Only 21 of 59 Senate Democrats support the public option for health care at this point.

[madfloridian]

At least this is the best I can find out. I notice even the talk show hosts are having trouble getting straight answers. 21 is not very many at all. I was just looking at the list that was posted at the bottom of a Think Progress blog yesterday. It briefly lists those who have come out in support of the government funded option.

I feel that a couple of them, maybe more, including Schumer. want to modify away some of the good parts of it. Hard to get information.

From the Wonk Room at Think Progress

Sen. Claire McCaskill's (D-MO) office has just issued a press release announcing that "FIVE ADDITIONAL SENATORS EXPRESS SUPPORT FOR PUBLIC HEALTH INSURANCE OPTION."

This brings the total in the Senate to 21:

Sens. Daniel K. Akaka (D-HI),
Barbara A. Mikulski (D-MD)
Russ Feingold (D-WI),
Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD),
Claire McCaskill (D-MO),
Sherrod Brown (D-OH), J
John D. (Jay) Rockefeller (D-WV),
Dick Durbin (D-IL),
Charles E. Schumer (D-NY),
Tom Harkin (D-IA),
Daniel K. Inouye (D-HI),
Carl Levin (D-MI),
Jack Reed (D-RI),
Debbie Stabenow (D-MI),
Bernie Sanders (I-VT),
Bob Casey (D-PA),
Jim Webb (D-VA),
Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI),
Jeff Merkley (D-OR),
Ted Kaufman (D-DE), and
Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY).

It's hard to see which ones are not there, but two pop into my mind at once. Patrick Leahy and Bill Nelson.

I compared the list above with the New Blue Dog Coalition formed by Evan Bayh....which he prefers to call a "moderate coalition." I did this because I think this group will keep many of the goals of this administration from getting done.

Democratic "centrists" empower Republicans

When Sen. Evan Bayh (D-Ind.) announced the formation of his new "centrist" Senate caucus on MSNBC yesterday, he was a little evasive about his group's membership.

For what it's worth, Roll Call had an item about Bayh's endeavor -- it's apparently being called the "Moderate Dems Working Group" -- citing a press release of its membership. Bayh will apparently lead the group, along with
Sens. Tom Carper (Del.) and
Blanche Lincoln (Ark.).

The rest of the membership includes,

Sens. Mark Udall (Colo.),
Michael Bennet (Colo.),
Mark Begich (Alaska),
Kay Hagan (N.C.),
Herb Kohl (Wis.),
Mary Landrieu (La.),
Joe Lieberman (Conn.),
Claire McCaskill (Mo.),
Ben Nelson (Neb.) ,
Bill Nelson (Fla.),
Jeanne Shaheen (N.H.), and
Mark Warner (Va.).

That's 15 people are willing to be identified with the group. Bayh said there are "three or four" other Democrats -- he said they're in the "witness protection program" -- who are affiliated with this, but didn't want their names on the announcement. Ryan Powers noted three Democratic "centrists" who "have been reported as attending Bayh's meetings in recent weeks," but whose names weren't disclosed: Sens. Bob Casey (Pa.), Klobuchar (Minn.), and Pryor (Ark.).

That brings the total up to 18 -- about a third of the Senate Democratic caucus -- which is anxious, for reasons I'll never fully understand, to water down the popular agenda of a popular president.

I see McCaskill's name is on the list in support of the public option. I don't see any of the "known" others. Of course we can't be sure of the "unknown" cowardly others on Bayh's list who refuse to have their names listed.

It is going to be a real fight to get a government-run public option through the Senate. I think that is what Dean was trying to say on Ed's show today, and Katrina Vanden Heuvel as well. Ed seemed a little upset that Dean would not say more about the single payer, but he was being realistic.

Single payer at this point would do too much harm to the insurance companies, but perhaps down the road would work as more and more people chose to go with a government option.

Kathleen Sebelius could never come out and say that having the Medicare option opened up to those who want and need it would lead to single payer in the future, but gradually. She said that it would not. What else could she say?

But if you think about it, the fight the insurance companies will put up shows that they think that it will....lead to single payer that is. They are actually asking to be regulated, that tells us something.

[Occam Bandage]

1. I'm surprised Kennedy hasn't backed it yet. nt

[Vidar]

15. Isn't he still ill?

[WI_DEM]

26. Yes, but he's still a Senator and has during his illness taken stands on issues and even voted.

[blue_onyx]

2. Glad to see my 2 Senators supporting it

[Captain Hilts]

3. The South just doesn't believe in government. nt

[WI_DEM]

27. It's more than just the south.

[Tesha]

44. My "Democratic" Senator (Jeanne Shaheen, (DLC) NH) is part of Bayh's pack of Republican-Lites.

Our other Senator (Judd Gregg) is a real Republican.

Tesha

[Kalyke]

28. Huh? Jim Webb's on that list. I was wondering where the New Englanders

were.

There are many on the "for" list who are from the Heartland - Virginia, Missouri, Ohio... but only one from "up North."

Where are they?

Seems they don't like government.

[karynnj]

63. Not being on this list does not mean they are against it

They may simply not think the letter is the right approach - in fact, Kennedy heads one of the 2 committees working on it.

[SmileyRose]

57. yes we do

the south believes in government - but only the kind that benefits wealthy whites and no one else.

[lumberjack_jeff]

4. Doesn't this seem like an odd list?

Where's Kennedy?

[madfloridian]

5. Good question.

Also some support the public option only if it is run by a separate entity than the government...that would allow insurance companies and others many fingers in the pie perhaps.

[lumberjack_jeff]

20. How can it be public if it's not run by people answerable to the public? n/t

[robinlynne]

23. !

[JDPriestly]

6. I wonder why Feinstein and Boxer are not listed as pro-single payer?

I wonder where they stand on this issue?

[dflprincess]

8. This isn't really a list of single payer supporters

it's a list of those who would like a public option added to what appears to be shaping up as the Health Insurance Company and Campaign Donation Protection Act that much of Congress is supporting.

I've been trying to get a straight answer out of Klobuchar's office on what her positon is but I keep getting the same canned "Amy supports affordable healthcare blah, blah, blah" response.

[leftstreet]

16. omg I love that!

Health Insurance Company and Campaign Donation Protection Act

Did you think that up?

:hi:

[dflprincess]

32. I did

but, really, given the behavior of most of Congress when it comes to health care "reform", it wasn't hard to see whose interests they're protecting.

[davekriss]

61. "Health Insurance Company and Campaign Donation Protection Act "

Exactly.

:(

[madfloridian]

10. Good question.

I just did a quick search and could not find info on either's stance.

[Creena]

7. Looks like I'll be writing another letter to Babs and D-Fein.

:eyes:

[Fumesucker]

9. I think we are going to end up being forced to buy private insurance..

Like the plan in MA..

That's what the big money insurance companies want and I'll be shocked if they don't get it.

[demodonkey]

13. I won't do it, unless it is "free"...

...I can't afford the expenses I have right now and I don't have even ONE more penny for anything.

Let them put me in jail, then I'll get free healthcare.

[Fumesucker]

14. The MA plan basically penalizes you on your taxes if you don't get insurance..

At least that is my understanding..

It would cost them money to put you in jail, that's not the plan.

"I can envision a day when you will have to show proof of insurance at the job interview" -Hillary Clinton

[Kat45]

18. Yes, that's what it does.

I think there are some circumstances where you can get a waiver (on the tax penalty), but I'm not sure what they are.

[demodonkey]

21. I don't even earn enough to file a tax return. So what would happen to me?

?????

[jbnow]

22. Lower income people would get subsidy to help

them pay part or all of it.

Well that was on Obama's plan (and Clinton and Edwards) so I am just assuming it's on Congress's plan. They all also had a public option and Congress is looking bad on that. The public plan wasn't free either but also had subsidies for lower income. You could keep plan you had if you liked it or buy into public plan 'like they had'. Where is that?

But Obama's plan also didn't force you to buy it. (Remember how he got bashed for not having mandates) He had mandates for kids but SCHIP coverage goes much further now.
Of course he also let kids stay on parents insurance to age 25, college or not. Wonder if that is being considered.

Does Obama have any role in these negotiations? Who is his voice? Otherwise why did he even come up with a plan.

[madfloridian]

34. We will split as a party on public option and single payer....insurance will win.

and get their way.

[Marr]

56. Wouldn't that be the *worst* possible action?

It's like mandating that everyone must buy a Ford truck next year. Ford would jack up the price and drop all quality concerns.

So their response to the problem of people being smothered by health costs is to... add more to the health costs? Doesn't make any sense for anyone other than insurance companies.

[quiller4]

67. I wouldn't mind that a bit if there were price controls in place

and protections so that none could be denied coverage. That is basically step one in getting to a system like the one that offers such quality care to French citizens at reasonable prices.

[Lasher]

11. Good scoop.

It's good to see one of my Senators, Jay Rockefeller, is behind this - particularly since he is on the Finance Committee.

[fulllib]

12. No Klobuchar either.

That disappoints me.

[tabbycat31]

17. dissapointed to see my senators not on the list

they both have pretty liberal voting records.

I will be sending emails and placing phone calls to their office. Any idea on what I should say (I'm in the middle of a 50 page paper so I can't do it till the paper's turned in)

[PassingFair]

53. Just call and ask the aide who answers where your reps and/or senators stand...

on a public option for health care.

You can get more ideas at:

www.standwithdrdean.com

[karynnj]

64. Not being on that list doesn't mean they are not for it

I can't imagine either are against it.

[bob4460]

19. I just watched Sicko again

I want to move to FRANCE!!!!We as a people are a piss poor excuse for a Democracy.I think it is time to PROTEST!!

[madfloridian]

24. Schumer's ideas on public option...

"Some liberals are unabashed supporters of such a single-payer system. A House bill expanding Medicare to cover all Americans has more than 70 co-sponsors. And eight protesters disrupted the Senate Finance Committee this week with shouts of "Put single-payer on the table."

But mostly Democrats are moving in the other direction to mollify critics of adding a public plan to the marketplace. There's a lot of talk about leveling the playing field so government won't have an unfair advantage over private insurers. Under proposals by Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), a public plan could not receive government subsidies, require health care providers to participate, and set low reimbursement rates to save money.

The whole exercise will be pointless, though, if efforts to protect the insurance industry hobble the government. As Tom Daschle wrote in Newsweek this month, reforming health care is supposed to benefit Americans – "not the companies that profit from it."

Proponents of a public plan say that like Medicare and the Veterans Administration it will be able to reduce costs, improve patient outcomes and offer more choice of doctors. The bottom line for private insurers: perform or perish.

Facing the threat of a government competitor, insurance companies are practically begging for federal regulation."

http://www.politicsdaily.com/2009/05/08/government-vs-private-health-insurance-may-the-best-plan-win/

Schumer seems to be thinking in terms of not hurting the insurance companies more than he is thinking of the best way.

[spanone]

25. the big pharma lobby is going to be hard to beat

[creeksneakers2]

29. 21 is a start

We'd probably get more if Democrats concentrated on getting the public option passed and give up on single payer for now. If there's a split its pretty sure both will lose.

[madfloridian]

30. I was thinking the same thing watching Ed's show last night.

I felt uncomfortable for Dean and for Katrina Vanden Heuvel as they tried to explain about Monday's phone conference on public option.

Ed is a great spokesperson for Democrats, and he is very sincere about this issue...I love it that he is.

But I do fear if we split we might get nothing but a mandate to buy insurance.

The House Progressive Caucus apparently signed Dean's petition that was sent out about the public option. We have good support there, but not the senate.

[DireStrike]

37. What is the other option besides mandated insurance?

It seems to me that we will get mandated insurance no matter what, at this point.

[madfloridian]

38. All private companies doing everything.

Mandatory insurance just requires that everyone buy insurance from a private company, at least that is the meaning of that now.

There needs to be a government run option to allow for choice and expand competition.

Single payer would be great, but with only 21 supporting even a public option....that just does not seem possible.

[madfloridian]

31. Slinkerwink has a post at Daily Kos about the House New Democrats, their silence

on the issue.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/5/8/729179/-The-New-Democrats-Might-Sell-Us-Out-On-The-Public-Option!

There are links and numbers to call, though most give no opinion.

The silence of many Democrats on this issue is scary.

[madfloridian]

33. Baucus says he will get 70 votes in the senate...

and that frankly worries me...he is not very open to the public option. So what will he compromise away?

"Baucus: Baucus on Thursday predicted that the health reform legislation he is preparing will receive at least 70 votes in the Senate as a result of Obama's bipartisan outreach efforts. Baucus said, "I'm very confident that a very large majority of senators and House members are going to vote for a good bill." He added that he thinks Obama will "be quite helpful" in facilitating the bill's passage (Young <2>, The Hill, 5/7). In addition, Baucus said he intends to keep lawmakers "on track" to deliver Obama health reform legislation to sign this year. He said a committee markup hearing is scheduled for June and reiterated his hope to have a bill on the Senate floor before the August recess. According to CQ HealthBeat, Baucus on May 12 will help lead the third and final Senate Finance Committee roundtable session, which will focus on ways to finance changes to the health insurance system (Norman, CQ HealthBeat, 5/7)."

:shrug:

[madfloridian]

35. New Doctors for America (another DFA?) group supports what Baucus wants.

Apparently they will go along with whatever Max Baucus comes out with. There are several paragraphs in this article that make me wonder about the purpose of the this group which has named itself DFA...Doctors for America.

That makes me uncomfortable.

Could be entirely coincidental they are going along with Baucus's "sort of maybe not we don't need public option" attitude while giving itself the same initials as one of the groups coming out strongly for public option...DFA meaning Dean's Democracy for America. I am sure it is just a coincidence.

This article from CBS indicates they will back Max Baucus.

Doctors' Group Backs Baucus' Health Care Strategy

Here are several of the paragraphs that bother me.

As Congress and the Obama administration attempt to push health care legislation to the president's desk by this fall, the Senate this week begins a fresh round of debates over proposals to include in the bill the option of a government-managed health care plan.

"This is probably one of the two or three 800 pound gorillas" in the room, Senator Max Baucus (D-Mont.), chair of the Senate Finance Committee, told reporters Monday.

Yes, the gorilla that scares the insurance industry.

Baucus is not the only one interested in keeping options open. The senator joined the Center for American Progress on Monday to announce the re-formation of Doctors for America, a grassroots organization of over 11,000 doctors in support of health care reform. Formerly known as Doctors for Obama, the group during the 2008 campaign advocated Barack Obama's proposal for a government-managed option. On Monday, however, Doctors for America President and Co-Founder Vivek Murthy said the group supported Baucus' flexible approach.

"We do think a public plan is worth considering," Murthy said. "A key priority for us is whatever is put forth does improve access (to health care)... Nothing is off the table."

Baucus said his committee will probably review two or three alternatives, such as the health care "exchange" system in Massachusetts, which requires consumers to purchase a private plan that meets government-established minimum standards.

That sounds a little like wavering to me, but they don't come out and say no. Just that all that flexibility sounds good.

Two people for sure are against the government run option.

Specter has said definitively that he does not support including a government-managed plan in health care legislation. Senator Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) has also said he is not in favor of the plan.

[madfloridian]

55. If Doctors for America is formed from Doctors for Obama...then why

don't they support wholeheartedly a public option? Why has a group formed from Obama's supporters to support what Baucus wants??

I don't understand.

I also think the formation of the other DFA is a little suspect right now since Dean's DFA is pushing the public option.

[Supersedeas]

36. no DiFi, no Reid, no Kerrey, no Hagan!!

[karynnj]

66. Kerrey left the Senate in 1998 and is the President of New School

I assume you mean Senator Kerry, who the Nation magazine spoke of as reading some of the letters generated by Dean's effort at the Finance Committee hearing. People not signing that letter are not necessarily against the Public option - and many of the most consistent Democrats on this issue - Kennedy, Kerry, Lautenberg, Menendez, Leahy, Boxer etc are not there.

[Jakes Progress]

39. The people of this country

do not have representative government. Insurance and Pharma are well represented. The people are not.

[VenusRising]

40. Yay, Sherrod Brown!

I hope we get another good senator like him when Voinovich retires.

[marmar]

41. Glad to see Michigan's duo on board......

Thumbs up from the Mitten. :thumbsup:

[madfloridian]

42. My one Dem senator is not listed.

He will not support it.

[Warren DeMontague]

43. I have trouble envisioning Boxer not supporting a Public Option

And, The President is pushing it. That's what the Bully Pulpit is all about.

Of course, the GOP and the Ins. Industry are going to pitch a fucking fit over it and try to stop it.. I agree 100%, it's probably THE crucial aspect of any bill.

[Triana]

45. We need to do BOTH: 1. create a Medicare for All option; AND 2. Heavily regulate insurance cos. n/t

[cyclezealot]

46. It's not even like endorsing Single Payer.

Cowardice.. Enough to test our patience, as to why we Remain Democrats.

[madfloridian]

47. Why do we think we would get single payer from these guys....

if they don't support a public government run option at all?

It worries me that we will end up with nothing but private options and mandatory.

[cyclezealot]

48. But, we can't even get the second best option out of them...

A public option is asking too much.. Those Bayh supporters are little better than Republicans.

[MasonJar]

49. That's all????????? There is no change without a public option. And that

means period. Obama will go down if he does not get behind a public option or at least choice. Personally I am tired of insurance companies and their profits without care, so prefer single payer, but a public option is mandatory. Obama had better get out in front of this or he is history...at least in my book.

[ColbertWatcher]

50. Do you think this project could help?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x5609790

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x5615521

[stoll]

51. I can't wait to see this.

:sarcasm: It must be the full moon or something, but my cynicism is just oozing out tonight. I suspect that when/if this comes up in Congress either nothing will happen or we will get some kind of hodgepodge that seeks not to step on the insurance companies toes to much. I mean it is pretty ridiculous when the U.S. is ranked 45th in infant mortality rate, behind Guam and before the Faroe Islands. Where the hell is the Faroe Islands? But we spend more on defense then pretty much the entire world does combined. At least we can kick some ass.

[madfloridian]

52. And they laugh when the single payer advocates are ushered...

and some arrested.

They think it is funny.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x5623552

[PassingFair]

54. Welcome to DU....

We all need to be calling our representatives.

Luckily, my two Senators are on board...

(Although, I get nervous when Stabenow
is on the correct side of a vote, because
it generally indicates that the DINO's
don't NEED her vote on a particular issue.)

[madfloridian]

58. We should not be surprised at their stances.

If they think we would try to vote them out, they could change over the GOP and be just as much at home.

[bobthedrummer]

59. .

[hootinholler]

60. And it's still not enough to have a voice at the table?

:shrug:

-Hoot

[karynnj]

62. This equates signing a specific document with supporting it

Just as many Senators vote for things they don't co-sponsor, there are likely many that back a public option who for whatever reasons - including that they are very busy on other things may not have signed.

Here 2 examples are Kennedy and Kerry. I think Kennedy's own plan of a few years ago had it and from a Nation article, Kerry was said to read letters from Dean's effort to get the public option in the Finance committee.

[madfloridian]

65. The list was sent by Claire McCaskill.

That's all I know about it. The wording was from her office.

"Sen. Claire McCaskill's (D-MO) office has just issued a press release announcing that "FIVE ADDITIONAL SENATORS EXPRESS SUPPORT FOR PUBLIC HEALTH INSURANCE OPTION."

I am sure others support it, but that is still not very many at all.

[karynnj]

68. I agree, but Claire McCaskill is really not one of the people

leading health care in the Senate, nor is there an amendment on this - they are still in the process of writing a bill. I assume there will be someone who in the future will be counting votes on this - it may be McCaskill, but I don't think they are at this stage yet. She was also expressing it is the positive - that these people are on record, nothing in her wording says all others don't.

[madfloridian]

69. I interpret her message to mean what it says.

That they have expressed support. I am sure there are others who do..

But it is still not very many, and if we have to push so hard for a public option in addition to a private one....I wonder how in the world we will get ONLY the public option with the insurance companies so powerful.

[karynnj]

70. I agree - I assume you mean single payer by "only the public option"

That's why I have posted that it would be better if the energy of the left was behind the public option, which has a chance of being done rather than arguing that just single payer was worth doing. I like Dean's effort here.

[madfloridian]

71. Agreed.

:hi:

[karynnj]

72. and to you

:hi: