As the East Coast digs out from two weeks of massive storms, it appeared that the time away from the grind provided an opportunity for a new bi-partisan approach.  On Thursday morning, after apparently sleeping in his office during the storm, Sen. Grassley joined Sen. Baucus to release an encouraging jobs program that could change the tone of the Senate.  The bill would combine extensions of key business incentives (research and development credits) with a new hiring payroll tax holiday.  Together, this approach would give the private sector some visibility to hire and invest, provide a bi-partisan spark to the upper chamber and give the President a win on a signature issue.  

Instead, within a few hours, Sen. Reid killed the mood and rejected the bill “after Democrats complained of too many concessions to Republicans.”   

Separately, but in the same vein, Speaker Pelosi’s senior health care advisor claimed a potential legislative “trick” will allow the Democrats to pass a stalled out health care bill by reconciliation and without additional input.  Speaker Pelosi herself railed against Senate procedure to encourage reconciliation and push harder on a bill that is rejected by a majority of Americans.  

If President Obama wants to truly claim the center, and change the tone in the Capitol he will choose a moment like this to push back against his Congressional leadership.  If he continues to allow Sen. Reid and Speaker Pelosi to be the face of the party’s agenda, he will fail to seize the opportunity to dig out and the Democrats will be buried in November.  

Chris is an attorney working in the private sector in New York City.  He served as co-chair of field operations for McCain Manhattan during the 2008 campaign (which became famous for having the audacity to promote itself on the Upper West Side).