PO Letter Signatories: Menendez Makes It 20 !!!

[WillyT]

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

Remember, you can check out your House members by clicking on the link at the end of the list.

:bounce:

:hi:

:kick:

[jamesp68]

1. Senator Klobuchar's name came off the list!

I talked to her staff yesterday and they said although she supports some form of public option her name should not appear on whipcongress.com's list.

I asked why and the staffer pointed out the Byrd Rule as it relates to parliamentary procedures and said Senator Klobuchar has always believed in Senate parliamentary rules and would be unwilling to violate them. She also pointed out that under reconciliation rules, reconciliation is DOA after the budget is passed in April and is not a practical solution for that reason.

Surprisingly, the aid said those Senator's signing this letter are apparently more interested in deflecting blame from themselves over HCR and at the remaining 40 or so not signing. Not sure why that came out.

[WillyT]

2. I Don'T Think Klobuchar Was Ever ON The List... See Here:

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UPDATE: Wednesday, 9:39 PM -- Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Ben Cardin (D-Md.) are the latest to indicate support for the use of reconciliation to pass health care reform legislation that includes a public option.

The Minnesota Independent published part of a prepared statement from Klobuchar:

I would want to make sure that the bill contains the Medicare care cost reform measures included in the existing bill. I am also supportive of the President's efforts to forge a bipartisan agreement. We must reduce health care costs for the people of this country.

I support the House bill version of the public option which is based on negotiated rates. I do not support a public option based on Medicare rates because it exacerbates geographic disparities that already hurt Minnesota.

Susan Sullam, a spokeswoman for Sen. Cardin said Wednesday that "Senator Cardin has always been for a strong public option. He also has long thought reconciliation was a viable option for passing strong health care reform."

Neither Klobuchar nor Cardin appear ready to sign a letter penned by by four other senators endorsing both the public option and the use of reconciliation. Eleven senators have signed the the letter.

<snip>

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

:shrug:

And BTW... Welcome To DU jamesp68 !!!

:toast::bounce::toast:

Glad ta have ya aboard!!!

:hi:

[Bitwit1234]

5. I say it over and over her hand is too damn deep in the corporate pocket

since she took office she had done not one thing for the people it has been to side with the corporates....I can't wait til she starts to try to get re-elected. She sucks, she sucks. She doesn't even have an auto reply when you send an email....

[tabbycat31]

3. yes!!!

I guess my calling his offices (DC and Newark) on a daily basis helps out

[WillyT]

4. Yep...

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[tilsammans]

6. Yay!

Thank you, (my) Senator Menendez! :patriot:

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