Dick Durbin: I'll Whip 'Aggressively' For A Public Plan If Pelosi Includes It

[laughingliberal]

The second-ranking Democrat in the Senate said on Friday that he would "aggressively" rally votes for a public option for insurance coverage if House Democrats included the proposal in their reconciliation fixes for health care reform.

In a letter to the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, Sen. Dick Durbin's spokesman Joe Shoemaker made it "crystal clear" that his boss favors efforts to get a government-run insurance plan into law. But, echoing remarks the Illinois Democrat made to the Huffington Post, Shoemaker writes that the onus lies with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

If House Democrats include a public plan in the reconciliation bill they craft to "fix" the Senate's legislation, Durbin will work hard to make sure the provision (as part of the reconciliation package) has the votes for passage. If it's not in that reconciliation package, he won't lift a finger. In fact, he will work against efforts to add it as an amendment.

"Sen. Durbin and the rest of the Senate Leadership will be aggressively whipping FOR the public option if it is included in the reconciliation bill the House sends over," Shoemaker wrote in an email that he authorized PCCC founder Adam Green to make public. "Conversely, the Leaders will whip against any attempt to alter or amend the bill if the public option is not in it (or as your email says -- whip against adding the public option as an amendment in the Senate.)

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/03/12/dick-durbin-ill-whip-aggr_n_496559.html

Keep the pressure up on the Senate to support PO *AND* let's flood the House members with our calls and emails to encourage inclusion. I believe, now, if the House has the courage to put it in the reconciliation package, it WILL pass the Senate. The House is holding the cards. Let's encourage them to play them!

[Jennicut]

1. Durbin is worried that the Dems in the Senate might have to stop all amendments

on the reconciliation bill if the Rethugs throw them in there. It will delay the bill, make the Dems vote on things they don't want to vote on and essentially hurt the Dems. It will have to be the reconciliation bill.

[laughingliberal]

2. That's exactly it and it is why the House needs to write it in there

I don't think Durbin would be saying this if he doesn't think he can whip the vote. Their big priority now is to not allow amendments which would delay the vote indefinitely.

I think this is our shot at getting the PO. Let's hope Pelosi has not sold out to preserving the back room deal.

[FourScore]

3. Get thee to the greatest page. n/t

[shotten99]

4. Woo hoo! That's what I call a Democratic pair of balls!!!

I knew they'd show up sooner or later!

[Mari333]

5. I do believe his phone rang off the hook yesterday

[laughingliberal]

10. And it needs to keep ringing off the hook. Now to the House. nt

[JohnnyBoots]

6. He get's that done and I will be

really happy to see him as Majority Leader...

[Lerkfish]

7. Pelosi already said there will be no public option

stated in another thread:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=433&topic_id=219597&mesg_id=219597

so he can whip for it all he wants, it aint gonna happen.

[laughingliberal]

11. I see someone stated it in a thread but I don't see it in the article they provided

No updates to the article on Durbin, yet.

[tallahasseedem]

8. Apparently Pelosi just nixed it...

I am so pissed at these people.

[laughingliberal]

9. The link in that post is to an article that says the same thing the one I posted says

I still think there's room here to pressure the House. What's it cost? A few minutes for a call or an email?

[progressoid]

12. Too bad Pelosi has already said it's a no go.

[laughingliberal]

13. And her phone lines are down? PCCC & DFA are launching a campaign to target her

I would expect their websites to be updated today with action alerts to contact her. Also, it might be a good time to let the Progressive Caucus know we expect them to stand up for this now that it is doable in the Senate.