List of 51 Senate Democrats Who Support a Public Option: WHAT’S STOPPING THEM NOW?

[t0dd]

http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/2010/01/29/list-of-51-senate-democrats-who-support-a-public-option-whats-stopping-them-now/

Some day, just for kicks, I’m going to collect quotes from every scold who called upon their volumes of wisdom about Senate procedure to decree that Joe Lieberman must be the ultimate decider on any health care bill, because after all it took 60 votes to pass anything. Because now, as we’ve known all along, that’s a self-imposed limitation that the Senate can surmount if they want to.

...

When he voted against a public option on the Senate Finance Committe, Max Baucus — who has supported a public option in the past — said he did so because it couldn’t get 60 votes in the Senate. And now they can’t even get 50 votes to agree to change the bill in any way.

So, should we conclude that the 51 Democrats in the Senate who said they support a public option when 60 votes were needed were all full of shit, now that the bar is down to 50 and they’re still not moving?

Here is a list of the 51 Democrats who said they support a public option:

1 Akaka HI Signed Oct 8 letter demanding public option

2 Baucus MT Said reason for voting against on Senate Finance was the need for 60 votes

3 Bennet CO Signed Oct 8 letter demanding public option

4 Bingaman NM Voted for Schumer’s “level playing field” public option on Senate Finance

5 Boxer CA Signed Oct 8 letter demanding public option

6 Brown OH Voted for HELP Committee public option

7 Burris IL Signed Oct 8 letter demanding public option

8 Byrd “In his honor and as a tribute to his commitment to his ideals, let us stop the shouting and name calling and have a civilized debate on health care reform which I hope, when legislation has been signed into law, will bear his name for his commitment to insuring the health of every American.”

9 Cantwell WA Voted for Schumer level playing field on Senate Finance

10 Cardin MD Voted for Kennedy resolution demanding public option in May

11 Carper DE Voted for Schumer’s “level playing field” public option on Senate Finance

12 Casey PA Signed Oct 8 letter demanding public option

13 Dodd CT Voted for HELP Committee public option

14 Dorgan ND I do believe that some sort of public option needs to be part of the proposal, along with a focus on bringing down health care costs and prevention.

15 Durbin IL Voted for Kennedy resolution demanding public option in May

16 Feingold WI Signed Oct 8 letter demanding public option

17 Feinstein CA Signed Oct 8 letter demanding public option

18 Franken MN Signed Oct 8 letter demanding public option

19 Gillibrand NY Signed Oct 8 letter demanding public option

20 Hagan NC Voted for HELP Committee public option

21 Harkin IA Voted for HELP Committee public option

22 Inouye HI Signed Oct 8 letter demanding public option

23 Johnson SD I asked, “What about the bill are you opposed to?” He replied, “That it doesn’t have a robust public option”

24 Kaufman DE Signed Oct 8 letter demanding public option

25 Kerry MA Signed Oct 8 letter demanding public option

26 Klobuchar MN “I would prefer a public option that would be a competitive option that would allow people to buy into a Federal Employee Health Benefits Program, which is a series of private plans.”

27 Kohl WI Signed Oct 8 letter demanding public option

28 Lautenberg NJ Signed Oct 8 letter demanding public option

29 Leahy VT Voted for Kennedy resolution demanding public option in May

30 Levin MI Voted for Kennedy resolution demanding public option in May

31 McCaskill MO Voted for Schumer’s level playing field on Senate Finance

32 Menendez NJ Voted for Schumer level playing field on Senate Finance

33 Merkley OR Signed Oct 8 letter demanding public option

34 Mikulski MD Signed Oct 8 letter demanding public option

35 Murray WA Voted for HELP Committee public option

36 Nelson (Bill) FL Voted for Schumer’s “level playing field” public option on Senate Finance

37 Reed RI Signed Oct 8 letter demanding public option

38 Reid NV “I’ve told people, whoever will listen, that I am in favor of the public option.”

39 Rockefeller WV Voted for Schumer Level Playing Field public option on Senate Finance Committee

40 Sanders VT Voted for HELP Committee public option

41 Schumer NY Sponsor of Schumer Amendment

42 Shaheen NH Voted for Kennedy resolution demanding public option in May

43 Specter PA Signed Oct 8 letter demanding public option

44 Stabenow MI Voted for Schumer’s level playing field on Senate Finance

45 Tester MT “We need competition, and if we get a public option that will help Montana. I will support it.”

46 Udall CO “I support the President’s plan to include the public option as a tool help reform our broken health care system. But above all, any reform must be done in a deficit-neutral way and must provide choice, stability and security for those who have insurance.”

47 Udall NM Voted for Kennedy resolution demanding public option in May

48 Warner VA “It’s not a make or break thing–he wants to see a health reform bill that contains costs, and if it includes a public option…he would vote for it.”

49 Webb VA Told the Huffington Post he is open to a public health care option.

50 Whitehouse RI Signed Oct 8 letter demanding public option

51 Wyden OR Signed Oct 8 letter demanding public option

[WI_DEM]

1. Yep, we could lose one and still get it passed with Biden breaking a tie.

[tosh]

3. Max Baucus...

his reason smells.

[WonderGrunion]

16. Max will only vote for it if he has the cover of 60 votes

No way he will be seen as the "deciding vote" on a public option.

[thotzRthingz]

10. (we can WIN this) absolutely!

As a progressive (registered-Independent voter), I am appalled by how many DEMs are apparently so willing to simply give-up... is that just because they're being told (by the bought & paid for MEDIA and some Congress-persons) that the PUBLIC OPTION is "dead" (which is BULLSHIT, plain & simply put)?!

Because of a (relatively few) people who are FIGHTING ON... calling (and hounding) their congressional Reps... so far some 63 House members have signed onto a letter, to HARRY REID, asking him to incorporate the PUBLIC OPTION, and pass it via the reconciliation process.

WE NEED EVERYONE to call their congressional reps (Senators and House Member), and the White House as well... and KEEP CALLING (and emailing & writing) them, until they listen! You can bet that the FOR-PROFITs of the health care industry are NOT going to "give up" ... and you can also bet that they fully expect that WE will ... but why the hell should we? Are we that spineless? We don't need to spend hundreds of MILLION$ lobbying, like they have done... all we need to do is FIGHT BACK, FIGHT HARD... we can do this people!

I recently started another thread (which quickly died, and it had some "negative" replies--not sure if those were DEMS simply rolling over, or if they were merely TROLLS... or even SHILLS for the FOR-PROFITS)?!

ref: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=7593328&mesg_id=7593328

As I said, in reply #16 of that thread:

"(so far) 63 House members have signed-on ... where are the SENATORS?"

This is far from over, despite what the MEDIA might be saying... FIGHT ON or simply WIMP OUT... the choice is ours (and the RESULTS will belong to us as well, depending on which path we choose)!

k&r

[thotzRthingz]

11. where are the DEMS (must us independents do everything)? ;-)

[thotzRthingz]

12. * Letter: Don't give up the fight on healthcare bill *

If you’re thinking the Massachusetts election of a Republican has definitely killed the health care bill, don’t give up. Yes it killed the 60-vote filibuster-proof lead the Democrats had, but then all 60 weren’t going to support the bill anyway.

Never fear, where there’s a will there’s a way, and the big thing is to get the Democrats to have the will to act boldly, because there is a procedure called “reconciliation” which requires only 51 votes in the Senate. It works under budget legislation. Just since Wednesday after the Massachusetts vote, over 200,000 people signed a petition endorsing this strategy and more are adding their names every minute. You can add your name to that petition through http://www.democracyforamerica.com

You need to act fast.

* First members of the House have to be contacted,

* then members of the Senate. (although our two are part of the “Say No” party, so forget that).

* Call our AZ Representative Ann Kirkpatrick 202-225-2315 or 928-445 3434 and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. 202-225-0100 or 202-225-4965.

* Ask them politely to publicly state their support for the public option using “reconciliation.”

* Inform them that polling directly after the Massachusetts polls closed on Tuesday proved that the swing voters are against the Senate Health Care bill because it “doesn’t go far enough.” Meaning that they want to restore the choice of a public option (Poll done by Democracy for America.)

- source: http://verdenews.com/main.asp?SectionID=36&SubsectionID=1192&ArticleID=34769


...substitute YOUR congressional rep (for AZ's Kirkpatrick).

https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml -- after you've selected your state & zipcode, you'll find their LOCAL and D.C. office phone numbers by clicking the CONTACT link

http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm -- likewise, contact BOTH of your U.S. Senators, and DURBIN (whip) and REID (leader)

http://www.whitehouse.gov/CONTACT -- and, of course, contact the White House as well

[thotzRthingz]

13. DEAD--oopsie... 78 (and counting) House Members don't think so... when will some SENATORS join us?

ref: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2010/1/29/832024/-78-House-Members-Sign-on-to-Public-Option-Senate-Leaders-Agreeable-to-Reconciliation

[thotzRthingz]

23. *public option dead* ???!!! oopsie, 92 members in the HOUSE don't think so!

Well, over the weekend, the snow came (6" in my neighborhood, a foot or more across Southeastern VA). Can *we the people* make the PUBLIC OPTION happen--like an unexpected snow fall, in Washington D.C.? Well, I believe we can...

But NOT it we simply give-up and roll-over. We must CALL, EMAIL, and WRITE to our elected officials... because we have done so thus far: from my email INBOX this morning:

92 House Democrats have signed the Polis-Pingree letter calling on the Senate to pass the public health insurance option through "reconciliation," which only needs a simple majority to pass the Senate.

IOW: the count has gone from NONE (i.e., the PUBLIC OPTION is "dead") to TWO (Polis & Pingree) calling on Senator REID for its passage in the Senate... and the count now stands at NINETY TWO calling for same!

Has your House Rep. signed on yet... if not, have you even bothered to hound them to do so? DO IT TODAY (and tomorrow, and every tomorrow... until they do)! If you personally have not yet SIGNED-ON to the Polis/Pingree Letter to Senator Reid... DO SO NOW:

http://act.boldprogressives.org/cms/call/hreccall2

If your call gets answered by a STAFFER who is unfamiliar with this movement... send them to:

http://whipcongress.com (where anyone can see WHO has and WHO has not yet signed-on)!

[thotzRthingz]

24. ...now 94, and counting! ref: http://whipcongress.com/

[thotzRthingz]

27. *public option dead* ?! oopsie, now 103 HOUSE members don't think so!

ref: http://whipcongress.com/

[yurbud]

26. they are glad to say they support something progressive when they know it won't come to

a vote.

[Cleita]

2. It seems like it should be a shoe-in if we were living in the sixties.

I don't know why it's not possible today. It doesn't make sense.

[LostInAnomie]

4. They all have to call their insurance corp. lobbiest...

... and tell them that after the initial passage they will amend it to be more favorable to their industry.

[DJ13]

5. It was easier to claim to be for it when they knew that leadership

..would never allow it to come up for a vote due to the phony 60 vote rule they were using like a shield to protect the insurance companies.

Pretty speeches claiming to support a PO designed to be used in reelection campaigns to show they "really stood up" for average americans.

Its too bad for them that Bernanke reconfirmation vote showed that 60 is only needed if its to vote on something that helps the little guy.

Now I guess they'll have to come up with a better excuse.

[Better Believe It]

7. 60 Votes Is A Very Convenient Excuse for Inaction and Surrender

Once again:

Why do Democrats still allegedly need 60 votes in order to get legislation/appointments passed?

That's what all Republicans, many Democrats and the mass corporate media falsely claim.

The Democratic majority in the Senate make the Senate rules.

And Senator Reid, under Obama's instructions, can force Republicans to engage in traditional on the floor Senate filibuster under Senate Rule 22. Right now a Senate Republican when leaving the Senate chamber can hand Senator Reid a piece of paper indicating the Senator is engaged in a filibuster while he leaves for dinner and a hooker! Reid has the power to change that.

And Senator Reid can withdraw at any time his "two track" Senate debate concession made to Republicans.

And the Democratic majority in the Senate can invoke the "Constitutional option" that can stop any kind of Republican filibuster.

Senator Reid's acceptance of the Republican 60 vote super majority procedure is a very convenient excuse to justify inaction and legislative paralysis.

[DJ13]

8. +1 to the infinite

:thumbsup:

[karynnj]

6. Byrd's comment says nothing of a public option and Webb only says he is "open" to it

[Better Believe It]

9. Perhaps they haven't felt Rahm Emanuels "sharp elbows" on the public option.

[Tom Rinaldo]

14. But there never were 10 firm "No's" either

Informal counts I read at the time showed support in the mid 50's if leadership really wanted it.

[Mimosa]

15. IMO they don't want us to have health care. n/t

[TexasObserver]

17. It's time for the senate to gut it up and make the GOP filibuster everything.

First of all, the GOP talks a big game, but these guys sleeping on cots? Not going to the bathroom? Half of them have a prostate the size of a grapefruit. They're going to the bathroom sometime in the next few hours. Count on it.

Second, after their obstructionist ways dominate news for a couple of months, we'll see what citizens think. It's one thing for the GOP to trash talk the president and the Democratic majority in congress to TV cameras. But let them start reading the phone book to stop a JOBS bill. That's a Kodak Moment I want to see on every front page in America.

Nearly 40 years ago, a wizened old Democrat mentored to me on dealing with the GOP and conservatives. "Son," he said "kick them in the balls as hard as you can, and then when they're on the ground, keep kicking them in the balls." That's always been good advice.

[KharmaTrain]

18. Reid Is A Chickenshit...

The only word that comes to my mind. Bill Clinton stared down Gingrich who shut down the House (and the entire government) and it helped him win a second term. Reid has tried to be all things to all people, including to scum like Lieberman (who should caucus alone...not with the Democrats...we know he's blabbing to his GOOPer buddies) and tries to avoid confrontation rather than tell Pruneface McConnell to stick it. The longer he appeases, the more 60 votes there are and the less things get done. In short, the Senate is totally dysfunctional and the GOOP knows it can roll Harry anytime they want.

Yes...force them to fillibuster day and night...turn the cameras on so the public can see their obstinance and stupidity in action. Right now, what's to lose? There's sure nothing being done in the Senate. But Reid is scared shit about ruffling feathers and being "Dascheled" in November. Ironic that the more he tries to placate, the more he looks weak and will hurt him in November. Maybe not such a bad thing...

[TexasObserver]

19. Harry Reid is the weakest Democratic leader of any kind in my lifetime.

Honest to God, how can Democrats in the US senate make this guy our majority leader?

He's been almost completely useless the past three years, since the 2006 winners took office in early 2007. I do wish they'd replace him with anyone. They could pick a name out of hat in the caucus and get a better leader.

[Wilms]

20. .

[B Calm]

21. Should have known Evan Bayh wouldn't be on the list! I'll never vote

for him again!

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

22. I highly suspect that each and everyone of those Senators received a perk for their

constituency or pet project getting funding approved on.

Russ Feingold, who have held in the highest esteem, seems to have gotten a high speed rail line out of it. Bernie Sanders got his sliding scale clinics (which are wonderful) and more medicaid money for Vermont. Nelson of Florida, although not on this list, did vote for hcr..isn't he getting a high speed rail line too.

Just saying.......

[Freddie Stubbs]

25. Do we have 51 Seantors who agree on the specific details of the public option?

:shrug:

[Kingofalldems]

28. We? I thought there were only 40 republicans?

:shrug:

[Freddie Stubbs]

29. You you implying that you are a Republican?

:shrug: