According to Roll Call this evening, Majority Leader Harry Reid has finally told Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT) to stop chasing Rethug votes and pass the Democrats' health care reform legislation out of his committee.
Can it be Reid, who is famously known for his "gentle persuasion" methods, has finally stiffened his spine and realizes the Rethugs will never go along with a landmark health care reform bill? To try to pick up Assley Grassley and perhaps a few more Rethug votes, Baucus might have been willing to gut the public option, among other proposals key to a progressive health care reform bill (and lose 15 to 20 Democrats in the process -- nice math, Max!). Time to stand up as Democrats and get this done.
