Pelosi on the Public Option: “We had it; we wanted it... It’s not in reconciliation.”

[jefferson_dem]

Update: At a presser just now, Pelosi effectively put the kibosh on including the public option:

“We had it; we wanted it,” Pelosi said. “It’s not in reconciliation.” She added: “We’re talking about something that’s not going to be part of the legislation.”

http://theplumline.whorunsgov.com/health-care/durbins-office-if-house-passes-public-option-well-whip-for-it-in-senate/

[bigdarryl]

1. WHAT!!!!!!!! looks like Cenk from TYT was right

[jefferson_dem]

2. I don't know about what Cenk says and, frankly, I don't care what he says.

But...it looks like (for whatever reason) the public option is not going to happen.

Let the wailing weeping, wailing, and gnashing of teeth commence.

[bigdarryl]

4. They made a DEAL with the insurance companies not to include it

From the President on down this will my prediction come back to bite the Dem''s in the ASS!!!!!

[laughingliberal]

15. The for profit hospital corps were also in on that deal

That said, Pelosi has the cards now. A little public pressure wouldn't hurt anything.

[Eric J in MN]

3. That fundraising party at the home of insurance industry lobbyist paid off for him.

September 2009:

http://rawstory.com/blog/2009/09/lobbyist-fundraiser-pelosi/

One day after House Majority Leader Nancy Pelosi softened her stance on a public health option, a lobbyist for one of the country's most prominent private health insurers announced a fundraiser for the California Democrat, a news report says.

Writing at OpenLeft, reporter David Sirota says lobbyist Steve Elmendorf of Elmendorf Strategies announced a fundraiser at his own home, under the title "Event with House Speaker Pelosi at my home," to take place September 24. Admission is $2.400 for individuals, and $5,000 for representatives of political action committees.

[tallahasseedem]

5. This is just too much...

I am so sick of our party. :(

[City Lights]

18. Same here.

x(

:-(

[emilyg]

39. Me2

[SharonRB]

6. "We're talking about something that's not going to be part of the legislation."

Could this mean it won't be part of reconciliation on the health care bill, but could be a separate bill? Like Grayson's bill for Medicare for All?

[stopbush]

7. Yes, it could.

[jefferson_dem]

9. I don't think so.

The only way to get a public option through the Senate is via reconciliation. So if Speaker Pelosi says it's not part of reconciliation, it's not going to happen. Period. That's my read on it anyway.

[HughMoran]

11. Why can't they do the separate PO bill via reconciliation?

It's budget related, no?

[jefferson_dem]

13. Self-delete

Dupe. Sorry.

[jefferson_dem]

14. Well, I guess they could introduce a stand-alone reconciliation item for the public option.

But the Speaker seems to have nixed that.

When she said it's not in reconciliation I'm assuming she is referring to all legislation that is slated to be passed via reconciliation.

[SharonRB]

17. You're probably right because then they'd need 60 votes in the Senate.

Which they won't be able to get.

[HughMoran]

10. They seem risk averse when it comes to the 'main' bill

They've always said that they would push for one later - & there is momentum in both House and Senate for this. (crosses fingers - again!)

[HughMoran]

8. Fuck. I knew Durbin stating he'd push whatever the House gave him had a catch

The friggin' House isn't going to give him a PO in reconciliation, and he's not going to allow any amendments.

I'm sad :(

[RandomThoughts]

12. I would like some clarification on the comment.

“We had it; we wanted it,” Pelosi said. “It’s not in reconciliation.”

A different article quotes her as saying
"Pelosi also shot down the idea of a public option: “We’re talking about something that is not going to be part of the legislation … they don’t have the votes to have it in there.”


When did they have it, when did they lose it, and why? the comment that they had it and now don't implies something changed, what was that something?






Guess would be they don't want to have it in the bill and risk the other parts not passing, so they put it up as an amendment. Although Durbin has said that if an amendment there would not be support.

So it sounds like they asked Nancy Pelosi to gamble the entire bill if she puts the Public option in, and the Senate wants to be able to say the house did not put it in the bill so they don't have to vote against it.


And Durbin saying they are going to go against every amendment is to try to keep them from having to vote on it also.


And best guess is that the backroom deals at the begging negotiated away any competition measure like public option before they even started, and there are a few people that do not want to break that deal, even though making it is dubious.

shrug, they get to choose, and news stories change all the time.

[Jennicut]

22. There are a few Senators that don't want it. Hence, it is not happening.

Durbin is essentially correct in that it has to come from the House because the Senate does not want to have to allow the Rethugs to throw amendment after amendment out there. But it is very convenient for the Senators that did not want it in there.

[denimgirly]

16. LOL...Cenk was right again...Smoke and Mirrors.

[Name removed]

24. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[cornermouse]

19. Kill the bill.

I don't mind paying more if others are going to benefit from it. I DO mind paying more without any real benefits to others.

Kill the bill.

[jefferson_dem]

20. If you think there are no "real benefit" in this bill...

you haven't been paying attention.

Sorry to be blunt, but that's the truth.

[cornermouse]

21. I've been paying attention.

I'm just not buying into all the lies. Without at least a public option it will bring down the democratic party for a very long time.

The time has come to kill the bill.

[dionysus]

23. good thing you're not in congress.

[cornermouse]

26. If that's supposed to be an insult, I am remarkably unimpressed.

:boring:

[uponit7771]

27. Pay the Attention

[progressoid]

25. Big fucking surprise.

[Cali_Democrat]

28. I think it's safe to say that the public option wouldn't even have had 50 votes in the Senate

Prudent move by Pelosi.

No point putting something on the table if it has no shot in hell of even passing reconciliation.

[w4rma]

37. 51 Senators have said they'll vote for it in the Senate in reconciliation.

We would find out who the liars are, if nothing else.

[Bluenorthwest]

29. So it is mandates and taxes!

What a waste.

[ibegurpard]

30. Don't worry we'll fix it later

or something...

[slay]

31. Dems - Re: My Vote -- You had it, you wanted it, now you've lost it.

If you can't even get a fucking PUBLIC OPTION (and single payer was never even BROUGHT UP) through when every other industrialized country in the world has non-profit health care then what good are you? NONE. This is bullshit - this country is sooooo far to the right in the way it operates thanks to years of propaganda and foxnews that I honestly don't think we can recover. Not without a revolution. My first step is to stop supporting the old regime which is ALWAYS democrat or republican and BOTH are bought and paid for by the corporate elite. All this fighting about abortion and gay rights is just a distraction - not that it's not important - but it's meant to keep us - the people - divided while the corporate elite and congress critters bleed us dry. This IS the final straw for me. The Dems have lost my support and are about to get an ear full of my anger and rage! :grr: :mad:

[freddie mertz]

32. This whole thing has been a charade people.

Some of us have recognized this for some time, and some you dealt out some pretty nasty stuff in response.

Maybe now some will admit that since July at the latest, all this PO talk has been nothing but talk.

We know who the handful of honest supporters have been.

The rest have just lied and lied.

[girl gone mad]

33. So it's official:

This bill is a complete fucking scam. If it passes, no more money from me to any national Dem orgs or any candidate who votes for it, even my beloved Bernie.

[jefferson_dem]

35. Not yet another...

"I'm leaving the party" proclamation.

How many does that make?

Hate to see you go but if you must ... buh bye ... :hi:

[wowimthere]

34. No one but the majority of the public seems to want the PO. Is Washington listening?

Hello? Hello? Can you hear me? I guess not. I'm starting to think they are all full of it.

[w4rma]

36. Then the bill is worthless. Kill it. (nt)

[BeyondGeography]

38. Whatever...I think she has been heroic

and she has been looking a little sallow lately. I hope she is well. She has gone to the mat repeatedly on this and you can tell it means a lot to her to get a bill signed. Not just any bill either.

:patriot:

[polichick]

40. Remember when Bennet's letter was announced and Lawrence O'Donnell...

...said people on the Hill were signing it believing they'd never have to vote - the fix was in long ago. Insurance companies, big pharma and for-profit hospitals have been protected at the expense of the people. Our "leaders" just keep jerking the people around - smoke and mirrors and corruption.