CNN "The Situation Room" - Transcript

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CNN "The Situation Room" - Transcript

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CROWLEY: Suddenly, the August recess seems pretty long. It was more sedate, but doing rounds at a Denver hospital, Senator Michael Bennett did not sound like a man in a huge hurry to pass health care reform.

SEN. MICHAEL BENNETT (D), COLORADO: The more one gets into this, the more you see how complex a system it is. It's very important that we don't create a bunch of unintended consequences that compound problems and struggles that people already have.

CROWLEY: August recess has begun for most Capitol Hill lawmakers, who are headed home with one thing on their mind -- health care. Actually, two things.

AMY WALTER, HOTLINE: Members are always thinking about running again so 2010 top of their mind.

CROWLEY: Even those not up for re-election next year feel the heat of an August recess when a hot topic like health care is in limbo on Capitol Hill. Senator Kent Conrad will do listening sessions across North Dakota.

QUESTION: What impact will that have on you?

SEN. KENT CONRAD (D), NORTH DAKOTA: Well, it would have a great impact. You know, I -- I represent the people of North Dakota. They're the ones that elected me.

CROWLEY: But bet your last dollar that August recess this time will have a lot more to do with talking than listening.

CONRAD: I think it's also very important that people across the country hear that the course we're on is not sustainable.

CROWLEY: On the House side, Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Republican leader John Boehner sent talking points to their members, basically boiling down to two broad themes.

WALTER: Big evil insurance companies versus socialized medicine.

CROWLEY: Time is not on the side of Democrats, many of whom wanted health care done before recess. The longer the issue hangs out there, the more it becomes a pinata. Advantage -- the critics.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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