Dean urges Dems to kill Senate bill

Howard Dean is urging Democrats to kill the Senate healthcare bill.

Dean had praised last week's compromise that substituted a Medicare buy-in for the public option. But the decision to remove the buy-in provision to placate Joe Lieberman has turned the Vermont Democrat against the legislation.

"This is essentially the collapse of health care reform in the United States Senate," Dean said in an interview set to air tonight, according to Greg Sargent. "Honestly the best thing to do right now is kill the Senate bill, go back to the House, start the reconciliation process, where you only need 51 votes and it would be a much simpler bill.”

Using budget reconciliation would lower the legislative threshold for passing a bill, but would also present a number of procedural headaches for Democrats.

John Podesta, Chief of Staff to Bill Clinton, has predicted Democrats may take a second look at reconciliation. But President Obama's statement this afternoon suggests the White House is more eager to push through the bill that's on the table now.

A number of other progressives, such as Congressional Progressive Caucus chairman Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-Ariz.) have also come out against the legislation.