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Woman of the Hour

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WASHINGTON - Nobody knew for sure what Senator Olympia J. Snowe would do yesterday when the Finance Committee gathered to vote on its health care bill - not even Snowe.

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  1. James FergusonOctober 14, 2009 at 2:01 PM

    I don't think many Americans even knew Maine was a state in the union until now, but Olympia Snow has made everyone take note. I can only imagine the furor she has caused within the Republican Party.

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  2. MartiOctober 15, 2009 at 11:06 AM

    The vote was 14-9. If she had voted nay it would have been 13-10 . . . wouldn't it have gotten out of the committee for that as well? Jon Stewart made a point of that on his show Wednesday.

    My cousin Ginny is senior aide to Olympia Snow. Since Republicans are giving Sen. Snow grief lately, I think she should change party, even just to be independent. Republican Party is simply a disgraceful, narrow pit these days.

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  3. James FergusonOctober 15, 2009 at 11:12 AM

    It showed she is willing to break ranks on the bill, which should prove key in the full Senate vote.

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  4. avrdsOctober 15, 2009 at 3:44 PM

    I liked one of the comments at the NY Times: "I didn't vote for Olympia Snow to run the country."

    ReplyDelete
  5. MartiOctober 16, 2009 at 1:49 AM

    I doubt very much that any Republicans will follow her on this. She's known for being the moderate in the bunch.

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  6. James FergusonOctober 16, 2009 at 10:29 AM

    There are others as well like Collins of Maine and Lugar of Indiana who could go against the Repugs on this bill, since their states went with Obama and I would think their constituents are watching this bill closely.

    Of course, there are a couple of Dems who might go against the bill like Nelson of Nebraska and Landrieu of Louisiana, which I imagine the Repugs are actively courting. Nelson is on record as being against any form of public option and the bill in general.

    Still, I think the bill will pass and the Republicans will be forced to eat this one.

    Next up the even more contentious Energy Bill.

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