Chuck Schumer Joins Push For Vote On Public Option

[t0dd]

Source: The Plum Line

This is key: Senator Chuck Schumer has just signed the letter calling on Harry Reid to hold a reconciliation vote on the public option. Schumer just fired off an email to supporters in which he announced his intention to sign the letter, which was initially spearheaded by Senator Michael Bennet and three other Senators. He wrote:

First it was in the Senate bill, then it was out. But now, thanks to the tenacity of a group of four Democratic Senators -- Michael Bennet (CO), Sherrod Brown (OH), Kirsten Gillibrand (NY), and Jeff Merkley (OR) -- there is a renewed push to create a public option as part of health care reform.

I just added my name to their effort to pass a public option through the reconciliation process, and I wanted you to be the first to know.

This is far from a done deal, but it’s an opportunity to break through the obstructionism Republicans have pushed for the past year.

That brings the total number of Senators calling for this vote to 17. But Schumer’s signature is arguably far more important than many of the others.

That’s because Schumer has now become the first member of the Dem Senate leadership to join this effort. As the former head of the DSCC he played a major role in engineering the Dem takeover of the Senate.

Read more: http://theplumline.whorunsgov.com/health-care/chuck-schumer-to-join-push-for-vote-on-public-option/

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. Good for him......and for us!

[Mithreal]

14. +1

Especially for everyone who has been pressuring them.

:woohoo:

[Suji to Seoul]

61. Who are the 17? Please inform this ex-pat.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

63. Here's the list:

http://whipcongress.com/?source=dkos1

[closeupready]

2. Go, Chuck!

:hi:

[PBass]

3. MOMENTUM... WE HAZ IT

Call your Senators and get them on board!

[t0dd]

4. +1

Even if this is nothing more than political grandstanding, we have to keep fighting.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

5. Both of mine are already on board!

[rhett o rick]

45. Both of mine too. Wa the state. nt

[pnwmom]

49. Not according to this, they haven't.

http://whipcongress.com/

But Murray's office told me today she can't sign because she, along with Reid, is a recipient of the letter. I just got a form email back from Cantwell, so I'm going to be calling her tomorrow.

[rhett o rick]

59. you are right. I misread the list. I will call tomorrow. nt

[Kyril Enko]

47. Right on

And SWEAR at them if you have to!

[SemperEadem]

6. there must have been a camera involved.

[GoCubsGo]

7. Whatever it takes.... n/t

[TuxedoKat]

54. LOL...

I noticed that too, wouldn't want to get in front of him and a camera and risk being run over. Glad he signed though. I tried to call him yesterday and his line was busy.

[Lifelong Protester]

8. I just got that email here at work

I will be online to email my senators (Feingold and Kohl) after work.

KEEP IT GOING, FOLKS!

[LatteLibertine]

9. I'm in a cynical

mood today. I feel like no matter what happens at the last minute they will say they tried, were close but simply couldn't get it done. I'd love to be wrong. "Industry experts" aka lobbyists have spent obscene amounts of money fighting HCR and shaping it.

[Mithreal]

15. The bigger question is whether everyone of us tried

[Hekate]

19. Agreed

[IthinkThereforeIAM]

10. Something tells me that...

... this was part of the plan all along. Let the GOP make utter corporate fools of themselves, and then ram it down their throats anyway.

[thereismore]

17. No, I think it's more about making lemonade, but I'll take it! nt

[No Elephants]

30. With folks getting sicker and dying and going bankrupt all year, that would have been one heinous

political game.

[DeSwiss]

11. Ahhhh great!!! K&R!!!!

And I see Chuck's taken my advice and gotten hold of the newest miracle cure for Dodering Demitude!!!



- Ask for it by name!

[varelse]

34. You know what, I don't even care how sexist that image is

it's hilarious!

:rofl:

[Hotler]

71. "Lift flap to open,you pussy." That's funny n/t

[hedgehog]

12. I'm usually shy about taking credit, but I called his office at 11AM to

tell him to get on board.

[Mithreal]

16. Take a victory any chance you can get one. Even small ones count bigtime.

They give you energy and are the best remedy for frustration.

Congratulations :hi:

[thereismore]

18. Thank you hedgehog, you did good. nt

[FailureToCommunicate]

25. Big results from a little critter. Thanks hedgehog!

[janet118]

26. Good on you!!!! n/t

[annabanana]

36. Yours must have been the one that finally got to him...

I tried his Washington office all day yesterday and got busy busy busy. I finally left word with one of his local offices.

[defendandprotect]

13. Another positive step -- but a long way being where we ought to be MEDICARE FOR ALL --

[Shining Jack]

20. +1 n/t

[No Elephants]

33. Yes, but a good public option would lead to single payer, aka, medicare for all.

[SlingBlade]

21. Looks like the've got their Stratigery worked out on this problem.

All that's left now is to choose who the goat is going be for sinking this boat as well.

Good Cop Meet Bad Cop !

[LaPera]

22. Where's BOXER?

My Senator whom I've always voted for....(Marin county).

[t0dd]

40. She signed on this morning.. http://whipcongress.com for most recent list.. nt

[democracy1st]

23. K & R

[blm]

24. Schumer was NOT instrumental in taking over Senate. AntiBush fervor and Dean's DNC leadership did

far more than Schumer who actually worked AGAINST Dem senators who wanted Alito filibuster. In fact, Dem activists were FURIOUS with Schumer and refused to send money to DSCC and he had to rely even more heavily on other senators donating from their own coffers.

[DLnyc]

35. True dat.

Schumer has been very conservative, considering he 'represents' a VERY Democratic state, notably on the invasion of Iraq and on Alito. But perhaps he sees that his re-election dreams require some actual progressive votes. Seriously, I think he may be starting to get the message and that's why he came out for this move toward a public option.

Better late than never. I say "Good for you (finally), Chuck."

I think I will call his office tomorrow and thank him. (I tried to call his office today but the line was busy. I wonder why that was? Maybe thousands of constituents calling him to demand that he sign on for the public option?)

[blm]

68. and...if he actually WAS leadership material, he would be the one LEADING THIS EFFORT - he is NOT.

And it's not exactly like he's been too busy with committee duties.

[JCMach1]

72. Schumer was however instrumental in early support for Obama.,,

This is the most encouraging sign I have seen in months.

As goes Schumer so goes...

[blm]

73. So goes...what? Schumer's standard operation is to POSE pretty for blogs then do us wrong behind

closed doors. Schumer's actions encouraging? Only when he faces defeat or exposure for his dirty dealings, then he puts out a hurried, left-pleasing statement to make everyone think he's been working hard for the left's position all along. In that sense only would I find his latest statement encouraging.

[JCMach1]

78. Considering he hasn't done much positive in months...

I will take any encouragement I can get at this point. I would like to be able to live in my country again some day!

[blm]

79. heheh....that's for sure. Starvation makes just about 'any'thing palatable.

.

[bobbolink]

27. thanks for this---I love the sound of MOMENTUM!

I'm handing out pieces of paper to all I come across with Mark Udall's number on it... and urging them to call to tell him to just sign it, for crying in a bucket! ^_^

Most haven't heard about this, so I've explained it so many times I will hear my own voice in my dreams.

thanks!

[mascarax]

28. Current count - 17

From DFA email:

1. Michael Bennet (CO),
2. Sherrod Brown (OH),
3. Kirsten Gillibrand (NY),
4. Jeff Merkley (OR)
5. Dianne Feinstein (CA),
6. Barbara Boxer (CA),
7. Frank Lautenberg (NJ),
8. Jack Reed (RI),
9. Roland Burris (IL),
10. Al Franken (MN),
11. John Kerry (MA),
12. Patrick Leahy (VT),
13. Bernie Sanders (VT),0
14. Barbara Mikulski (MD),
15. Tom Udall (NM),
16. Sheldon Whitehouse (RI)
17. Chuck Schumer (NY)

[mascarax]

31. Current count - 18 - Shaheen

Based on the "thank them" page on DFA website:

18. Jeanne Shaheen (NH)

[Hubert Flottz]

65. SADLY...

I see that Senators Robert Byrd and Jay Rockefeller are not on that list, so that puts them near the top of one of my lists...

I signed the thingy and I'll call later today.

[mascarax]

82. Did you call? What did the staffers say (if you did)?

I read Byrd is a stickler for Senate protocol and that might be the reason why he wouldn't sign.
Don't know about Rockefeller...

Just saw Ezra Klein on MSNBC tonight, and he said Dem. Senate staffers are scared about this building and Senators actually having to make a decision (my words, not his...but I do believe he used the word "scared")!

[Hubert Flottz]

84. The staffers said they would relay my message...

"SCARED" What if our leaders had been "SCARED" in 1776?

What if our soldiers were too "SCARED" to act?

Did we elect a gang of COWARDS? They all claimed they would fight for us in Washington. But now they're too "SCARED?"

The little engine that could wasn't "SCARED"

I won't vote for a little engine that CAN'T!

[Jefferson23]

29. Here's to tenacity, I thank the first 4 for getting this started.

Schumer on board seems almost surreal.

[mother earth]

32. We, the people, demand the public option, incumbents best

realize that and take appropriate action. Otherwise, those midterm elections will hit them hard. This is their chance, if they want to keep their office.

[julian09]

37. How many of these senators are up for reelection in 2010

only a third of senators are up, those are the ones to go after and should be made vulnerable.
Sen Lincoln should be challenged in a primary, along with others who oppose public option.

[eagertolearn]

38. Kept calling Ron Wydens office all day but always busy. Left a message after hours

Please everyone call your senators who are not on board yet!

[go west young man]

39. Finally some top tier support.

Let's steamroll this thing and not look back!

[julian09]

42. Keith Olberman is on this right now

We still have a ways to go.

[daleanime]

41. Great...

now remember, it's got to be a full PO available to anyone not just to anyone who's unprofitable O8)

[Beartracks]

43. But isn't this all just a drive to....

... put the wussy, watered-down, hobbled Public Option back into play -- the same so-called Public Option that was jettisoned from legislative consideration late last year after being whittled down, bargained away, and strangled?

[rhett o rick]

44. I see both Senators from Washington the State have signed on.

Maybe my emails weren't wasted. keep up the pressure

[pnwmom]

48. That surprises me because Patty Murray's office told me today that she

couldn't sign because she, like Reid, was on the committee RECEIVING the letter.

[rhett o rick]

60. I was wwwwrong. I stand corrected. nt

[valerief]

46. Dare we hope? Dare we? nt

[pinto]

50. Kick

:kick:

[BurtWorm]

51. NY is 2 for 2!

:applause:

[unkachuck]

52. stop 'signing letters' and pass the goddam thing....n/t

[Rosa Luxemburg]

53. yes, get the show on the road!

[wordpix]

56. boy am I sick of all the letter signing, +1

[wordpix]

55. Let's get it done Senators! and keep your seats while you're at it

Don't count on us if we can't count on you, is my message to the Dem senators.

[duhneece]

57. One of my NM Senators, Udall, is signed on nt

[laughingliberal]

58. This might work! Any ideas who the holdouts are?

I read this morning that there are probably only 45 votes for the PO right now. Do we know who the 14 'nots' are? Can we find out and target them. If there are, currently, 45 votes that means we need 5 to flip.

[tomp]

62. this from the guy who originally insisted....

....that the public option be forced to be competitive with the insurance companies ("level playing field"), in other words, essentially neutering it. in other words, if chuck is for it, i'm definitely suspiciouus.

[blm]

69. exactly...he's always ONE thing in public and pure corporatist behind closed doors, sabotaging Dems

on the left so many times we've lost count by now.

[Political Heretic]

64. Just wanted to say that I have my fingers crossed. Though of course I'm skeptical

I mean, it just wouldn't be me if I wasn't skeptical. :P

[ElsewheresDaughter]

66. Well that makes both of mine unboard now.....there really is no other option

[nyc 4 Biden]

67. my call yesterday worked.

that was fast. :)

[JDPriestly]

70. If you do the math, you realize that we pay plenty of money into Social Security

to amply cover the Social Security benefits for maybe 30 years of retirement each. It's our Medicare that we do not pay for when we are young.

Europeans do not have this problem. That is because no matter what sort of insurance coverage they have they pay into pretty much the same insurance fund all their lives. Thus, when they are younger they pay premiums that not only cover their current medical expenses but also that cover the medical expenses of the very elderly.

In our system, we (or our employers on our behalf) buy health insurance from private companies during our working years. Those premiums cover the medical costs of all who are in our pool -- but don't cover the costs of people on Medicare. Since our medical care is not that expensive when we are young -- most of the money on our care is spent in the last years or months of life -- private insurance companies can afford to pay their CEOs handsome salaries and even pay a little in profits to their private investors. The high cost of caring for the elderly in the expensive years is shifted into the government budget.

If we adopt a single payer system similar to any one of the forms used by the Europeans, we will be able to spread the high costs of medical care for seniors across our lives. It's smarter for everyone. It's fairer.

I think that the movement in the Senate toward at least starting a public option may be motivated by a recognition that we cannot balance the budget ever, ever, ever unless we reform health care insurance so that the high cost of medical care in the final years of life are spread across our entire lives. We have to pay for the medical care of the seniors who are older now. Most of them paid into private insurance all their lives. That money is gone. We have had a flawed system all these years.

Obama needs to talk straight with the American people and explain this reality. Medicare does not need to be cut. It needs to cover everyone -- cradle to grave.

[Heywood J]

74. And I thought DiFi was a stopped clock right twice a day...

I had begun to think Schumer was a total loss, a write-off in terms of anything progressive or worthwhile. I think I may have to grudgingly call his office and thank him.

[Heywood J]

76. Done.

His Washington office sounded very busy, I had to call four times before getting a person. I think he's getting a lot of thank-yous for this.

[RoccoR5955]

75. I told him, he listened!

Some congress critters actually listen to their constituents!
Now both NY senators are in for WE THE PEOPLE!

[rhett o rick]

77. IMHO, Some Democrats have been hiding behind the Republican filibuster.

Using it as an excuse not to pass legislation that would benefit the middle class at the expense of the corporations. Reconciliation will be the real test to see which Democrats are true to the people.

[yurbud]

80. is Schumer the chimp or the tiger?

[Saxon]

81. Could this be what's going on?

Following are 2 OPs from a financial blog I regularly read.

#1

I have been in this industry over 13 years and I have never seen anything like this.

You are going to see colossal layoffs in this space in the second half of the year. I would not be surprised to see 30,000 layoffs in my company alone.

The big boys are losing nearly EVERY single blockbuster patent by 2012. HR is doing a Chris Brown on us here in sales as well as R&D. We have been told to expect a 20% worldwide layoff by June.

Every company is doing the same.

The combination of a tougher FDA, generic deterioration, and lack of drug discovery may very well make this industry nearly obsolete within 5 years.

I will be lucky to make it into the 2nd quarter myself. I have NEVER seen more backstabbing, fear, and desperation in any other corporate environment that I have been a part of.

There is a worldwide panic in this industry and it's going to be a humungous blow to the economy. Many high paying jobs are going to evaporate over the next 2 years.

Many of you may take pride in this because of our industries reputation but it is not good for the USA when any large industry virtually disappears.

Sad times. (Yea for this asshole sad times. For us not so sad.)

#2

I've been waiting a year for talk of layoffs to begin the health care space. Today I got confirmation.

In a staff meeting we were informed every major urban health care system is being crushed under the burden of uninsured, unemployed and there will definitely be layoffs within months. Open job listings will be pulled immediately, administrative/managerial staff gets first cut, and if it's not enough they will start laying off clinicians.

I work for a large system, >11K employees and I figure this is fairly indicative of the health care economy in every urban area. I expect 3-5% of the health care workers, primarily the management/administrative appartus of it, to get laid off this year


Add to this the recent price increase by BCBS of over 30% in California. BCBS explained that with the bad economy and unemployment more people are dropping coverage leaving only the high health care users left as customers. They need the money from people to who never go to the doctor to stay in business.

Could we be seeing the total collapse of the Health Care industry.

This would explain why HC was one of the first items addressed by Obama. Save the health care industry at all cost.

It would also explain the big pharma deal and no single payer. I believe an extension of the pharma patents was part of the secret pharma deal.

I'm sorry I am way past trusting anything any politician does. Never take those bastards at their word.

What surprises me is that the Republicans who almost always back the corporations 100% have thrown them under the bus on health care.

[mascarax]

83. Current count - 19 (Arlen added)

1. Michael Bennet (CO),
2. Sherrod Brown (OH),
3. Kirsten Gillibrand (NY),
4. Jeff Merkley (OR)
5. Dianne Feinstein (CA),
6. Barbara Boxer (CA),
7. Frank Lautenberg (NJ),
8. Jack Reed (RI),
9. Roland Burris (IL),
10. Al Franken (MN),
11. John Kerry (MA),
12. Patrick Leahy (VT),
13. Bernie Sanders (VT),0
14. Barbara Mikulski (MD),
15. Tom Udall (NM),
16. Sheldon Whitehouse (RI)
17. Chuck Schumer (NY)
18. Jeanne Shaheen (NH)
19. Arlen Specter (PA)