Jim Dean (DFA): House will not pass health care without Public Option

(from e-mail just got)

Over the weekend Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said the Obama administration was open to considering co-ops in a healthcare reform bill. Immediately, insurance-funded media went on the attack. Some reporters called the public option dead -- others "off the table".

The media is wrong... again.

Let's be clear: A Healthcare bill without a public option is D.O.A. in the House. Period.

To pass any bill in the House they need at least 218 votes but 64 House Democrats have stood up and said they will not vote for a bill without a public option. That means a bill without a public option would only have 193 votes.

It's up to us to make sure these Democrats stand strong and never back down in the face of pressure from the insurance industry and insider Democrats. Will you join me in thanking Healthcare Heroes like Donna Edwards from Maryland CD-04 and Chellie Pingree of Maine CD-01 right now?

and it can be passed in the senate, if need be, by reconciliation which is only 51 votes.

I think the House and then the Senate need to pass their respective bills and then they need to be made into one bill. That one bill then needs to be voted upon by both houses and then they can possibly do it under reconciliation but quite doubtful as it has to relate entirely to General Budget..

He mentioned in a letter today that his family would sign onto it.

My congressman is a real wingnut. He will not support that hurts the feelings of the CEO's. It might be good for to find out who in the GOP supports a public option. I thought none of them would.

Patrick Murphy.

Maybe some of the other Blue Dogs will come around.