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Public Option Garners Avalanche of Support in Senate


Adam Green

Adam Green

Co-founder, Progressive Change Campaign Committee

Posted: March 1, 2010 01:18 AM

In the wake of last week’s “bipartisan summit” — which proved that no Republicans in Congress will vote for health care reform — an avalanche of Democratic senators are announcing today that they will vote YES for the public health insurance option if it is brought up in “reconciliation.”

Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Patty Murray (D-WA), Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), Ben Cardin (D-MD), and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) are the latest to announce their support, raising the number of senators on record from 0 to 30 in under 2 weeks.

The below statements were released to the Progressive Change Campaign Committee (PCCC), Democracy for America, and Credo Action — three groups who have been organizing thousands of Americans daily on this issue and who gathered over 200,000 signatures on a petition telling Congress that Americans want a good bill with a public option over a “bipartisan” bill without one. A tally of senators supporting the public option in reconciliation is at WhipCongress.com.

DICK DURBIN (D-IL):

Durbin Communications Director Joe Shoemaker: “Sen. Durbin has long been a supporter of the public option. I don’t know whether the votes exist in the Senate right now, but if the House version of the public option came up for a vote in reconciliation Sen. Durbin would vote yes.”

PATTY MURRAY (D-WA):

“I’ve been consistently supportive of a public option so that Washington’s families and businesses have choices in their health care options and so insurance companies are finally forced to compete for the business of the American people. Nothing has changed that support. I don’t know whether the votes exist in the Senate right now, but if the public option came up for a vote as we move ahead with reform, including under reconciliation, I would vote yes.”

JEFF BINGAMAN (D-NM):

“I have long been a supporter of the public option, and I have voted for it every time it has come before the Senate. I drafted the public option provision in the HELP Committee and co-sponsored the public option amendment in the Finance Committee. If the public option came up for a vote in reconciliation I would vote yes.”

BEN CARDIN (D-MD):

Cardin spokesperson Sue Walitsky: “Senator Cardin has always been a strong supporter of the public option. As a member of the Budget Committee, he has always considered reconciliation a viable option for passing health care reform. If there is a vote in reconciliation on the House public option, Senator Cardin would vote yes.”

AMY KLOBUCHAR (D-MN):

“I support the House bill version of the public option which is based on negotiated rates, and if that came up for a vote in reconciliation I would vote yes. I do not support a public option based on Medicare rates because it exacerbates geographic disparities that already hurt Minnesota.”

Previously, 24 other senators signed Sen. Michael Bennet’s letter calling for the public option through reconciliation plus Majority Leader Harry Reid made big news by endorsing the idea:

Reid spokesperson Rodell Mollineau: “Senator Reid has always and continues to support the public option as a way to drive down costs and create competition…If a decision is made to use reconciliation to advance health care, Senator Reid will work with the White House, the House, and members of his caucus in an effort to craft a public option that can overcome procedural obstacles and secure enough votes.”

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We are finding out who our real friends are. These senators deserve praise for embracing the will of the people. Polls show that voters in state after state overwhelmingly want the public option — and progressives will keep pushing others senators to take a stand until 50 votes are reached.

The Progressive Change Campaign Committee will spend thousands of dollars this week on an online ad campaign in the states of at least 10 senators who should be for the public option but have refused to issue a statement so far, reaching at least 1 million people online.

First up: Sen. Tom Harkin of Iowa — and we’ll soon be naming more. Jon Stewart lampooned Harkin last week for previously saying, “I’d say right now we have well over 55 votes for a public option, but we need 60” — while now shrugging his shoulders and saying not even 50 exist.

Harkin also claimed on MSNBC that nobody has fought harder for the public option than him. I’ve been a longtime Harkin fan, but at this point, that claim is laughable. I can name at least 30 senators who have fought harder than Harkin, with more likely to come.

People can help fund the online ads pressuring Harkin and others here — and can join 200,000 others in signing the petition to Harkin and others here.

The avalanche of Senate support for the public option will continue. Who do you think is next to take a stand?

huffington Post

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TGIF … news reviews and what’s on CSPAN.org live-stream


This is Black History Month

Friday …

will be spent analyzing  what actually was accomplished at the Thursday Summit or not, this will probably go on through the weekend maybe more.  My take on the summit was that Democrats, specifically the President, Pelosi and Reid were able to see through the wall the continued rhetoric from Repubs as a sign that after a year no major moves to the center was on the Republican agenda; hoping Americans watched and truly listened to the need to move forward with HCR.  The governing body has the right to keep bills that passed already;  I hope our Democratic Party finally understands the ramification and votes HCR through reconciliation; we are the majority and it’s time to act like it… don’t we use majority rules in most things we do in our lives.

In the news this Friday …

**Governor Paterson will not be running in 2010: Democratic officials in Washington were informed of Paterson’s plans early Friday. The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity because Paterson had not publicly disclosed his plans.huffpost

Democrat Charlie Rangel is under investigation for breaking House rules… taking gifts(trips)

**VP Biden will be announcing new Labor Regulations aimed at protecting worker’s retirement savings

watch V.P. Biden Remarks

**Our economy grew by 5.9% stronger than expected but it’s not expected to carry forward for too long

**The House passed extensions to unemployment benefits with a voice vote and Senate Republicans JimBunning and McConnell have been blocking the temp extension of unemployment benefits,which end on 2/28/10  the vote  next Tuesday… TP reports that Senator Bunning was missing his BB game,tough sh-t on unemployment benefits. Democrats made repeated attempts to pass the extension by unanimous consent, and Bunning blocked them all. He then complained that the Democrats’ insistence on trying to ensure that unemployment benefits not expire had caused him to miss a college basketball game: GOP Rep. Dean Heller claims extending unemployment benefits is creating ‘hobos.’ TP

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Today on CSPAN.org

HR2701- Intelligence programs; Democrats stripped the torture amendment

First Hundred Years of the NAACP

Panelists talked about history and the future of the NAACP. Panel: – Patricia Sullivan, University of South Carolina, history professor; author “Lift Every Voice: The NAACP and the Making of the Civil Rights Movement” – Robert Zangrando, University of Akron, history professor; author “The NAACP Crusade Against Lynching, 1909-1950” – Kenneth Mack, Harvard University, law professor; author “Representing the Race: Creating the Civil Rights Lawyer, 1920-1955”


White House Briefing with Press Secretary Robert Gibbs Press Secretary Robert Gibbs conducts a daily briefing at the White House.

Washington, DC : 49 min.

watch White House Press Briefing

Hearing examines small business and commercial real estate lending

The House Financial Services and House Small Business Committees hold a joint hearing on lending programs for small businesses. Witnesses will likely discuss the state of lending, and how credit standards affect small businesses.

read WSJ: Examiners Aren’t Hindering Lending
read Washington Independent: Plan Meets Skepticism

watch Joint Hearing: Panels 1 & 2 watch Joint Hearing: Panel 3

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JEC Hearing on Prospects for Jobs and Growth

Joint Economic Committee Chairman Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) holds a hearing to discuss ways to promote job creation. The committee hearing, titled “The Road to Economic Recovery: Prospects for Jobs and Growth,” will include witnesses from Manpower Inc., the jobs services agency.

visit JEC website

watch JEC Hearing: From Earlier

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A Win- Win- Win- for Cash Strapped States


Tobacco Taxes: A Win-Win-Win for Cash-Strapped States

Report Released: February 10, 2010Click to Access Downloadable Report

Jump to download page Link to State Tax Report Press Release Jump to Poll Results Link to Executive Summary Link to Full Report on PDF Jump to download page Link to State Tax Report Press Release Jump to Appendices Jump to Poll Results Link to Executive Summary Link to Full Report on PDF

Tobacco taxes are a win-win-win for states facing budget shortfalls — a BUDGET WIN that will raise billions in revenue and help preserve essential services such as health care and education; a HEALTH WIN that will prevent kids from smoking and save lives; and a POLITICAL WIN that is popular with voters.

This report details the revenue and health benefits to each state of increasing its cigarette tax by $1 per pack, as well as the national benefits if every state took such action.

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Call Senate Democrats to pass the Public Option through reconciliation …


Progressive Change Campaign Committee

Good news! We beat our goal of 100,000 signatures telling Congress to pass a good health care bill — not just a “bipartisan” bill. We’re raising our goal to 150,000 signers by Thursday — can you sign? Click here.

— Stephanie Taylor, PCCC co-founder

Video of Ed Schultz & PCCC

Last night, we broke some news on MSNBC’s Ed Schultz show.

Our letter calling on Congress to pass the public option through “reconciliation” got two big new signers — Sen. Tim Johnson from conservative South Dakota and Sen. Debbie Stabenow from Michigan. This morning, Hawaii’s Daniel Inouye signed —

Unfortunately,  Maria Cantwell has said no

Ed Schultz told us: “Great work. Let’s keep it going — you’ve got the attention of the American people.”

**JohnBoehner has rsvp’d his invite stating he had no other choice but to accept an invite from the President, McConnell stated he will be there,bringing approx 7 others with him

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Monday News and what’s on CSPAN today …


Monday…

The President will be on the air-waves this Monday morning to finally as reporters are probably saying, finally come out with his Plan, the one that should have happened when Obama first took office. I wonder what  cable, radio and other reporters, who probably up early; eagerly waiting to read the plan or already  reading the President’s Plan and ready to write their articles to disapprove of the President’s Plan, having decided to beat it down verbally before seeing it.

The Plan probably will not stray too far away from his original statements in 2009, we need to push our Congress to move any plan through so issues like abortion, education, energy, climate change can be dealt with.  Republicans have managed to waste time and by not getting the Peoples issues dealt with, should be held responsible.  Apparently, people like glennbeck got it; some Conservatives are now walking away from WBush, stating that big spending big govt happened, but if we get back into office we won’t do it again? How? i have been listening to both sides and have heard absolutely nothing different coming out of the mouths of Republicans, Conservatives and or the tea party movement that sounds anything different than the Bush Administration. We the People need to call your Senate Democrat and ask; whose side are you on? all Senate Democrats should realize 53% voted this President in and knew exactly what we did… We voted for change we can believe in, stop holding up our President’s ability to govern, stop being the obstructionists that are Republicans; the Democratic Political Party needs to come together… negotiate, support and pass the issues our President campaigned on Senate Democrats.

We pay Congress to create, make and pass laws; is it just me or are Senate Democrats at odds where the Presidents stands on possibly all the issues; maybe we would be further down the line  getting our economy fixed. My opinion is that the push toward letting the President use Executive Order to get things done is not in our best interest to have a President making laws that can simply be repealed if, and i say if he is not re-elected. I also feel that having Congress do what we all pay them for is just plain ole common-sense, tho if you take Even Bayh seriously, the job is just too damn hard and quitting seems more constructive. I hope this man does not plan to serve as a public servant again, he, like sarah palin is a quitter, if the issue or a problem cannot be solved easily,you fight, stand tall, you dont run, why chose to abandon the People who put you into office; had they known Senator Bayh was a quitter, they would not have voted for you…

Other Monday news …

** New Rules for Credit Cards start today …2/22/2010 check your statements closely from now on.

**Avandia, a drug used to combat diabetes has been found to have caused at least 80thou heart attacks, they hid the heart risks , Stop your family friends and loved ones from using this drug.

**The President’s Plan flips the Nelson pork by eliminating his get, giving the benefit to all States..

**Msnbc reports that PM Brown has been called out as a bully and now the authorities are getting involved, the charge first came from a reporter who has a book coming out.  He stands by his reports of  interviews from people who remain anonymous, the timing of these charges are now under investigation ,  as Elections are coming up.

**Zazi the key suspect in the NYC plane bomb plot will be pleading and getting a deal

and … What’s on CSPAN today …

Congressional Calendar for
Monday, February 22

The JOBS BILL

watch White House Press Briefing

**A vote on Cloture will occur…A vote to limit the debate and move forward on the Jobs Bill&Proposed Amendments was taken A2847, as changed by Senator Harry Reid, at least 2Republicans are needed to move forward,the bill includes highway funds,gov’t bonds, smaill biz tax incentives; in a vote of 62yeas and 30nays the motion was passed and agreed to.

57Senate Democrats and 5Senate Republicans voted yes to move forward

**HR4425, HR4238, HR526 debates for a vote to designate postal services buildings, wear Red day,Langston Golf course as historic landmarks, Eleanor Holmes gave a great schooling on why.

U.S. House:
  • Adjourned
U.S. Senate

Post Recession Economy topic of Governor Conference

On the last day of the 2010 National Governors Association (NGA) Winter Meeting, members discuss solutions to help states in the post recession economy. Alan Mulally, President & CEO of Ford Motor Company and Mark Zandi, Chief Economist and Co-Founder, Moody’s Economy.com handle the discussion.

watch On C-SPAN3 at 2:30pm ET
visit NGA website

Commission Examines Stabilization in Iraq and Afghanistan
Commission Examines Stabilization in Iraq and Afghanistan

The Commission on Wartime Contracting is meeting with policy experts to discuss reconstruction and stabilization efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan. The hearing is examining how contractors are cooperating with the Iraqi & Afghan governments while assessing the sustainability of potential projects.

President Preparing for Bipartisan Summit on Health care

This Thursday, President Obama will hold a bipartisan summit on health care at the White House. Today, the White House is expected to release its proposal for healthcare reform. This morning, the President will meet with Governors’ to discuss health care legislation.