Reid Offers Support For Public Option Through Reconciliation - HuffPo

[WillyT]

Reid Offers Support For Public Option Through Reconciliation
Sam Stein - HuffingtonPost
First Posted: 02-19-10 04:22 PM | Updated: 02-19-10 05:03 PM

<snip>

Sen. Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) announced on Friday afternoon that he would work with other Democrats and the White House to pass a public option through reconciliation if that's the legislative path the party chooses.

"Senator Reid has always and continues to support the public option as a way to drive down costs and create competition," said Reid aide Rodell Mollineau in a statement provided to the Huffington Post. "That is why he included the measure in his original health care proposal. If a decision is made to use reconciliation to advance health care, Senator Reid will work with the White House, the House, and members of his caucus in an effort to craft a public option that can overcome procedural obstacles and secure enough votes."

This represents a major breakthrough for those Senators and activists who are pushing to get a public option considered via an up or down vote.

Reid has always been a proponent of the provision. But he has deflected questions about using reconciliation to get it into law citing a potential lack of votes needed for passage.

His promise to work with others to include it in reconciliation hardly means the public option is a done deal. The House, in all likelihood, will still have to vote on the Senate's health care bill with the promises of changes to come via reconciliation. Whether that obstacle can be overcome isn't entirely clear. Nor is it certain that the 51 votes are there to get the public option passed using reconciliation or, for that matter, what that public option will look like.

<snip>

Link: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/02/19/reid-will-push-for-public_n_469483.html

Choose it, or lose it Democrats!!!

:shrug:

:kick:

[WillyT]

1. And... Arlen Specter Signed The Letter According To His Spokesperson...

<snip>

UPDATE: Friday, 5:39 PM -- Sen. Arlen Specter (D-Penn.) signed the public-option letter Friday afternoon, his spokeswoman, Kate Kelly, tells HuffPost.

<snip>

Link: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/02/17/dianne-feinstein-signs-on_n_466435.html

:shrug:

[Vincardog]

2. OK DU OUR PARTY has the chance to pass Medicare part E for Everyone with 51 Senate votes can we

MAKE IT HAPPEN? I do not want to here from any "IT will NEVER happen" DLC shills

[thotzRthingz]

3. I'm so tired of hearing that the PUBLIC OPTION IS DEAD... BULLSHIT, it is not dead unless *we* QUIT!

Things are moving... slowly to be sure, but they are moving. With a change of this magnitude, who could expect otherwise? This has been DECADES in the making, and every time the FOR-PROFITS got their way... giving us a completely FAILED health care system, while they pocket BILLION$ !!!

NOW is not the time to quit... NOW is the time to press your Senators and House Rep to SIGN-ON to passing a PUBLIC OPTION via reconciliation!

If we do NOT speak up now, we'll have no one to blame but ourselves!

ref: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/02/19/reid-will-push-for-public_n_469483.html

Reid Offers Support For Public Option Through Reconciliation - 19 February 2010

CALL and EMAIL your HOUSE Rep! (https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml)

* if they have SIGNED-ON ... thank them, and tell them to STAND FIRM!
ref: http://whipcongress.com/#house -- 120 of them have signed-on thus far

* if they have not yet SIGNED-ON ... politely but FIRMLY demand that they do so!

CALL and EMAIL both of your Senators! (http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm)

* if they have SIGNED-ON ... thank them, and tell them to STAND FIRM!
ref: http://whipcongress.com -- 19 of them have signed-on thus far, with (PA) Specter being the latest signatory

* if they have not yet SIGNED-ON ... politely but FIRMLY demand that they do so!

Let's GIT-R-DONE!

Thanks...

[thotzRthingz]

4. oops, forgot to mention: K&R (n/t)

[gateley]

7. I'm with you! This is going in the right direction and I'm ever more hopeful!

NOW maybe my Senators will sign on, too -- knowing that Reid is willing to Go There!

And Obama was with Reid today, so I'm guessing this has Obama's blessing.

[thotzRthingz]

10. you can bet that the FOR-PROFITS are going stark raving mad, at this turn in the road...

We stepped-up and made significant changes in the HOUSE & SENATE in 2006 and 2008 ... we put OBAMA in the White House.

The FOR-PROFITS can still exert an enormous amount of pressure (with their deep pockets)... will we STOP them in their tracks? Will we INSIST that our elected officials represent EVERY American, not just the "special interests"?

... can I get a YES WE CAN!?

[thotzRthingz]

11. ... can I get a YES WE CAN!?

[gateley]

5. Rachel is covering NOW! This is exciting! Nineteen signers to The Letter! nt

[WillyT]

6. Yes And Yes It Is !!!

:woohoo:

:kick:

:hi:

[suede1]

8. He should be leading this now. It is, by definition, his job.

[gateley]

9. Maybe he got the go-ahead from Obama today. And hopefully this will

give a nudge (or a boot to the ass) of those Dems who are dithering.