List of 51 Senate Democrats Who Support a Public Option: WHAT’S STOPPING THEM NOW? [View All]

[t0dd]

http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/2010/01/29/list-of-51-senate-democrats-who-support-a-public-option-whats-stopping-them-now/

Some day, just for kicks, I’m going to collect quotes from every scold who called upon their volumes of wisdom about Senate procedure to decree that Joe Lieberman must be the ultimate decider on any health care bill, because after all it took 60 votes to pass anything. Because now, as we’ve known all along, that’s a self-imposed limitation that the Senate can surmount if they want to.

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When he voted against a public option on the Senate Finance Committe, Max Baucus — who has supported a public option in the past — said he did so because it couldn’t get 60 votes in the Senate. And now they can’t even get 50 votes to agree to change the bill in any way.

So, should we conclude that the 51 Democrats in the Senate who said they support a public option when 60 votes were needed were all full of shit, now that the bar is down to 50 and they’re still not moving?

Here is a list of the 51 Democrats who said they support a public option:

1 Akaka HI Signed Oct 8 letter demanding public option

2 Baucus MT Said reason for voting against on Senate Finance was the need for 60 votes

3 Bennet CO Signed Oct 8 letter demanding public option

4 Bingaman NM Voted for Schumer’s “level playing field” public option on Senate Finance

5 Boxer CA Signed Oct 8 letter demanding public option

6 Brown OH Voted for HELP Committee public option

7 Burris IL Signed Oct 8 letter demanding public option

8 Byrd “In his honor and as a tribute to his commitment to his ideals, let us stop the shouting and name calling and have a civilized debate on health care reform which I hope, when legislation has been signed into law, will bear his name for his commitment to insuring the health of every American.”

9 Cantwell WA Voted for Schumer level playing field on Senate Finance

10 Cardin MD Voted for Kennedy resolution demanding public option in May

11 Carper DE Voted for Schumer’s “level playing field” public option on Senate Finance

12 Casey PA Signed Oct 8 letter demanding public option

13 Dodd CT Voted for HELP Committee public option

14 Dorgan ND I do believe that some sort of public option needs to be part of the proposal, along with a focus on bringing down health care costs and prevention.

15 Durbin IL Voted for Kennedy resolution demanding public option in May

16 Feingold WI Signed Oct 8 letter demanding public option

17 Feinstein CA Signed Oct 8 letter demanding public option

18 Franken MN Signed Oct 8 letter demanding public option

19 Gillibrand NY Signed Oct 8 letter demanding public option

20 Hagan NC Voted for HELP Committee public option

21 Harkin IA Voted for HELP Committee public option

22 Inouye HI Signed Oct 8 letter demanding public option

23 Johnson SD I asked, “What about the bill are you opposed to?” He replied, “That it doesn’t have a robust public option”

24 Kaufman DE Signed Oct 8 letter demanding public option

25 Kerry MA Signed Oct 8 letter demanding public option

26 Klobuchar MN “I would prefer a public option that would be a competitive option that would allow people to buy into a Federal Employee Health Benefits Program, which is a series of private plans.”

27 Kohl WI Signed Oct 8 letter demanding public option

28 Lautenberg NJ Signed Oct 8 letter demanding public option

29 Leahy VT Voted for Kennedy resolution demanding public option in May

30 Levin MI Voted for Kennedy resolution demanding public option in May

31 McCaskill MO Voted for Schumer’s level playing field on Senate Finance

32 Menendez NJ Voted for Schumer level playing field on Senate Finance

33 Merkley OR Signed Oct 8 letter demanding public option

34 Mikulski MD Signed Oct 8 letter demanding public option

35 Murray WA Voted for HELP Committee public option

36 Nelson (Bill) FL Voted for Schumer’s “level playing field” public option on Senate Finance

37 Reed RI Signed Oct 8 letter demanding public option

38 Reid NV “I’ve told people, whoever will listen, that I am in favor of the public option.”

39 Rockefeller WV Voted for Schumer Level Playing Field public option on Senate Finance Committee

40 Sanders VT Voted for HELP Committee public option

41 Schumer NY Sponsor of Schumer Amendment

42 Shaheen NH Voted for Kennedy resolution demanding public option in May

43 Specter PA Signed Oct 8 letter demanding public option

44 Stabenow MI Voted for Schumer’s level playing field on Senate Finance

45 Tester MT “We need competition, and if we get a public option that will help Montana. I will support it.”

46 Udall CO “I support the President’s plan to include the public option as a tool help reform our broken health care system. But above all, any reform must be done in a deficit-neutral way and must provide choice, stability and security for those who have insurance.”

47 Udall NM Voted for Kennedy resolution demanding public option in May

48 Warner VA “It’s not a make or break thing–he wants to see a health reform bill that contains costs, and if it includes a public option…he would vote for it.”

49 Webb VA Told the Huffington Post he is open to a public health care option.

50 Whitehouse RI Signed Oct 8 letter demanding public option

51 Wyden OR Signed Oct 8 letter demanding public option