[lbo-talk] fighting over a gag order

[Doug Henwood]

[This is interesting - it looks like the Reps are doing the right  
thing for the wrong reason. Obviously the admin doesn't want the  
inscos to talk about it because their health scheming involves serious  
cuts to Medicare. From The Note...]

The Senate's top Republicans are vowing to block President Obama from  
filling health posts until his administration stops barring insurers  
from telling seniors how they could be impacted by cuts to Medicare  
Advantage.

Here is how this maneuver would work: Republicans won't give Democrats  
consent to move Obama's HHS nominees quickly. In effect, Republicans  
will require Democrats to file cloture and use all the time available  
for debate, rather than yielding it back under an agreement.