Baron Says He May Vote for Reconciliation

At The Hoosierpundit:

From the Los Angeles Times:

Other House Democrats remain vehemently opposed to a provision in the Senate bill that would tax high-end "Cadillac" health plans, even though the president and others have proposed scaling back the tax.

Still others have expressed concern about using budget reconciliation to advance the healthcare bill.

"I think there would be a perception that we are jamming it through," said Rep. Baron P. Hill (D-Ind.), a member of the fiscally conservative House Blue Dog Coalition, who backed the healthcare bill in November and now faces a potentially tough reelection fight.

But, like many centrist House Democrats, Hill said he hasn't "completely closed the door" on backing a reconciliation package.

A similar (though not as complete) account of Baron's quote comes from Business Week.

Notice that Baron doesn't comment on the merits of the bill; he's already voted for it, after all. No, his concern is with "a perception that we are jamming it through."

He's probably also concerned that he is trailing Mike Sodrel by eight points in polling.

But then, for a contrarian thought about vulnerable Democrats like Baron Hill, comes this from Hot Air:

Couldn’t it be that some of these people want their names out there now simply to raise the profile of their vote when they tell Obama and Pelosi no later on? The “I considered voting yes but ultimately followed my constituents’ wishes” pitch packs a dramatic punch for a Democrat who’s in trouble.

Maybe?

Nah.

He's already said that it's important to pass something, anything.

Some things to watch - Baron will vote for reconciliation and Obama/Pelosi Care.  That will seal his fate in the 9th District in November ( I think his fate is already sealed anyway, so he has nothing to lose but a lot to gain - he'll be looking for a job!).  Then look to see what Federal post that Obama and Nancy and Rahm will hook him up with as a payback for his "courageous vote".  And it won't be only Baron - we will see a lot of this type of payback when the Dems ram this through, it is part of the plan!- SP