Your morning jolt: Two Ga. Blue Dogs split on health care

According to this morning’s New York Times, the heat is what keeps U.S. Rep. David Scott in the kitchen, not out:

The political temperature of the Blue Dogs — and their ideological counterparts in the Senate — after the five-week recess is crucial. As representatives of some of the nation’s most conservative territory represented by Democrats, they potentially have the most to lose if a Democratic bill spurs a backlash.

Even with healthy majorities in Congress, every Democratic vote is critical given the reluctance by some Democrats to consider a major overhaul and near blanket Republican opposition.

One lawmaker in the group, Representative David Scott of Georgia, said his determination to enact a health care overhaul had been increased over the recess because of what he called the spread of misinformation and other unfair tactics engaged in by the opposition.

“I think now more than ever we must get strong in our resolve to pass health care insurance reform legislation,” Mr. Scott said…

But another Blue Dog from Georgia was less sure:

But even as some moderate and conservative Blue Dogs signaled they were still ready to move forward, it was clear that others could support only a substantially scaled-back approach. That could mean a bill that would fall short of the Democratic goal of extending coverage to the almost 50 million people without health insurance.

“Without wholesale changing the bills, I just don’t see how it’s going to work,” said Representative Jim Marshall of Georgia.

Meanwhile, down in south Georgia, U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson on Tuesday predicted the failure of the current health care reform effort. This from the Albany Herald:

“I don’t want to destroy the system that serves 86 percent of the public,” the junior senator said. “While I’m opposed to turning over health care (to the public sector), I do believe we should fix problems.”

…The reform Isakson said he would support includes a look into how health insurance companies operate.

”In this debate, it’s time to take a close look at the evaluation of insurance companies in this country,” he said.

Travis Fain, who writes the Lucid Idiocy blog for the Macon Telegraph, has come across the makings of a Republican deal cooking on that sales tax for transportation:

House and Senate leaders, and particularly House Majority Leader Jerry Keen and Senate President Pro Tem Tommie Williams, have been meeting on the issue. They’re basically talking about splitting the difference.

Voters would be asked to approve a half penny sales tax for a statewide transportation plan, like the House wants, and to OK another half penny for regional (or individual county) TSPLOSTs, like the Senate has wanted.

It would take one vote to authorize the two half pennies, then separate votes to actually start charging the second half in individual communities.

Now, that doesn’t sound too complicated, does it?

In this morning’s Washington Times, Gov. Mark Sanford of South Carolina says he’s been shaken by the failure of a single Republican to speak out against his impeachment.

Yet Sanford refuses to give up. Not only does he think God is on his side, but the South Carolina governor said his troubles resemble those of a certain Alaskan with fashionable eyewear:

The governor, trying to survive a scandal involving a widely publicized extramarital affair, also compared a new ethics probe over his travel and personal expenses to what he called the baseless complaints brought against former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.

“I think I now know what Sarah may have been feeling,” Mr. Sanford [said].”

While you ponder that comparison, consider these items found while perusing this morning’s ajc.com:

Georgia fourth behind California, Florida in bank failure costs.

In election season turnabout, Atlanta water billing to be revamped.

Clark professors say memo misinterpreted.

Borders takes gloves off in mayor’s race.

Wayne Shackelford, former Georgia DOT commissioner, dies.

Cherokee County to run election for north Fulton city.

Gwinnett’s stimulus funding at $120 million.

Gwinnett Medical’s bid to perform open-heart surgery prompts fight Emory and Piedmont hospitals.

Fired jeans-wearing chief running for Jonesboro council seat.

Some opinion:

Your Luckovich fix.

Cynthia Tucker wonders whether Obama can win back support for health care reform.

Jay Bookman on Nathan Deal ‘s effort s to protect Georgia families — or at least his own.

Our kids choke as leaders do nothing.

An insider’s revolution gets its footing in Japan.

From elsewhere:

LAT: U.S. to boost combat force in Afghanistan.

NYT: Tribal leaders say Karzai’s team forged 23,900 votes.

Politico: “Lord of the Flies” in Kabul.

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