Harkin: ‘Strong public option’ will pass by Christmas [View All]

Source: The Iowa Independent

Harkin: ‘Strong public option’ will pass by Christmas
By Chase Martyn 9/13/09 8:36 PM

INDIANOLA — At his 32nd annual Steak Fry fundraiser, U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) was cheered by an enthusiastic crowd when he declared that a health care reform bill would pass both houses of Congress “by Christmas,” and that it would include a government-run, not-for-profit health insurance plan.

“Mark my word — I’m the chairman — it’s going to have a strong public option,” said Harkin, who last week replaced the late Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.) as chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) committee.

“It now falls to me to pick up the torch” left by Kennedy, he noted.

Health care was a popular subject for all of the federal lawmakers assembled here Sunday.

Read more: http://politicalwire.com/archives/2009/09/13/extra_bonus_quote_of_the_day.html#031300a

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"I've been in this town a long time. I think this is the year we're gonna get health care done. But I guarantee you this will be pronounced dead at least four or five times before we finally get a bill passed."

-- President Obama, on 60 Minutes, recounting advice given to him by one of his advisers.
http://politicalwire.com/archives/2009/09/13/extra_bonus_quote_of_the_day.html#031300a
Here's the full 60 Minutes segment:
VIDEO
http://politicalwire.com/archives/2009/09/13/extra_bonus_quote_of_the_day.html#031300a