CODE BLUE Rockefeller, Feingold, Pelosi Call Public Option Essential

Public Option Called Essential
Democratic Lawmakers Express Concern

By Anne E. Kornblut and Perry Bacon Jr.
Washington Post Staff Writers
Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Several leading Democrats voiced concern Monday about an apparent White House shift on health-care reform, objecting to signals from senior administration officials that they would abandon the idea of a government-run insurance plan if it lacked the backing to pass Congress.

In the Senate, where negotiations are now focused, John D. Rockefeller IV (W.Va.) said that a public option, as the plan has become known, is "a must." Sen. Russell Feingold (Wis.) said that "without a public option, I don't see how we will bring real change to a system that has made good health care a privilege for those who can afford it."

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (Calif.) said that the plan will be included in whatever bill is voted on in the House. "There is strong support in the House for a public option," she said, though she did not demand that the administration express support for the idea.

One Democrat predicted that without the provision, the bill could lose as many as 100 votes in the chamber.
President Obama had pushed a nonprofit, government-sponsored insurance plan as an alternative to existing insurance companies, saying that a public program would compete with the industry and help reduce costs. Over the weekend, he minimized the importance of a public option, saying at an event in Colorado on Saturday that it was "just one sliver" of his overall effort to reduce health-care costs and expand coverage.

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http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/17/AR2009081702859.html?hpid=topnews

There is no way to get more than a couple of Republican votes.

Among the tasks in Health Care Reform:

Tackling rising costs

Eliminating pre-existing condition denials

Modernizing data collection and sharing

Sourcing meds cost effectively

Reducing redundant and unnecessary treatments

Encouraging preventative health measures

Etcetera.

Obama's sales approach has been to emphasize all that's wrong with the present system, and there's plenty wrong that doesn't involve the LACK of a public option.

The Public Option is a means to the end at this stage of the game, it's not the main objective.

Well, it may be to many of us, but not to Obama.

He's said as much. It's a part of a bigger whole.

:patriot:

Thus starts the blowback. I like this.

The Speaker is above reproach to me on this issue. She has delivered a House bill with a public option.

But I'm still struck by JayRock's emergence on this issue. It strikes me as ironic that it would take a Rockefeller to help lead the charge for a public option, while at the same time two Great Plains 'populist' senators, Max Baucus (Montana) and Kent Conrad (North Dakota) would oppose it, not to mention the help from Tom Daschle (South Dakota).

This is getting really strange, folks.

lets them down?

So the question is moot at least for now.

I'm just glad he's speaking out for a public option.

it's weird, but he's like Kennedy in a way. He's probably been wishing for this for years. I need to research that, but he's been a very good man in this.

It took enormous chutzpah for Baucus not to include the relevant sub committee chair when he decided to write the bill with a gang of 6 rather than the whole committee. His exclusion was likely because of his known position.

And when a Rockefeller says "tax the rich", that's a Hell of a statement.

Kennedy, Dodd and Kerry have all been out with health problems. And Byrd is likely hoarding his strength for the fall session.

Having those men out is a serious blow to our party in the Senate at a critical time. I hope they can all be in the fight in the fall to push something through.

I just don't know about Sen. Kennedy, or even Byrd. :(

when the Senate comes back. Neither Byrd or Kennedy have been able to be there on votes - other than a few where they are critical. Unfortunately, that is unlikely to change. The timing is incredibly unfortunate in Dodd's case, but I assume that he will be able to lead when Congress returns.

As to Kerry, It would seem that other than maybe still needing crutches, he will be as active as he always is, though much of his time and energy has been devoted to climate change and foreign policy. He was supposed to be leading a group of SFRC Senators on a trip to Afghanistan to monitor the election and to visit other trouble spots. It is hard to imagine he will do that as the election is on Thursday.

And of course, Kerry is already getting around on his crutches.

Even if Kennedy is not doing well, he will likely show up for a health care vote but I sure wish he were up to the big fight to get better provisions in a bill! Same for Byrd - he will probably show up for the big votes, but that will probably be about as much as he can handle.

But think of the difference if those men had all been in good health and active over the last few weeks!

Dodd is my senator. I heard he will recover and be back in action.

And thanks to Sen. Dodd, we have one bill out of the Senate. It may not be perfect, but it is something. I have not read it - I guess I should!

Teddy, I worry about. He may live a while longer, but that kind of cancer can take speech and other abilities long before it kills. For his sake I hope he has all his abilities right up to the end and that end is a long time from now! (My oldest sister died of the same kind of cancer, so I know at least one way it can go.)

I pray he can do this just a little longer. I know he is fighting valiantly to see health care passed, its one of his goals.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed for him. We need him so he can complete his life's dream of health care for all.