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Senator Joe Lieberman  attempted to mend fences with his Democratic colleagues Tuesday by explaining his recent threats on the healthcare reform legislation.

On Sunday, Lieberman told  the Nation that he could not support healthcare legislation that included a Medicare buy-in or expansion.  He added that he would even join a GOP filibuster of the bill if his demands were not met.  His comments set off a firestorm among Senate Democrats and led to a couple of closed door meetings with the Leadership and the Administration. By Monday evening, Majority Leader Harry Reid  was telling news outlets he would drop the Medicare buy-in, thus appeasing the Senator from Connecticut.  Democrats, however were still fuming over Lieberman's flip-flop on the issue.Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro  said Lieberman's actions were unconscionable. DeLauro said , "No individual should hold health care hostage, including Joe Lieberman, and I'll say it flat out, I think he ought to be recalled." In trying to pacify his colleagues, Lieberman said Tuesday, that while he supports the core of the healthcare reform bill, he objected to any language that would "endanger the fiscal solvency of Medicare."  He acknowledged that a decade ago he supported an expansion of the Medicare program but said things are different now.

Lieberman said he now looks forward to passing a healthcare reform bill that will benefit the American people.Whether his fellow Senators, especially those on the Democratic side of the aisle, look forward to continued work with Lieberman on the issue, remains to be seen.

Source: examiner.com

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