Sen. Sanders: ‘As of this point, I’m not voting for the bill.’

[deminks]

http://thinkprogress.org/2009/12/16/sanders-vote/

Moments ago, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) announced that he is prepared to vote against the Senate health care bill in light of the recent decision to strip the public option and the Medicare buy-in provision from the legislation. Appearing on Fox Business’ Cavuto, Sanders said he’s “struggling with this,” but is inclined to vote against:

I’m struggling with this. As of this point, I’m not voting for the bill. … I’m going to do my best to make this bill a better bill, a bill that I can vote for, but I’ve indicated both to the White House and the Democratic leadership that my vote is not secure at this point. And here is the reason. When the public option was withdrawn, because of Lieberman’s action, what I worry about is how do you control escalating health care costs?

Sanders is the only member of the Democratic caucus to publicly oppose the Senate legislation, and it’s unclear if he would still vote for cloture but oppose the final bill. Still, Sanders’ objections raise new doubts about whether Reid has the votes to file cloture on the bill tomorrow and pass it before Christmas.

Video at the link.

[polichick]

1. Good for him! nt

[wtbymark]

2. Thank you Bernie, thats what I wanted to hear

[Laelth]

3. k&r for Bernie Sanders. n/t

:dem:

-Laelth

[WeDidIt]

6. Sanders and Burris need to get together

And kill this turkey!

[Laelth]

15. That's certainly possible. Here's hoping.

Alternatively, perhaps Sanders is jockeying for a Senate-version of the Kucinich Amendment to be added to the Senate bill (it has already been stripped out of the House version). I'm with Kucinich on this issue. The whole, horrible, bill will be worth it if the Federal government grants states the right to enact single-payer systems. A few states are itching to do so, and they will happen quite soon if the Federal government lets them.

:dem:

-Laelth

[Nite Owl]

4. If it doesn't mean cloture

it won't mean anything.

[jgraz]

16. At this point, are we sure they even have 51 votes?

With Nelson and He-who-must-not-be-named already voting no, we only need 6 more NO votes to kill it.

Sanders - NO
Burris - NO

Feingold - ??
Boxer - ??
Franken - ??
Brown - ??
Wyden - ??
Whitehouse - ??

[grahamhgreen]

26. I am a little worried big insurance will buy some Repub votes. PS

Nice signature!

[laughingliberal]

27. I expect Nelson and he who shall not be named will vote for the bill now that they stripped out

any help for us chickens. But that would be something, huh? Get cloture on the bill and then have it go down in the up or down vote. My head is starting to spin.

[Nite Owl]

28. I'm thinking that they will vote for cloture

to see if the reconciliation will know some sense into it. It does still need 60 after that I think.
Whitehouse is a yes, maybe Wyden and Brown also. Of course Nelson many actually come to our rescue if he won't vote for cloture without a Stupak-like amendment.

[WeDidIt]

5. Please vote against cloture, Bernie!

PLEASE!

[endless october]

7. if he holds firm, he negates Lieberman's vote.

any other real liberal should be held to the same standard.

Lieberman and the anti-public option Republicans are only powerful because otherwise good Democrats play ball.

[Cleita]

8. Contact him and let him know you support him.

http://sanders.senate.gov/

It will give him strength to go on and fight the good fight.

[Canuckistanian]

9. If Bernie's agin' it, I'M agin' it

Dagnabbit.

[dana_b]

10. thank you Bernie for pointing out

the lack of cost containment without these elements in the bill.

[lapfog_1]

11. Bernie and Burris. Please vote with the repukes to kill the bill.

[EVDebs]

12. The Progressive Caucus can kill this bill ... DO IT !

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/72361-progressive-caucus-leader-warns-dems-may-stay-home-from-polls-over-health-bill

[EVDebs]

20. This Senate bill is WORSE THAN NOTHING...

http://www.alternet.org/story/144601/health-care_bill_after_compromise_with_lieberman%3A_worse_than_nothing?page=entire

[slay]

13. Don't let this "giveaway to the insurance industry" bill go any further Bernie!

Don't vote for cloture OR the bill!

[rwheeler31]

14. This is not good, I respect Bernie but this would be bad

move for him, and for us.

[HughMoran]

17. Good for him - K&R

This is where I want to see action - real life Senators.

[mike_c]

18. I hope he sticks to his guns....

eom

[johnlal]

19. We need more liberals to follow his lead. n/t

[grantcart]

21. Good for him but I would be surprised if he votes against the caucus on procedure - too much class.

[Enrique]

22. Obama will dispatch Rahm to the senate

tell Harry Reid to do whatever needs to be done to get Sanders' support.

[regnaD kciN]

23. Maybe Rahm will call Sanders "a typical left-wing Jew"...

:crazy:

[nradisic]

24. Go Bernie!

I view that as a FU to Looserman.

[grahamhgreen]

25. Please CALL HIM AND ENCOURAGE HIM! 1-802-862-0697 or contact link

http://sanders.senate.gov/contact/

[truedelphi]

33. Was just abt to look up his number. THANK YOU! n/t

[FormerDittoHead]

29. Senator Sanders - you have made today more bearable knowing a man of the PEOPLE is in the Senate.

I'm only sorry there are so few...

[L0oniX]

30. You can bet that Kucinich will not vote for it either ...thank gawd for sanity.

Better to have no bill than a bad one.

[dpbrown]

31. Filibuster, Bernie!

This bill is worse than crap.

[Usrename]

32. It couldn't be more perfect.

The socialist will stand against this travesty, bless his heart.

[freddie mertz]

34. I hope, if things remain as they are, that he threatens to vote against cloture.

What better way to get praised by the White House?

[TheKentuckian]

35. I wish there were more of him

if he gets too squirrelly then all the sudden Snowe and Collins will "see the light".

We need a few more to pressure this thing to change for the better or die.