Kerry signs the letter to Reid on adding the public option via reconciliation

[karynnj]

This was on Blue Mass, and I include the link to their thread as that gave the source of the information as a Roger Lau facebook status. (Bluemass link - http://www.bluemassgroup.com/diary/18923/public-option-on-the-table ) That alone is reason to link to it.


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

[wisteria]

1. You know, at this point, if we are going with reconcilliation we might as well push for as much

as we can. Give the Repubs this last chance to work with us and if they don't do their part, then we go with what we have without them. Frankly, I doubt in this climate, with the idea of victories dancing around in their small minded little heads, they will go along with anything, but we shall see.

[Inuca]

2. Interesting, thanks

Leahy too. Surprised that the most vocal supporters of the PO, Rockefeller and Schumer are not in the list, at least not yet.

At this point, I barely know anymore what to think or wish for with respect to health care.

[whometense]

3. I came by to see if anyone had posted this.

I'm personally delighted.

Just got this email from BoldProgressives.org (who are they, anyway, and how did they get my email address?):

John Kerry - HERO on health care

Senator John Kerry did Massachusetts proud today.

The DC pundits are telling Democrats to cave to Republicans and big corporations in the name of "bipartisanship."

But Kerry joined the growing list of senators calling on Majority Leader Harry Reid to do the will of the people -- and pass the public health insurance option through "reconciliation."

When elected representatives take bold action, they deserve our praise.

Can you write John Kerry a short thank-you note for his bold leadership? Click here.

We'll deliver your note to him.


Those who signed the letter

to Harry Reid now include: Mike Bennet (CO), Kirsten Gillibrand (MN), Jeff Merkley (OR), Sherrod Brown (OH), Patrick Leahy (VT), John Kerry (MA), Al Franken (MN), and Sheldon Whitehouse (RI).

As thousands of calls and notes flood into Congress, this list will surely grow.

Thanks for being a bold progressive.

-- Adam Green, Stephanie Taylor, Aaron Swartz, Michael Snook, Brian Bills, and the PCCC team

P.S. CNN described the impact of this campaign:

The fight over health care reform burst back into public view Tuesday as four Democratic senators asked Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to hold a vote on a government-run public insurance option.

Politico added:

Bennet took the lead in the Senate to round up co-signers for the letter, which was spearheaded by the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, Democracy for America and Credo Action. A similar effort in the House netted 119 signers to a letter.

John Kerry added big momentum to this effort -- please thank him here.

I did send him a thank you email, but not through their link - I did it through his senate website instead.

[whometense]

4. P.S. Three others, as well,

according to TPM: http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/02/four-more-senators-sign-call-for-public-option-reconciliation.php?ref=fpb

Four more Democratic Senators have signed on to yesterday's letter calling on Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to use reconciliation to pass health care through the Senate with a public option included.

The new signatures come from four more progressive Senators: Al Franken (MN), Patrick Leahy (VT), John Kerry (MA), and Sheldon Whitehouse (RI).

(h/t Greg Sargent)

[ObamaKerryDem]

5. Aww, that's so awesome!

Kerry is awesome (as are the other Senators who also signed). I Tweeted him (lol), thanking him for doing this but I think I will send an email as well. :) Because this--"When elected representatives take bold action, they deserve our praise."--is so true!

If we had more Kerrys in the Senate, this would've been done a LONG time ago...*sigh* But it's encouraging to see this bold action being taken all the same; gives me hope that something good will pass from there on this after all!

[ProSense]

7. Very cool.

Thanks for posting.

:hi:

[whometense]

8. I'm so proud of

ONE of my senators. :hi:

[JI7]

6. just read in LBN that Feinstein has signed on