Breaking: Public Option Through Reconciliation Scoreboard: 13 + Levin = 14

[FourScore]

Breaking: Public Option Through Reconciliation Scoreboard: 13 + Levin = 14
by MediaFreeze
Wed Feb 17, 2010 at 08:16:15 PM PST

UPDATE: Wednesday, 9:39 PM -- Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Ben Cardin (D-Md.) are the latest to indicate support for the use of reconciliation to pass health care reform legislation that includes a public option. LINK http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/02/17/dianne-feinstein-signs-on_n_466435.html

There are now thirteen Senators who support yesterday's bold move to save the public option.

Sign the letter! http://whipcongress.com/letter-senate?source=med

Senators:

1. Michael Bennet

2. Kirsten Gillibrand

3. Jeff Merkley

4. Sherrod Brown

5. Al Franken

6. Pat Leahy

7. John Kerry

8. Sheldon Whitehouse

9. Roland Burris

10. Bernie Sanders

11. Dianne Feinstein

new --->>>12. Amy Klobuchar

new --->>>13. Ben Cardin

just in --->>>14. Carl Levin

If your Senator is on the list call them and give them some love!

If your Senator is not listed get a script and give it to them!.

This effort can work! Make some noise!

Demand that your Senator publicly announces his or her support and that President Obama come out forcefully in favor of this critical and valiant effort to rescue our country's health care system.

Any Democrat that does not sign on must know they court the anger of the majority of their voters...

SNIP

...Update: Downthread GOTV says he talked to Carl Levin tonight and he says he will sign. So on the basis of his demonstrated veracity I guess that's 14...

SNIP

...Keep calling!

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2010/2/17/838118/-Breaking:-Public-Option-Through-Reconciliation-Scoreboard:-13-+-Levin14

[Jennicut]

1. Well, that was fast.

I wonder what it will be by this time tomorrow.

[JerseygirlCT]

15. Wish our (one) senator would jump in

he's got nothing to lose and his friend Ted's legacy to secure.

[Jennicut]

16. I think he will, eventually. Dodd has nothing to lose...unless he wants an insurance lobbying job.

[JerseygirlCT]

17. That would be awfully disappointing, wouldn't it? nt

[bluestateguy]

2. I wonder who the one will be to fuck up this lovely momentum

Hmmmm...

[Chisox08]

4. Don't bring up that douche.

I've more than I can stand of Kissyface.

[Aramchek]

11. he can't fuck it up. Brown's victory declawed Holy Joe.

[Beaverhausen]

3. great news

now what is up with my great senator Barbara Boxer? Surely she will sign on.

[Justitia]

5. yay, yay, yay! Cmon, cmon, cmon.... -eom

[Leopolds Ghost]

6. The public option is a figleaf. Per the authors of the bill, it's designed to not compete w/ plans

In fact, IT'S DESIGNED TO BE RESTRICTED TO THAT PORTION OF THE POPULATION THAT CAN BE PAID FOR BY SUBSIDIZING THE EXACT SAME PRIVATE INSURERS TO OFFER DISCOUNT PLANS RESTRICTED TO 5% of the population (of course everyone on DU who is UNINSURED imagines they will be among the 5%? NO, the people advocating this bill HAVE insurance and are making decisions FOR those who do not), using THE FINES TAKEN FROM THOSE IN THE 40% who opt out of purchasing private insurance!!!

Source: Washington Monthly, Brookings, wayy back in 2005-2006.

And one of the authors of the bill went on Progressive Radio to DEFEND THIS SAME ARGUMENT a few weeks ago.

This is a sweetener designed to get easily impressed Dems to go along with a bill designed to screw the working class.

You do know that no power to opt-out = no price setting influence, right?

Inflexible demand occurs when there is no price point at which people say "fuck you, I'm not purchasing your product OR your friend's product."

[pnwmom]

10. Wrong. A source back in 2005 CANNOT speak to any factual issue in any current version

of a public option.

And one author of an old bill can't speak for all the authors or supporters of the current bills.

[upi402]

7. Kucinich will go!

Hell, I've called and emailed my damn DINO Senators so many times already. ugh i guess i could again, not like i have a job to go to

[tinrobot]

8. Barbara Boxer, Russ Feingold,. where are you?

[JDPriestly]

13. Maybe there is something wrong with this proposal.

[pnwmom]

9. Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell, it's your turn! n/t

[JDPriestly]

12. Why isn't Barbara Boxer supporting this?

I called her. I will call her again.

[European Socialist]

14. Great news--K&R

[SharonRB]

18. I spoke to Levin's office today

He hasn't signed yet. I was told he's going to review the letter tomorrow when he's back in DC. He does support the public option, though.