits part of the motivation was to reassure the democratic base. >> not just a one-time press conference. he said i'm going to fight for this. i'm going to believe in it. >> reporter: he says that's his goal. but home in nevada where

now, when you saw the harry reid, nancy pelosi little -- what did you think about that? >> i thought that was really weird. i mean, first of all, you know, we have all been on a date like that, harry puts his arm out there, i'm delighted to be here with nancy and nancy edges away. that was -- and then when he said something that was patently false, that everybody in the meeting said democrat and republican alike said they would support the president on his decision, she rolled her eyes. every news report we have out of those meetings and meetings -- members of congress, democrat and republican go together down to meet with a president of either party, you can count on that meeting being largely splashed across the newspapers. and what we had heard was republicans said we will support you, mr. president, if you want more troops in afghanistan. and the democrats were badly split over it with people like eick skelton and others saying they would be more supportive of more troops. a lot of democrats in that meeting were uncomfortable with sending troops to afghanistan. bill:

this is a sound cut from harry reid on medicare. is. >> ever since senate republicans opposed the creation of medicare, they spent the past 40 years on the wrong side of history when it comes to helping seniors. in the past ten years, republicans have voted against protecting and strengthening medicare 59 times. the american people can be excused for not buying republican's 11th hour claim that they're the true guardians of senior's health care. >> today, the republicans were quick to point out that in the senate finance bill, there's a $500 billion cut to seniors. who's going to win this bar, joan, how does this play out? >> i think it's tough to explain in the abstract, ed, and taken out of context, the republicans have been using it. but i think that harry reid's logic said with a lot of passion and said often, can carry the day. they've always opposed medicare. it's ridiculous to see them as the defenders of medicare. and the cut is actually a complicated restructuring. them not cut senior's care and will not cut medicare. so i

now, the reelection bid of harry reid is in big trouble.he is not very popular in his home state, and not surprisingly, he is trailing in the polls, so he is taking things into his own hands, planning to run advertisements against his opponents. one of his advisers told politico.com, quote, "i expect him to vaporize whoever is the of poet -- the opponent." there is also the vicious attack by jon corzine against his opponent chris christie. i guess these personal attacks are all that is left. you may have seen some curious advertisements plastered on the walls. they are spreading the word that you can live a great life without god. advertisements like this are hitting the subways, courtesy of an advertisement campaign launched by one group. according to the spokesman of the group, the advertisements are meant to inform new yorkers that 1 million of us have created natural morality and lead good, productive lives without religious dogma or god. can you imagine the outrage is a political -- religious group put -- could you imagine the outrage

this week senator majority leader harry reid took his pitch to the internet. and as dana bash reports, this may not be just about health care but also about reid's political survival. >> reporter: a call to action, posted on youtube. >> make sure you contact your representatives back here in washington and push hard. we want a health care bill that has a public option. >> reporter: a blast of political e-mails all week, pushing the public option and sending a no so subtle reminder, it's harry reid who put it in the senate health care bill. senator reid's leadership was on full display, said one e-mail. he took a courageous you stand in fighting for and including the public option. why the sudden sales job? >> the more liberal side of the party has, you know, questioned whether or not we could get this done, whether or not the leadership was behind it. >> reporter: and questioning senator reid? >> and questioning senator reid. >> reporter: pamela lee, a former reid aid said it was to -- >> it wasn't just a one-time press conference that he had, he said i'm going

they're now taking on senate majority leader harry reid in nevada. listen. >> i'm your typical swing voter. i voted for republicans for president and i've voted for president obama. i also voted for senator harry reid many times. but in 2010, i'll only be voting on one issue. i'm watching to see if harry reid is strong and effective enough as a leader to pass a public health insurance option into law. >> okay. now, since reid is in trouble in nevada and i think 53%, 52% of nevadans are in favor of the public option, is he going to be forced now to vote to that to push the public option? >> one would hope. he is -- i don't understand why some democrats like harry reid are being as obstructionist as the republicans, when he is being weak, though, he should be called out. i agree with that. there's nothing wrong with infighting among parties. there should be. there shouldn't be any marching lockstep. >> it doesn't look like the public option is going to get any traction. the baucus bill hasn't got it in there. and i wonder how the democrats will do in 2

they're now taking on senate majority leader harry reid in nevada.isten. >> i'm your typical swing voter. i voted for republicans for president and i've voted for president obama. i also voted for senator harry reid many times. but in 2010, i'll only be voting on one issue. i'm watching to see if harry reid is strong and effective enough as a leader to pass a public health insurance option into law. >> okay. now, since reid is in trouble in nevada and i think 53%, 52% of nevadans are in favor of the public option, is he going to be forced now to vote to that to push the public option? >> one would hope. he is -- i don't understand why some democrats like harry reid are being as obstructionist as the republicans, when he is being weak, though, he should be called out. i agree with that. there's nothing wrong with infighting among parties. there should be. there shouldn't be any marching lockstep. >> it doesn't look like the public option is going to get any traction. the baucus bill hasn't got it in there. and i wonder how the democrats will do in 201

senate majority leader harry reid put the public option back in with a caveat that states could opt outpondent richard lui joins us now. will that help get him the 60 vobill? >> even senator reid admits he's not sure about this. he still has to persuade three moderate democrats to back his plan. ben nelson of nebraska mary landrieu of louisiana and if reid cannot get their votes he may lose other support from other democrats who want to make sure health care reform is passed this year. >> i am for any version that gets us to 60. my goal is to get on the floor and pass it off the floor. that's my goal. and public option may not be part of that. >> now baucus had voted against a public option in the past. >> for argument's sake let's say the version becomes law, what would it mean for the average person watching right now their health care coverage? >> what's in it for me? if you have health insurance through your job, nothing, robin. people with employer-based coverage are actually blocked from switching to this public option right now. he says many people pushing for it don't realize th

they're now taking on senate majority leader harry reid in nevada.m your typical swing voter, i have voted for republicans for president and i voted for president obama. i also voted for senator harry reid many times, but in 2010, i'll only be voting on one issue. i'm watching to see if harry reid is strong and effective enough as a leader to pass a public health insurance option into law. >> okay, since reid is in trouble in nevada i think 52% of nevadans are in favor of the public option. is he going to be forced to pub the public option? >> i would hope. i don't understand why some democrats like harry reid are being as obstructionist as the republicans. there's nothing wrong with infighting among parties, there shouldn't be anybody marching lock step with one another. >> the baucus bill hasn't got it in there and i'm wondering how the democrats are going to do in 2010 if they don't get it. what you think? >> hopefully they would suffer for it, as they should. the public option should be in there and there should be like grayson, is that his name,

great stuff. >> great comedy and great drama looking at that on the hill and you see harry reid doesnt here. >> what about what the rnc said, to putter in her place. during ronald reagan's time the gop would never resort to that kind of cheap shot. >> i think some of the language is unfortunate, unnecessary and even unproductive. we need to focus on issues. any time you get into the name calling and try to create the level of imagery people forget what the issue is and that is the danger of it. >> what do you think is in the mindset. what is the purpose of that? is it to explore what they perceive to be her unpopularity? or disdinful of the fact that she is a female? >> i don't think it is about her being a female. the republicans have clearly i think broken that barrier. we had a vice presidential candidate who is female. there has been many opportunities for women in the party. i think it is just a way of sort of trying to highlight the dissatisfaction with nancy pelosi. now, there is no doubt that republicans are not big fans of nancy pelosi because they feel like -- >> geraldo: b

senate majority leader harry reid coast have a final version on the floor next week for a vote, and he wants to have the bill have a public option. jane: president obama's pays our is looking for a slash in salaries for a bailout companies. who is in the cross hairs? >> 175 executives have that have received the most money in this government bailout bonanza. kenneth feinberg is the pay czar, and he is trying to figure out what is fair here. so imagine that instead of being paid in cash next year, part of your salary was in stock. that is how we're getting the idea of this limit and what it might look like. you have aig, bank of america, general motors, citi, gmac, and chrysler financial. those are the companies being looked at. we think that executive compensation will be tied to stock, you will not cash in for several years, and the whole purpose is to get these executives committed to long- term success of the companies they are a part of. there are risks to this approach. a lot of these companies are in trouble. bank of america is looking for a new ceo. so if you're a top executive

harry reid wants to get the legislation on the senate floor the week after next. once the senate passes the final health care bill it has to be merged with the house version. >>> first it was the fires. now it is the rain. residents in southern just can't seem to catch a break from mother nature. but at least the most recent storm wasn't as bad as everyone thought it would be. in fact the national weather service is canceling a flash flood advisory for los angeles. things are starting to ease up from the rains. the storm knocked down trees and power lines. it is expected to hang over southern california through tomorrow morning. forecasters are warning of mudslides especially areas hit by wildfires. >> yeah. kind of wondering we were so lucky having our house saved from the fire. this is another round of slow torture. until the rains come tonight we'll see. >> i'm terrified. there is no way they can control it with the rails. >> mother nature is giving us a one-two punch here. test of endurance. >> the storm knocked out power. crews have turned on the lights for a

what do you see happening when you've got the baucus bill being voted upon merging with harry reid's?, there's going to be kind of boring numbers budget stuff that will be happening this week. we'll wait for congressional budget office just to make sure that the baucus bill is deficit-neutral has president obama has said he wanted and then it's really going to go behind closed doors for a period of time while as you pointed out they'll be merging the two different senate bills to try to get one bill to head to the senate floor in a few weeks. >> you've been covering this for a long time. what's in this bill that everyone will see and applaud and what are the things that people are going to say most of all why didn't that make it in? >> well, the first thing that everybody will see and you hear a lot from the white house are those insurance underwriting changes or they're all the things that everybody gets frustrated with insurance companies right now like not being able to get coverage because of a pre-existing condition or having an annual cap on your coverage. those things are reall

harry reid, the majority leader, will be doing a lot of negotiating with top democrats and the whiteouse to put together everything that has been done on the senate side to create yet another version of health care. so we have a ways to go. >> a lot of the progressives, frustrated that max baucus didn't include a plan. frustrated that they didn't get the votes in this hearing. what is the likelihood that reid will down the votes and say it wasn't with max baucus, but with the plan, it will be there. >> if you read the body look, the public statements and he go we're getting from the majority leader's office, what he talked about is a bill that can pass. when you look at his history, he's been a vote counter in the senate for a long time. a deal maker. that's a big part of the job. he believes at least where we sit right now, that the votes are not there for a public option. the house certainly has a lot more interest in it and perhaps the white house can weigh in one way or another and give everybody on capitol hill some final direction. but if you look at everything harry reid is sa

going to be up to harry reid -- >> why is it a piece of crap bill? >> i tell you why, because it doesn't have any public plan option for the most part. that's the biggest thing. the co-opts are a nonstarter, ed. so is the idea of going to 50 states. it also has the fee on insurance companies which you mentioned earlier. union members would have to pay that extra fee which i don't think is fair. harry reid is going to put those two bills together. take the best of the senate and the house. i think we're going to get a good bill now. we have a public plan option. >> michael medved, how hard are republican hard-right republicans working olympia snowe? she says she's got a lot to think about coming out of the senate finance committee. if she tips over and goes with the democrats, what's that going to do? >> well, i think it would help push the reform generally, but look, olympia snowe is one republican. what is remarkable here, and, ed, something no one expected. i don't think the president expected it. the republican party is unified. at most you will g

majority harry reid canceled the week long recess today coming after lawmakers request to pass a final health care bill by thanksgiving. congressional leaders planned on an end of the year deadline. the debate over health care is getting even more heated. house republicans are looking for an apology from grayson of floridwho criticized what he deemed the gop house plan on the house floor. >> do you want the democratic plan or the republican plan. remember the republican plan, don't get sick. if you do get sick, die quickly. >> grayson says he'd rather apologize to americans who have died without health insurance. one republican lawmaker has drafted a resolution of disapproval similar to the one drafted after joe wilson's outburst. >> some public safety officials in alexander, virginia are furious tonight. they're concerned about what they call a break down in communication after an ethanol spill in a neighborhood full of families. jackie benton has more. >> jim, the fuel spill has reignited a bitter feud between a railroad company and the city of alexandra. >> i'm very disappointed nor

harry reid, democrat majority leader, but the state to his colleagues, i need you on a procedural vote, that is, that a filibuster cannot stand on any issue that we raise. if he can do what george mitchell did and hold them together, on the procedural vote, that would guarantee the vote. i want to have a vote when i wanted. if he can do it and is in a position to do it, then the public option is arrived. >> trying the nuclear option or reconciliation it can't get it? >> i think that is an option, but i don't think it is an option they want to go to. i think that is one they want to threaten. >> we'd like to talk about choice and competition as part of our american cabalistic system. is their choice in this bill? is that competition? one senator said it isn't. he said -- and split it out. >> the problem is the co-ops in this bill are so untested. and it is unclear who will run them. they will be created by the state. but in the small states in particular you can have such a dominant presence of one or two insurance companies that there is some suspicion that the insurance companies woul

. >> well, you know, harry reid. >> senate majority leader. >> senate majority leader. there's a big population in nevada going on medicaid and normally those costs would be split with the states and congress. he gets a huge bailout, michigan gets a huge bailout, there's other elements. new york chuck schumer. >> new york, chuck schumer, they've got the tax on high cost insurance policies, all sorts of politically connected democrats get a pass for their states on those, so, you're really seeing health care for thee, but not for me. >> it's good to be-- when we come back, vice-president joe biden declares mission accomplished and says that the economic stimulus plan has succeeded ask me. even if you think your mattress is just fine... ask me what it's like to get your best night's sleep every night. why not talk to someone who's sleeping on the most highly recommended bed in america... it's not a sealy... or a simmons... or a serta... ask me about my tempur-pedic. ask me how fast i fall asleep. ask me about staying asleep. these are actual tempur-pedic owners! ask someo

they're now taking on senate majority leader harry reid in nevada.m your typical swing voter, i have voted for republicans for president and i voted for president obama. i also voted for senator harry reid many times, but in 2010, i'll only be voting on one issue. i'm watching to see if harry reid is strong and effective enough as a leader to pass a public health insurance option into law. >> okay, since reid is in trouble in nevada i think 52% of nevadans are in favor of the public option. is he going to be forced to pub the public option? >> i would hope. i don't understand why some democrats like harry reid are being as obstructionist as the republicans. there's nothing wrong with infighting among parties, there shouldn't be anybody marching lock step with one another. >> the baucus bill hasn't got it in there and i'm wondering how the democrats are going to do in 2010 if they don't get it. what you think? >> hopefully they would suffer for it, as they should. the public option should be in there and there should be like grayson, is that his name,

the finance committee will not vote on the measure until next week, the senate democratic leader harry reid says the full senate could start voting on health care read -- health care legislation as early as october 12. we have two senators on tomorrow morning's "washington journal." you can see it every day starting at 7:00 a.m. eastern here on c-span. as this break continues, debate from earlier today on a couple of amendments that would set limits on who would have to pay taxes, fees, and penalties based on income is next. >> this amendment is intended to bring the bill in line with one of president obama's pledges to the american people. i think virtually everybody in america has probably heard president obama describe the parameters of the health-care proposal that he thinks -- that he seeks to have congress adopt. one of the core points he has continuously made is that he will not impose a new tax on those in this country -- individuals making less than 200 -- families making less than to under $50,000 of your -- less than $250,000 a year. he said, if you're a family making less than $

when they tell me i wiowe more, will. >> the record shows he took the blows. >> hmm. >>> as harry reid put the public option back on the table, nancy pelosi says we need to rename the option as something more friendly. joining us is ben stein and gail collins, a new york times columnist. ben and gail, welcome to the show. >> honored be here. >> what should they call it? >> how about vampira, princess of blood? >> meaning what? >> it will suck people dry. >> it will be only for people who are really poor, right? people who -- >> no, because they need a full-time national gestapo from joining in. everyone who can will sneak over the border and try to get in, will kill the smurns companies. i'm not posed to everyone having government subsidized health insurance. why not give dhoex indigents or people that can't afford it and let them buy private insurance. >> what do you think? >> the theories that government is bad, government is incompetent, if they have a program, lit lead everyone to wreck and ruin. it's there to keep the insurance companies honest. >> here's harry reid laying out his

when they tell me i owe more, i will. >> the record shows he took the blows. >> hmm. >>> as harry reidut the public option back on the table, nancy pelosi says we need to rename the option as something more friendly. joining us is ben stein and gail collins, a new york times columnist. ben and gail, welcome to the show. >> honored be here. >> what should they call it? >> how about vampira, princess of blood? >> meaning what? >> it will suck people dry. >> it will be only for people who are really poor, right? people who -- >> no, because they need a full-time national gestapo from joining in. everyone who can will sneak over the border and try to get in, will kill the insurance companies. i'm not posed to everyone having government subsidized health insurance. why not give checks to indigents or people that can't afford it and let them buy private insurance. >> what do you think? >> the theories that government is bad, government is incompetent, if they have a program, lit lead everyone to wreck and ruin. it's there to keep the insurance companies honest. >> here's harry reid laying ou

harry reid will club a public option in the senate bill. state kansas city opt out, though. it's not clear if conservative democrats will support this bill. olympia snow who has backed the overhaul plans says his decision was disappointing. >> it's regrettable, because i certainly have worked in good faith all of these months on a bipartisan basis, and as you know have been standing alone at this point as a republican to do so because i believe in good public policy. >> i believe that a public option can achieve the goal of bringing meaningful reform to our broken system. it will protect consumers keep insurers honest and ensure competition. that's why we intend to include it in the bill that we submitted -- that will be submitted to the senate. >> now even if the senate can get the votes for a public option, it may never be an option for you. in about 15 minutes we'll explain why people with employer-based coverage still would not have a choice. >>> now police say at least a dozen people watched a girl get raped for two and a half hours and did absolutely nothing. they say

the senate aid to senate majority leader harry reid says this. a final decision will be made today, and senator reid is poised to introduce a bill way public health insurance option allowing the states to opt out. we'll keep you posted. >>> parishioners at st. patrick's church in chatham, new jersey, are mourning the death of a priest who was stabbed to death in the rectry. 150 people attended an early mass yesterday to pray for the reverend et hinds. a longtime church janitor is charged with stabbing him 32 times with a kitchen knife thursday. many in the community are stunned by the brutality of chris crime. >> we're all praying for ourselves that we can get through this. we're just hugging each other and just coming together as a family. >> i really can't get over it. it will be a while. it will take us a while to get over it because we're, you know, it just came so fast. couldn't believe it. >> 64-year-old jose feliciano is being held on $150 million bail. hinds' body was found friday when he didn't show up for morning mass. listen to this. p

congress' top two democrats nancy pelosi and harry reid met with the president in the oval office yesterday. one thing they're looking at is bringing back the idea of rewarding u.s. companies who create jobs by giving them a tax credit, say, maybe $3,000 for every job they create. they also talked about extending unemployment benefits. that's been be tied up in the senate and still is. we'll see. and they talked about extending two big tax credits that right now they are scheduled to expire. one is the one that makes it easier if you've lost your job to buy health insurance and the other one is the $8,000 tax credit if you buy a home. those are things that could help the economy, could help the jobs market. we'll watch them closely. >>> a working mom's happier than stay at home moms? a little bit says a new poll. what do you think about that? now don't get me wrong. stay at home were happy, too, 80%. 85% of working moms rated themselves as happy. most of the working moms said they'd be happier if they could work part time. they wanted to spend more time at home. not so much the dads. 80% of

>> harry reid has sent word that he needs the president to get more involved and start helping the senatorsose between those two options, whether they go with the government-run program or whether or not they use the nonprofit insurance cooperatives, which is actually in the bill they intend to vote on next week. president obama knows that the votes are not there. that is a choice he has been trying to avoid four months. there has been no indication that he can change minds, and one of the consequences is that they want to not so much get the president's help twisting arms for votes, but also to just get on the record and pin the president down on what he wants. shepard: eventually, the bill that comes out of the house and the bill coming out of the senate have to be combined. that is how it works. and all three house bills contain this public option on which obama campaign. >> that is the school house version of that. democrats are expected to take those bills and distilled into one bill. we do not know when the senate whether they can -- we do not know in the senate whether they can pass

. >> harry reid wants white house input on whether the final senate bill should include the senate health committee's version of a government run option or the finance's committee less costly cooperative instead. talks could take weeks. in the house, lawmakers must blend three bills all with the public option into one. democrats say it will take at least another two weeks over there just to get started. >> today staffers said they expect the congressional budget office will come up with their preliminary cost estimate sometime tomorrow afternoon or evening. today, eight senate centrist democrats signed a letter to their democratic leadership signing up with republicans who insist that the actual and precise legislative language, along with a comprehensive cost analysis be posted on the web fully 72 hours before the full senate votes. the problem is, jim, based on the calendar and the current projections, it may be mid december before the full senate gets close to voting, and that is if everything runs near perfect. >> thanks, carl. we will be watching for the price tag. the world's larges

senate majoritiy leader harry reid is in the middle of this, trying to pass a bill with a bill passed by the health committee a few months back. the biggest question he'll have to figure out is whether or not to include the public option in that bill he's going to bring to the senate floor or whether or not he's going to allow senators to vote on it later on in the process. right now we think that's completely up in the air. i really don't think we're going to know for a few more days. he's got to take into serious political calculations whether or not he can overcome a filibuster if a public option is in the bill. >> how close is this to getting to the senate floor? >> i think about a week away. he's targeted the week of october 12th for when this thing is going to come on. it could take a week longer, if they aren't able to meld this kwiy quickly. in a few days, we'll see things move quickly to get the bill on the floor. >> drew, thanks soch. so much. >> happy to be on. >>> and still ahead a continuing look at health care reform. should smokers have to pay more for their health insu

>> i'll tell you what is going to happen, you'll have harry reid, the democratic majority leader from nevada, you'll have max baucus, you'll have the chairman of the health committee, they'll get into a room, each will have two or three staff people, they're going to argue for several hours, they're going to make some deals, they're going to write a bill and bring it to the floor and say here's the new bill which means basically three senators and six or eight staff people are now writing the senate's legislation. sean: even though president obama promised us transparency there was an opportunity in the senate last week they put this bill online for 72 hours. did you hear max baucus' response? >> he said it would take me two weeks to get the bill online. >> right. the bill doesn't exist. sean: if it takes you two weeks to get it online -- i could upload it in 30 seconds. >> no, because the bill doesn't exist. you're missing the point. you think there's a bill. sean: all right. so there's no bill. it's not going to be scored. >> this is the case where somebody could make a pretty good

and senate majority leader harry reid has talked about that.and again, i think that's another issue that has somewhat gone by the wayside as far as i know there are no investigations into that at this point. host: as far as folks who live in nevada, what's the impact? >> it's really interesting. senator ensign was such a popular politician in nevada. he was always polled as the most popular of nevada's elected officials. he was elected, reelected in 2006, just strong majority. and had really done well in nevada. since this has happened, i think there's been a lot of disappointment among nevada republicans who thought he would really rise to be a leader of nevada's political party there. and senator ensign had been in a leadership position here in washington this year and also during the last congressional cycle and was really moving up the ranks. he had had even been talked about as a potential presidential or vice presidential candidate. so i think for the republican party back in nevada, there is a disappointment this has happened. senator en

before the full senate can vote, senate majority leader harry reid has to figure out a way to reconcile the bill with the one from the other committee. those two bills have a lot of differences. for starters, one of them has no public option. team fox coverage continues now. carl cameron in our newsroom across from the capitol. democrats actually go to the floor to the bill that does contain a public option. which ones of them. >> the senate health education labor intention committee formerly chaired by the late ted kennedy has that insurance program the so-called public option. the so-called senate finance bill does not. it's quite possible that they would go to the floor without the public option. between 3 and 7 centrist democrats though ho say they don't like the idea of the government getting involved in the private insurance business. that's enough to keep it out of the senate llings. the senate finance committee was actually supposed to vote tomorrow on its reform plan with that nonprofit co-opt instead. once again, another deadline is going to get missed, shep. they have postpon

we tried to talk to key democrats in both houses, senate majority leader harry reid, house speaker nancyas well as representatives nadler and conyers. none would agree to an interview with us on this subject. we also tried to ask the president. the biggest question for him, would he support legislation ending all taxpayer support of acorn? the president did not reply to our request but he did answer that question for another network. >> frankly, it's not really something i followed closely. i didn't even know acorn was getting a whole lot of federal money. what i know is what i saw on that video was certainly inappropriate. >> i would only say that here in washington when somebody benefits you, your political ideology, typically you come together. when they become an anchor dragging you down, it's good politics to cut them loose, and i think president obama would be smart to recognize that this is now an anchor that could bring him down. megyn: coming up, with acorn in shambles here, wade rathke goes international after the break. megyn: acorn has now lost its founder to a financial scan

we tried to talk to key democrats in both houses, senate majority leader harry reid, house speaker nancyd conyers. none would agree to an interview with us on this subject. we also tried to ask the president. the biggest question for him, would he support legislation ending all taxpayer support of acorn? the president did not reply to our request but he did answer that question for another network. >> frankly, it's not really something i followed closely. i didn't even know acorn was getting a whole lot of federal money. what i know is what i saw on that video was certainly inappropriate. >> i would only say that here in washington when somebody benefits you, your political ideology, typically you come together. when they become an anchor dragging you down, it's good politics to cut them loose, and i think president obama would be smart to recognize that this is now an anchor that could bring him down. megyn: coming up, with acorn in shambles here, wade rathke goes international after the break. tp megyn: acorn has now lost its founder to a financial scandal, seen dozens of its workers c

we tried to talk to key democrats in both houses, senate majority leader harry reid, house speaker nancyelosi as well as representatives nadler and conyers. none would agree to an interview with us on this subject. we also tried to ask the president. the biggest question for him, would he support legislation ending all taxpayer support of acorn? the president did not reply to our request but he did answer that question for another network. >> frankly, it's not really something i followed closely. i didn't even know acorn was getting a whole lot of federal money. what i know is what i saw on that video was certainly inappropriate. >> i would only say that here in washington when somebody benefits you, your political ideology, typically you come together. when they become an anchor dragging you down, it's good politics to cut them loose, and i think president obama would be smart to recognize that this is now an anchor that could bring him down. megyn: coming up, with acorn in shambles here, wade rathke goes international after the break. so, do you have any questions? what is your soup of

i think it is going to have to -- nancy pelosi and harry reid have to be out there strong arming some of your members, because you've got such a diverse group from the progressive liberals to the blue dogs and i think the blue dogs or the ones that will have problems with this bill and they are those moderates that are 49 of you are in districts that were won by john mccain and it is a different constituency they have there and i know, we saw this summer, some of the hard times to go home, and, meet with their constituents, when i don't think a lot of the -- lot of them agree with the bill that has been proposed. >> julie: i have to say a lot of democrats are complaining they don't have nancy pelosi's support, she is not necessarily backing them and they are afraid when they go to vote it could backfire, midterm elections and you need your leaders to support. i mean, your party, that is -- into right. >> julie: kind of -- >> and so i think -- julie, that is what i think it will be passed with one or two votes, because, they'll let people off, that, you know, have a constituency that d

committee coming out with that bill and the real action happens when the senate majority leader harry reid tries to stitch together the package and one of the things coming down the road. the other thing coming down the road is the conference committee between the senate and house leadership to put the bill together where the house and senate can vote on it and send something to the president. a process nowhere near finished and plenty of opportunities to knock people beside the head and club them in the knees if they have to. >> jonathan capehart, mob talk there thanks, jonathan. you sound like the godfather -- what is it, godfather, you love, respect or fear, can you have respect when there is no fear? but we are going to play that snl clip, too, where they kind of spoofed the president on this laundry list of things he wanted to do and some say still maybe behind the curve on it. >> one of the things, so fired up about this, heard on the hill, they described, this is the white house nobody fears this white house, no consequence if you cross them. what is the consequence for cross the pr

we tried to talk to key democrats in both houses, senate majority leader harry reid, house speaker nancysi as well as representatives nadler and conyers. none would agree to an interview with us on this subject. we also tried to ask the president. the biggest question for him, would he support legislation ending all taxpayer support of acorn? the president did not reply to our request but he did answer that question for another network. >> frankly, it's not really something i followed closely. i didn't even know acorn was getting a whole lot of federal money. what i know is what i saw on that video was certainly inappropriate. >> i would only say that here in washington when somebody benefits you, your political ideology, typically you come together. when they become an anchor dragging you down, it's good politics to cut them loose, and i think president obama would be smart to recognize that this is now an anchor that could bring him down. megyn: coming up, with acorn in shambles here, wade rathke goes international after the break. megyn: acorn has now lost its founder to a financial s

we tried to talk to key democrats in both houses, senate majority leader harry reid, house speaker nancy as representatives nadler and conyers. none would agree to an interview with us on this subject. we also tried to ask the president. the biggest question for him, would he support legislation ending all taxpayer support of acorn? the president did not reply to our request but he did answer that question for another network. >> frankly, it's not really something i followed closely. i didn't even know acorn was getting a whole lot of federal money. what i know is what i saw on that video was certainly inappropriate. >> i would only say that here in washington when somebody benefits you, your political ideology, typically you come together. when they become an anchor dragging you down, it's good politics to cut them loose, and i think president obama would be smart to recognize that this is now an anchor that could bring him down. megyn: coming up, with acorn in shambles here, wade rathke goes international after the break. !% megyn: acorn has now lost its founder to a financial scandal,

. >>> senate majority leader harry reid today announced that the finance committee will vote on a final version of its health care bill on tuesday. that announcement comes as democrats celebrate a report that suggests the bill wouldñr reduce the federal deficit. the congressional budget office report was issued yesterday. it estimate that's the ten-ye cost of the senate finance committee's plan would be $829 billion. some people had feared that the bi would cost more than a trillion dollars. >>> senate republican leader mitch mcconnell called the report irrelevant. he says democrats would pump up the finance committee bill as it makes its way through congress. >> today there was a plea for help from u.s. servicemen who say the biggest threat to their lives didn't come on the battlefield but on their home base. marines from camp lejeunen north carolina testified on capitol hill today before a senate committee on veterans affairs. that committee is looking into claims that the marines were exposed to toxic tap water on the base for more than 30 years. the contaminated water was allegedly

>> you have senator harry reid trying to put a bill together in his office and ready to put it on the in the near future. the target date was actually this tuesday. obviously the finance committee took a little longer to get a congressional budget off and the like, and taking a little longer to get it out. the senate could use up a lot of the rest of october talking about this. you know, i think -- i think we will be well into the winter before anything's done. >> so with both the house and the senate, what are the biggest points of contention, for getting a bipartisan agreement? >> it's such a big, such a big bill, there are so many points of contention. obviously, the house democrats, the liberals in that party, want public option, something that the senate is not prepared to do at this point. there is a lot of battle over how you pay for this measure in the house. you have liberals who really want in the house, to do this with a tax on the wealthiest americans and the senate, that's less popular. you've seen in terms of trying to cover people, the senate is having issues now in ter

there you see, of course, senate majority leader harry reid.ing amendments as to whether general stanley mcchrystal should come and testify before congress and the situation in afghanistan. this is really interesting. there was an amendment offered by carl levin, of course can, the democratic head of the senate armed services committee, saying that mcchrystal, the general, should testify after president obama has made a decision about strategy. and that actually passed, that amendment. john mccain had offered a counteramendment, saying mcchrystal should testify before november 15th. the democratic amendment, passed carl levin. getting the vote tally in, the vote tally was 60-39 in favor of the democrats, so, there you have it. the general in charge of strategy in afghanistan not going to be heard from public belie in terms of taking questions from senators on capitol hill until the president has decided his strategy. pretty interesting. going to have much more straight ahead here on msnbc, the place for politics. with all the pet hair in the ai

. >> you can get 60 votes is very simp el you have to get -- harry reid has to get an agreement on procedurales that if there is a -- if there is a filibuster on any issue that all 60 will vote to cut that filibuster off. and that -- >> no matter what their positns are. >> that's right. >> you can vote your own conscious, your own con city. >> ee on the issue itself. but if they are going to try and filibuster an issue, that i have to have your vote. >> that make sense to you. >> i guess so. i just think it's a huge advantage to get 60 on the subset. i think people are going to still be nervous. we have had all this debate, the summer and then the debate. the public is still extremely skeptical and still extremely skeptical in swing states. and if i'm impressed that mark thinks there are 52 to 55 votes for the public option. i believe that. but that is because the general view is there are a lot more senate democrats who didn't think, who didn't support the public option. but if they can get that, i still think there is going to be a high degree of skepticism for voting for a health-care bill

harry reid and max baucus are at odds. reed reid wants to go to the floor, baucus wants to wait for the cbo to score the senate finance committee bill to tell us how much this is going to cost. everybody is worried about the money. the money, the money, the money. i want to talk about the human cost off the top tonight. we went home this weekend in minnesota. there's a guy i've known there a while. dennis, good guy, had a construction company for some 30 years. small business owner. you know the story. pays his taxes, plays by the rules. smart guy.