The Pelosi Push

" Big White House scoop but I shake up at the White House. Earlier we spoke and Brett -- who is host of Special Report. This time -- late night news tonight from the White House White House count so you gotten."

" Major Garrett broke this story today that what house counsel Greg Craig is expected to leave according to sources by the end of the year possibly sooner. And that a top candidate to replace Greg Craig is Robert Bauer who is the president's personal attorneys also chief counsel to the Democratic National Committee and and he's also the husband to the interim White House communications director Anita Dunn who of course I was at them. Center of all of the back and forth between the White House and Fox News -- at the beginning so. It's not a done deal according to major's reporting make it fun yeah right not -- upon but that dead Bauer will get it. But he's indications are that he's the -- top candidate which is pretty interest. I think it's and treated with sir looks like you know the of the reagans are circling and even this bit about Greg Craig -- put probably pushed out. Probably well you know they'll obviously painted a different way but Greg Craig was at the center of the decision. About Guantanamo Bay and how that prison was going to be closed down and the the present coming out saying it will be closed you know one year from today when he made that announcement I think it was on January 22. They're not likely not going to make that deadline in fact officials say there's there's probably no way attorney general Eric Holder said. It's going to be very difficult and Catherine Herridge has been reporting. There's just not going to be solution by the and so a lot of put people put the blame on Greg -- He is defended himself in public. And said he's not hasn't it doesn't have any plans to leave but our sources are telling us that. That he's going to leave the White House by the end of the year and -- cozy Washington is because Greg Craig is part of the entry would the Clinton net present for President Clinton. And second state Clinton because he went wrote -- sleep tight would them. And then he went with Obama yeah it -- I mean obviously as you know it's a very close knit community in both sides of the island Democrat Republican politics here. So there's a lot of deep. Roots Greg Craig goes back a lot of ways and different different campaigns but he he factored in big -- the Obama campaign. But this -- to work past entry will get the next couple days are right now I'm health care what's when I would speaker Pelosi issued to get the public option on the house side or not. We know what she's counting votes right now we're told our producers up on Capitol Hill and she's counting them and not coming up with the most robust public option so. They're going to have to scale -- back in some way shape perform the big issue is what happens in that conference committee as we've talked about when the Senate and the house come together and they come. With their all of their bills together right now. They compromise FISA legislation the Senate Finance Committee bill as you know is a long long -- from the house legislation as it is right now. So. Right now is house speaker Pelosi -- she doesn't have it what happens back conference committee though there's a long long way to go."

" When he didn't get the job as speaker of the house special -- send -- an issue seven a driver is seat because she's -- speaker of the house but it's it's such a huge house the semi Democrats it's like herding cats. And she certainly has her position she wants the most liberal -- a robust public option but she's got a deal with the moderates yeah."

" Blue dog Democrats these are people who won. In red states some of them. Conservative or moderate districts and that worried about reelection. Some of them went out on a limb for cap and trade legislation. That they were taking hits they are taking hits from their opponents currently in these districts. And they're worried about how they're going to vote on health care and whether they'll have cover. If in fact it goes through. Everybody's counting votes sent senate majority leader Harry Reid is counting votes he's leaning towards a public option that. Allow states to opt out if they want to. Isn't like a public option light -- basically an act. As is speaker Pelosi reportedly thinking about a trigger which is what we've heard from Republican senator Olympia -- which would. Mean that if insurance companies don't need a certain bar. That that would trigger the public option -- the government run health insurance option."

" But even had so that's that's -- so the lighter version and she's gonna go back in her district some time which joined us who visited California's San -- districts really wants them more robust public option then light show is that -- about Bob political defeat for her are -- well."

" No because Democrats at the end of the day the White House will say we need. This legislation we have to have it for the future of the Obama presidency it's the number one priority for President Obama. And Democrats we'll have to decide whether they're going to go half way. Or go all the way and I think when you talk about a trigger it still opens the door to a public option a government run option. Depending on how the bar is set to. And how high this insurance companies have to jump."

" So what she offered the blue dogs get the votes and what didn't behind the scenes and it. How do you get those votes if Leo how -- how do you persuade -- looking look at what can --"

" Money for campaigns. Appearances. Some of them President Obama doesn't help and some of the most conservative districts perhaps but. A number of people could help the house majority leader Steny Hoyer. Could campaign a lot of this horse trading goes on to help these individual candidates and they're all concerned about one thing."

" Getting reelected is there any possibility it off then we looked on the road that this health care bill won't get passed in some form. I think there are still some speed bumps along the way I really do like I stay cancer bumps and innovative and it could they could they slamming of the wall or -- something's gonna get past."

" something will get past some piece of legislation will get past the president will sign something it's very likely but we. As it stands now there are still a lot of hurdles what he called speed bumps are not. For Democrats to push through what they want to push through I think. There could be some real problems in the Senate when you get down to counting conservative Democrats because that's where comes down to the Ben Nelson's of the world -- Mary Landers of the world. I think -- can."

" envision how did that the present want to bring this in under 900 billion and the CBO says the bill -- under 900 billion. But in order to achieve that they had -- slice off certain extra -- like -- the dot that doctor -- was gonna cost about 250 -- so rather than added onto the health care reform bill and going over the threshold 900. Making separate bills they separate side deal since it can't for some reason I -- think that the American taxpayers must be sitting home thinking like. You know whats with that we know why give it to straight."

" yeah I mean and and what this is done is open up the door to a lot of people who didn't know the process. Of hey look over here we're gonna take this over here. And -- out of the bill to try to pass a bill that's under a trillion dollars but in reality when you add it all together. Over ten years. He will be much more than a 1000000000001 point eight trillion this some estimates. -- and the Democrats are gonna get everything they want other Republicans -- likely get something they do want. Well they may they may get something on medical malpractice. Some some kind of mention they may get some kind of program like a test program. They may. Get some you know it -- it's not. This is yet to be seen what what Republicans could get to because they're really not at the table behind that closed door and when -- usually think about -- no idea but being bipartisan really isn't at this point. Not behind that closed door in the negotiation. And the only. I hope that Republicans have is that conservative Democrats would fight for some of the same issues that perhaps they would -- advocate for. And of course the plot thickens and then next week we'll two -- it yeah it's fascinating it is thank you --"