Congressman Grijalva: "robust Medicare plus five public option" already has 210 votes

[ProSense]

Ryan Grim ryan

Public Option Within Eight Votes Of House Passage, Says Rep. Grijalva

The robust public option is eight votes short of the 218 it needs to pass the House, Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-Ariz.) tells HuffPost.

Grijalva, as co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, has been counting support for a public option tied to Medicare rates -- the so-called Medicare plus five -- over the last few weeks.

"We anticipate that we're at 210," he said. "We feel that the momentum is all on the robust Medicare plus five public option."

Grijalva said that "25-plus" Democrats have said they will vote no. "Some of those no's are no regardless. It has nothing to do with the public option," he said, putting the number of those firm no-votes at 18 or 19.

There are 256 Democrats in the House. With 25 or 30 no votes, that leaves only about 15 to 20 members still to decide. Progressives need roughly half of them.

He says that backers of the public option are focusing on those persuadable Democrats rather than negotiating with members who will vote no.

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[Oregone]

1. Has the actual legislation been released publicly yet?

I'm just wondering if I missed it or something, since everyone is having a party

[ProSense]

2. "since everyone is having a party" Here's something to celebrate

Not only is a public option not dead, it just got stronger.


Party!

[Oregone]

4. "it just got stronger"

Stronger than what? How strong is strong? Is there anything available to look at?


This is a positive aspect to a good bill, yes, but the devil is in the details. Where are the details?


As Ive already mentioned to you, I think its more important that everyone can easily and affordable opt in if they choose to, in order to satisfy the mandate. Otherwise, the existence of a Medicare Plus 5 option is irrelevant to the excluded, their health, and their pocketbook.


This is the time to ask serious and thoughtful questions, and make a strong public push to the Congressmen about what is lacking.

[bluestateguy]

3. Assuming we win in CA-10 with Garramendi, that's one more

Unless Gravala has already counted him.

[denem]

5. If you're going to turn the thumb screws you do it in the last hour

before the cell phone rings with an SMS from Blue Cross.

[ipaint]

6. Link to "medicare + 5" bill? n/t

[andym]

7. They 218 to guarantee passage, right?

How difficult is it to get those votes?

[jenmito]

8. Yup.

Hopefully it will be easy.

[Occam Bandage]

11. It won't be hard. Nancy runs a good shop.

Harry's the problem.

[Cha]

9. Stepping forward,

baby:party:

[Occam Bandage]

10. The House bill isn't really that important.

The House bill is going to be significantly more liberal than the final result, because the House doesn't have to worry about filibusters. It doesn't really matter how much more liberal it is, because what gets to the President's office is going to be whatever can get through the Senate.