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WASHINGTON - Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, may try to eliminate the Senate filibuster.
One or two members of the Democratic caucus have taken a "my-way-or- the-highway position" on health care, Harkin said today on a conference call with reporters.
Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb., has shaped up as one of the hardest votes for Democrats to land on the health care legislation. Sen. Joe Lieberman, an Independent from Connecticut who caucuses with the Democrats, also is proving to be a tough sell.
"You know who my co-sponsor was? Joe Lieberman," Harkin said.
Nelson has said he has concerns about numerous provisions in the legislation, including certain excise taxes, its approach to abortion coverage and the creation of a new government insurance plan.
Nelson and Harkin have both been part of a group of ten Senate Democrats - liberals and moderates - trying to hammer out a compromise on the government insurance plan, or public option.
Under Senate rules, it requires 60 votes to end a filibuster. That means Democrats need the support of all 60 members of their caucus, if Republicans are united in opposition.
Harkin expressed frustration that the situation means one or two senators can exert enormous influence over legislation.
"It really is an abuse," Harkin said. "It's an abuse of a person's position as a senator to demand, because we need one more vote, just to demand everything. It's really unfair to the rest of the Senate, rest of the caucus."
He said lots of senators, himself included, have to come to terms with disappointments in the health care bill.
"To sort of lay down an ultimatum, 'Well, it's got to be this or nothing and I'm walking away from it,' well that's not the way you do legislation," Harkin said. "If you want to be a legislator, maybe it's not the right place for a person to be that takes a position like that."
Harkin said he's not sure about the level of support among other senators for eliminating the filibuster. He noted that he proposed legislation to do so years ago.
