Sen. Whitehouse: Failing on healthcare would mean 'disaster' for Dems

Failing to pass health reform legislation could mean "disaster" for Democrats' future legislative efforts, Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) warned Monday.

The first-term senator issued a dire prediction that falling short on healthcare could lead to a "divided and fractured Democratic Party," and imperil efforts on climate change, financial regulation, and job creation.

"If we don't pass this healthcare bill, not only is it a disaster for future healthcare efforts, it is a disaster for future efforts on the climate, on financial re-regulation, on jobs," Whitehouse said during an appearance on MSNBC. "You will have a divided and fractured Democratic Party. We have got to get this done."

The senator said stakes were no less high if Democrats are forced to vote on a health reform bill including restrictions on federal support for insurance policies covering abortion as was proposed by Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.).

"I think at that point it's an all-or-nothing proposition on the bill with the future of the Democratic Party riding on it," he said.

Sen. Bernie Sanders (Vt.), an independent who caucuses with Democrats, also worried that Democrats could suffer if they fail to pass a bill, but said they had to balance that risk with the need for an effective healthcare bill.

"If your point is from a political perspective do the Democrats look bad if they don't deliver something, the answer is clearly yes," Sanders said. "On the other hand, we have a responsibility to provide not just a bailout of $400-500 billion dollars to the insurance companies, who will raise their rates without any cost containment."

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