Reid Promises Separate Public Option Vote In Next Few Months

[jefferson_dem]

Reid Promises Separate Public Option Vote In Next Few Months

Hoping to assuage progressive Democrats who remain disappointed with the content of the health care reform bill, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) committed on Friday to holding a separate vote on a public option in the coming months.

In a letter to two of his more progressive colleagues in the Senate -- Jeff Merkley of Oregon and Bernie Sanders of Vermont -- the Nevada Democrat implicitly apologized for his inability to get a government-run insurance plan into the final piece of health care legislation and promised to keep working to get the policy into law.

As you know, I am a strong supporter of a public option, and I included the HELP Committee's public option in the bill I brought to the senate floor last year. I was disappointed when it became clear that we did not have the votes to keep it.

Nevertheless, like you, I remain committed to pursuing the public option. While I believe that the legislation we are considering does much to provide affordable coverage to millions of Americans and curb insurance company abuses, I also believe that the public option would provide additional competition to make insurance even more affordable. As we have discussed, I will work to ensure that we are able to vote on the public option in the coming months.

The letter is a clear sign that Reid's commitment to the public option throughout the health care debate has been as much personal as political. The Nevada Democrat, on several occasions, tried to corral the 60 votes needed to pass variations of the public plan -- but to no avail. His willingness to give the policy a separate hearing appears to be a thank you of sorts to the caucus's more progressive members for not jumping ship.

<SNIP>

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/03/19/reid-promises-separate-pu_n_506272.html

[Jennicut]

1. I would love to know who the few Senators were that wouldn't let the PO in.

[Think82]

16. Where Have You Been? Nelson, Lieberman, Lincoln... some others wavering.. and that's when we had 60

nt

[Jennicut]

22. No, with reconciliation we would not have needed them. We know they are no.

The ones that never signed the PO letter that are not the obvious ones: Perhaps Webb and Warner and some others?

[Think82]

24. Not sure if you can pass a PO through reconciliation. what are the rules?

[mzmolly]

2. Great to know!

:toast:

[DrDan]

3. he also has a bridge he would like to sell you . . .

[cilla4progress]

4. We have to keep pushing them on this

after this 1st round passes!

[Tom Rinaldo]

5. I accept Reid's sincerity

But we alll know that there will not be 60 votes in the Senate for a Public Option in the next few months. The HCR fixes that will hopefully soon pass can only pass through Reconciliation. Unless Reid is saying that a seperate P.O. Bill will be voted on under Reconciliation rules, it is an empty gesture. The Reconciliation Train is leaving the station, and that's the only vehicle capable of reaching the destination.

[daa]

8. In the next couple month he won't even be here nt

[andym]

41. But if this part of the article is true...

"The search now is for a vehicle outside health care reform to get a public plan into law. The same institutional hurdles that killed the provision in the previous go-rounds -- mainly that there aren't 60 supportive senators to break a filibuster -- remain. But aides on the Hill are already looking to future reconciliation vehicles to which they can attach the public plan , which would, in turn, allow for it to pass via an up-or-down vote."

[Tom Rinaldo]

42. That would be great, and I would support this approach....

I wish that my capacity for trust had not already been trashed. It would take a leap of faith to believe this will happen. My legs are pretty tired, but I will heap praise on those who pull this off if they pull this off.

[optimator]

6. and it won't pass

just as planned.

[LaPera]

7. Well, it goes without saying that this should be the point & goal for passing this weak bill...

It should be to continue making health care reform stronger and have a public option as time goes along ultimately ending up with single payer (Medicare) for all.

That's how both Social Security & Medicare worked through the years....things got adjusted, fixed and they both got better & stronger....

However, the republicans continue to try to bankrupt, gut and weaken every program to say see government programs don't work...privatize them (everything) for the collusive corporations (so the corporations than become monopolies and can change us high prices at will, with no competition). Republican don't care about the people only their corporate profits.

[glowing]

9. Yeah, right.. How many times has he made a statement that he backs away from.

No spine wimp

[Tom Rinaldo]

11. He can do this easily

Allow a bill to be introduced, Republicans announce they will filibuster, 53 Senators vote for cloture, Bill dies in the Senate. Next...

[Lorien]

12. Yep. It's just another scam for short term support

I wish it were otherwise, but the hard lessons have been learned.

[glowing]

25. I couldn't agree more.

[karynnj]

21. I agree and think all that wil be gained is knowing who the 53 or so

are - and who isn't. The fact is we couldn't get 60 when Kirk, not Brown, was there.

[Tom Rinaldo]

40. It will enable some Senators to state that they voted for a Public Option

That is the political purpose. If the real purpose was to actually win a Public Option into law it would be part of this Reconsiliation Bill where it legitimately fits, since the House passed a Public Option in their version of the bill that is being reconsiled. Then it would not be subject to a filibister.

[denimgirly]

10. I am new to politics but this Reads clearly like a Lie. But still nice to hear.

[Tansy_Gold]

15. When you know it's a lie, it's NEVER nice to hear n/t

[DebbieCDC]

13. Yeah, sure

talk is cheap

[frylock]

14. checks in the mail

[Raineyb]

17. And I should believe him why?

Bullshit in order to placate the left long enough to vote for his ass. He'll do nothing as per usual.

[Deep13]

18. Uh, huh. Su-u-u-ure he will. nt

[rateyes]

19. A vote requiring 51 votes to pass, Harry?

If Harry said it will happen, you can bet it won't happen.

[Donnachaidh]

20. and he'll gladly pay you tuesday for a hamburger today.

:rofl: :rofl: riiiggghhhttt.....

[ShortnFiery]

32. OMG! You brought back so many fond memories

of watching cartoons in my jammies on Saturday mornings.

[Donnachaidh]

38. heh -- I watch adult swim in my jammies at midnight

Being an adult ain't so bad LOL!

[DFLforever]

23. And unless they change the Senate rules

it will be voted down.

Edit: typos

[PolNewf]

26. At least a vote would name names n/t

[Mass]

27. Sure, because, if they dont have the votes now, they will have it in a few months.

[Romulox]

28. Right after the NAFTA renegotiations wrap up! nt

[Dr.Phool]

29. And they fix the Patriot Act.

And FISA. And.......

[FrenchieCat]

30. If the Public Option maintains its popularity with the American people,

you can be sure it will pass, sooner or later.

That's the beautiful thing about relentlessly demanding what we want,
even as we accept what we are getting now, because the end is still to come.

Reminds me of the Civil Rights Bill that didn't deal with voting.

Did folks say....sure, we'll get in, skeptically? I'm sure some did.
Did you end up getting it later a year after the fact; yes, we did.

So when folks are looking at history and screaming NAFTA, please
know that health care reform is more aligned with Civil Rights
than with some trade deal...because we all are coming closer to understanding
that Health Care is a human right not a commodity.
Soon it will be clear to many more.

[ShortnFiery]

31. It. Won't. Happen. eom

[Cleobulus]

33. Put up to a vote, no guarantee that it will pass, and if it doesn't what then? n/t

[freddie mertz]

34. Maybe Reid is sincere. But that's not enough.

They know that the rank and file are pissed off.

Most likely this ends up with all the PO promises... in the dustbin.

2010 and 2012.

[Donnachaidh]

39. sincerity is nice - but cajones are needed to bring up a PO

Harry err, is lacking in that department.

[Hekate]

35. One thing at a time. Let's get this done first. And then, I won't hold my breath for PO...

... after watching even our own Dems being dragged kicking and screaming into the 20th Century, while watching Repubs cling to the worst aspects of the 19th Century.

But at least we'll have the minimum.

Hekate

[Bluenorthwest]

36. This should be assumed. Every pro bill politician says it is

just a first step, must be fixed, must be expanded, and not one of them, not one has stood up and simply said 'this is the bill I like, as is'. So they all better be ready to do just that, with no respite, until it is fixed, it is expanded, there is a wide open and excellent public option.
So Harry is just saying again what they have all promised to do one thousand times to get this half assed thing passed. I for one intend to make them live up to it, or pay the political and social price.

[ibegurpard]

37. pfft.

call me when it's actually passed...
if you can pick me up off the floor.