Sixty House Liberals To White House: No Public Option, No Health Care Reform
One interesting side plot in the health care wars: The debate over the public option has suddenly reminded us that there are in fact two houses of Congress, something that’s been easy to forget amid the media obsession with the “bipartisan” negotiations in the Senate.
Case in point: This very tough letter sent last night by House progressive leaders to Health and Human Services secretary Kathleen Sebelius, stating unequivocally that 60 House Dems will not support a health care plan without a public option:
Dear Secretary Sebelius,
We write to you concerning your recent comments about the public option in health insurance reform.
We stand in strong opposition to your statement that the public option is “not the essential element” of comprehensive reform. The opportunity to improve access to healthcare is a onetime opportunity. Americans deserve reform that is real-not smoke and mirrors. We cannot rely solely on the insurance companies’ good faith efforts to provide for our constituents. A robust public option is essential, if we are to ensure that all Americans can receive healthcare that is accessible, guaranteed and of high-quality.
To take the public option off the table would be a grave error; passage in the House of Representatives depends upon inclusion of it.
We have attached, for your review, a letter from 60 Members of Congress who are firm in their Position that any legislation that moves forward through both chambers, and into a final proposal for the President’s signature, MUST contain a public option.
The letter, via Jane Hamsher, is signed by House proressive leaders Raul Grijalva, Lynn Woolsey, and Barbara Lee.
The letter’s unequivocal: Five dozen House Dems say, No public option, no support. Yet House leaders, according to The Hill, are still “betting that liberals will relent, unwilling to be responsible for defeating Obama’s top priority in his first year in office.”
If that’s true, the question is, What can Nancy Pelosi throw at House liberals to get them to climb down, if the public option is unacceptably watered down or removed? The liberals say they’re all in on the public option, and they appear to be serious.
So whither from here? Looks like the House matters again.
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Woah, Greg I am getting some majorly messed up stuff in my browser (Mozilla). All of your page is in a right aligned column, with what is normally the main part of the page below the adverts and blog roll. Please amend.
Also, I would just like to point out that I have been pulling my hair out this past month as people ignore the fact that it is all well and good that the Finance Committee has dedicated itself to writing the worst HCR bill possible, it will have to be reconciled with the largely positive HELP committee bill and the 3 House bills (all of which have the public option). If we pass an initially weak bill through the Senate then reconciliation will bend the final law more towards what progressives want to see no matter what Grassly and Fauc-us do.
Cue all the blame allocated to the “liberal” wing of the DNC by the MSM in 3, 2…
It’s about time. If they hold firm, there will be a public option. The White House wants a bill passed. This gives me hope. When the chips are down, which Dems in the Senate or the House will want to be the jerks who stand in the way of historic health reform?
Good. Stand up on prinicipal progressives! The people of this country gave Democrats an overwelming majority to deliver change. It’s good to see some of you still understand that.
@Kastanj
I don’t doubt the Traditional Media is salivating at the opportunity to blame this on ‘teh evil libruls” being “purist”. It’s a load of bull****. Not only that, but it’s not going to work this time – the progressives that will refuse to vote for HCR w/out a public option are located in deep blue districts. Their refusal to screw over the American people will only bolster the base in their districts. It’s the Blue Dogs who will get clobbered if real HCR doesn’t pass.
And on a broader note…this is progressives’ chance to be taken seriously. As much as everyone complains about “purists” voting against HCR…there was nary a peep when the Democratic establishment expects progressives to vote in lockstep like zombies with the rest of the Democratic adgenda.
The double standard needs to be broken. If you expect Dems to show up and vote for Dem proposals, even if they don’t agree…then Blue Dogs have to also. If you think Blue Dogs can hold legislation hostage because they don’t agree with it – then progressives have that same power.
This is bigger than health care (which is already pretty big). When Pres. Obama said change was coming to Washington, I don’t know if he knew this would be part of it…but it’s a welcome change to those of us that are progressive. Especially since a majority of Americans agree with our views.
This is a Center-Left nation. Center fiscally, Left socially. It’s about time our Government reflected that.
Anybody see Anthony Weiner on Morning Joe? He gave a stirring defense of single payer, “Medicare for all,” to the point where Joe was basically speechless. Then Joe praised AW and invited him back on for Thursday, because he gave the first clear and unmuddled explanation of a POV in 18 months of health care debate.
I’m googling looking for a YouTube of this, and people are high fiving this on Kos and Democratic Underground. Maybe Rachel will book him tonight. More, more, more.
Anthony Weiner on Morning Meeting with Dylan Ratigan right now.
This is tangential to the post, but this article from today’s Boston Globe is probably worth your reading. It’s about Sen. Olympia Snowe, whose position on healthcare is likely to matter much more than most others’.
Twenty advertisers have now dropped Glenn Beck (including Walmart). I don’t expect Ailes/Murdoch to change anything yet (the propaganda purposes served will likely be seen to be too important) but this initiative demonstrates how we can cut a swath into this operation. Help out. Write to those still advertising and boycott their products/services. Write to the twenty and congratulate them and suggest they ought not to be advertising at all with the network that continues to employ Beck.
I saw the piece on MJ, Kathleen, and you know what: I want the Progressives to set out their position over and over again. Why should we be the one to fold time and again. It is time the WH decided where their core support lies and built on that. Mucus and Conrad should be engaged head on by Feingold, Schumer and Rockefeller. Why Obama thinks he needs that duo is beyond me. Q? is Obama a “centrist” and have we been backing the classic centrist Democrat aka Republican lite?
Alan: I think he just wants Baucus to get a bill out of his committee. Baucus strikes me as the type who likes to be in the good graces of those in power. If Baucus’ panel produces a bill, at least that’s done and the bills can be merged. Obama and Rahm have to know that whatever Baucus comes up with won’t pass muster in both Houses.
@alan– Every day. Weiner makes single-payer sound reasonable, unscary, practical, affordable and fair. Which it is, but we’ve let the fearmongers dictate the terms of the debate.
Also saw Jane Hamsher on Andrea Mitchell yesterday, and her most salient point was that co-ops aren’t a compromise, a public option is the middle ground between single-payer and status quo.
@oddjob — saw that on Olympia. She lives in my town and I run into her occasionally, but she’s so reserved I never want to intrude on her private time. I’m talking at supermarket shopping, restaurant dining and such. Our rep (a Dem, Chellie Pingree) isn’t having any town halls, so I’ll keep an eye out for what Susan C and OS are up to.
The given: Republicans will oppose ANY bill on healthcare because they’ve made the calculation that their future electoral chances hinge upon opposition/obstruction ONLY. As Grassley is demonstrating now, bi-partisanship has no place in his future other than as pretense and as a means to delay.
If the WH backs down on the public option, all other elements potentially in the final bill will rise up as a new target of attack (as is now happening with the co-op idea).
The assumption: If the WH does back down on the public option, they will not only suffer serious diminishing of reputation and seats in a year, they will have undercut the future of progressive hopes and legislation in the decades to follow because the right will be encouraged (for good reason) to pull out all the stops, regardless of moral considerations, to do whatever is necessary to regain power and to keep progressives out of power.
This is a battle we cannot lose.
Mike C; Thanks. My messages to quite a few progressive Congressmen/wpmen is simple: don’t let Rahm push you around. There is no resspect for cavers. Stand or fall for your beliefs.
@Bernie:
The advertiser you need to watch is UPS. If/When they pull out, that’s one heck of a straw on the camels back.
@alan:
Seriously. The moronic move to shut out the ELECTED majority on the Finance Comittee is fundimentally undemocratic. Dems got the majority for a reason, to voluntarily give it away is spitting in the face of every person who worked so hard to give Dems the majority they currently have.
Hey – Blue Dogs. Guess what, you’re f***ed. Totally, and completely f***ed. You think you can’t get re-elected without the conservative dems in your states…how in the world do you think you’re going to get re-elected with the Democratic base knowing how you betrayed health care reform?
Bernie: Right, as usual. That said, I simply can’t believe that the White House would back down on the public option once Baucus’ committee produces its weak-tea bill. Four of five committees have it, and I believe after this past weekends feints, the message team has to be thoroughly chastened after the progressive outcry over the Sebelius/Obama comments over the weekend. They have to know that it will be extremely hard to pass anything else, let alone get re-elected, if the progressive base abandons them.
oh canada, oh canada….
http://www.vancouversun.com/story_print.html?id=1878506&sponsor
Enjoy your govt run healthcare.
I am heartened that the progressives are taking a stand, finally. But a lot of this is their own fault. They spent months allowing Republicans and Blue Dogs define the fight. If people knew that the public option was a compromise from single payer then I think it would be more palatable. But most people think the starting point was a public option. So from that aspect the progressive caucus needs to start making themselves more visible from day one on major issues instead of waiting until something gets to crisis level. They should be out giving interviews just like the Blue Dogs every 5 minutes too. That way everybody actually gets their viewpoints out there.
Why is that the Republicans kowtows to the right, and Democrats treat the left as if they need to sit at the children’s table?
You DO understand that the House bill can contain the public option, and the Senate bill NOT, and we may end up WITHOUT it anyway, right?
Sandra Skolfield
The House would still have to vote on a final bill and if no public option is in it and they vote against it then the bill doesn’t get passed.
Hey Everyone, I have an idea that I have been emailing to all the progressive groups which I think could really put pressure on the Senate to pass a plan WITH public option. Help me get in touch with all these groups. Let’s have one day either right before or right after the Congress returns from August break and all the people who want a public option meet up across the country at a LOCAL meeting place, such as city hall, library, post office or whatever and demonstrate their support of the public option. If all the progressive groups (moveon, firedog, democracy for America etc.) combine their email lists of members and add a downloadable sign to print I think we could have a huge turnout. Pick a Sat. or an evening to get more people out. If all our efforts are combined and it is kept really local for people and we get some media coverage I think it might help. Help me contact all these groups with the suggestion. I’m getting tired of phoning, emailing and faxing my Senators and Rep. to no avail. Feinstein keeps responding that she’s still looking at all the options but won’t say she supports the public plan. My rep. Ken Calvert is one of the most corrupt rep’s in the House and never supports any Democratic plan or anything other than his own self interest. I have signed so many petitions I can’t even remember them all. It’s time we get out in the public and really show our numbers. Help me get the idea out there.
We now know where the blame will lie if there is no health reform this year. Liberals have made it clear that federal government expansion is more important than making necessary health system changes. Shame on them.
No, status quovians have made it clear that they want zero change and they hope liberals will stick to their guns so they can stick the blame on them.
MSNBC and CNN is ready for any Progressive who wants to go on cable and articulate a clear position. Know what you want, say so simply so viewers understand you. You’d be surprised how a dose of honesty can take wings. Viewers can’t take in conditional clauses, OTOH/OTOH bs. State you position clearly and stick to it. Don’t let your interviewer sandbag you. They try for drama and take in bs by the bucketfuls. One message: we will not sign a bill without a public option. What is a public option? make sure you have a sound bite statement ready. Again viewers have no time for qualifyers and conditional clauses.
If you are up before Blitzer know he is a fully committed bs artist. Don’t give way, don’t qualify. don’t respond to inside the beltway talking points (the fertiliser Wolf uses to survive on the “best”tv in space….)
The blame will belong to the left. It’s not reform vs. status quo. It’s real reform vs. using reform as a cover for government expansion.
This is great, but my money’s still on the progressives caving. The money is on the side of the Blue Dogs, and Democrats have a long history of appeasement.
Freemas
Give if a rest. The right had the Presidency and the Congress for 6 years and did nothing. There wouldn’t be health reform on the table at all if not for the left. And when we have a good bill get signed this year it will be BECAUSE of the left. Go do your paid shilling some where else. Nobody is buying it.
Freemas, We cannot make changes to the health care system without the pressure of a public option on the insurance and pharmaceutical industries. They’ve had years to change and the rates just keep going up and they make more and more money. I have two girls recently graduated from College with advanced degrees who have no health insurance, ridiculous. They have CEO’s making $3000-$8000 per hour, more ridiculous. As samll business owners my husband and I pay $1200 per month for crappy coverage. If the government needs to step in so be it. Health care should not be for profit-SIMPLE.
Sam the money that’s on the side of the Blue Dogs is the insurance money. We can’t give up on real reform because we are out financed. The people who were promised changed and need change will hold out hope for real reform.
joesixpack said: “Enjoy your govt run healthcare” and linked to a VS piece on budget shortfalls effecting wait times.
As I’ve noted before, Canadians (as all other advanced nations’ citizens) do enjoy their healthcare programs to the point where no political party advances a platform to change it/them. If there was widespread dissatisfaction that would obviously not be the case. You’ll need to honestly deal with that fact of broad consumer satisfaction.
Further, you’ll need to deal honestly with the contrasting statistics on child mortality, average age of death, etc between Canada (or those other nations) contrasted with the US. Not to mention the percentage of your fellow citizens who suffer without care or who must move into bankruptcy due to America’s present system – again, in contrast to those other nations.
Further, as you’ll find if you or some family member gets unlucky, your own medical insurance safety net has holes in it big enough to ruin a life.
No system is perfect but some are demonstrably better, in terms of cost effectiveness and in terms of coverage and delivery. In these measure, the present US system lags far behind many other countries.
Freemas, I know a lot of libertarians think that liberals scheme at night for ways to expand the government, simply in order to reduce your freedom. Get over your paranoia. If we see the government as the fairest way to protect and further the interests of we the people, we encourage it. If the government wants to impinge on freedom, we fight it. Does the Net Neutrality movement ring a bell? Can’t think of too many conservatives leading the charge on that one.
“change” above ought to have stipulated “return to an American-style free enterprise system”
Bernie–you know the Brits have a whole we love the NHS twitter campaign going. In the meantime, a lot of the anti-reform campaigns here are selling “you’re going to lose.” I saw one last night, can’t remember who from, where a doctor says, 50 million new people will come into the system. How will today’s overstretched docs take care of them? Cut to granny slumped in a wheelchair, all alone. They’ll take it away from senior citizens.
That’s the mentality. I’ve got mine, screw everybody else.
You’ll need to honestly deal with that fact of broad consumer satisfaction.
Don’t worry, he won’t.
They never, ever do because they can’t.
And that’s how you know that at the end of the day the are fighting to preserve bullshit.
(they are)
Kathleen – James Vega at Dem Strategist (aug 17, 11:35 AM) has a very thoughtful post on the “mentality” involved. http://www.thedemocraticstrategist.org/
Bernie, thanks, great site, I was not aware of it. Started to read, I’ll get back to it. On deadline. Why am I here?
This is completely awesome. I fully support this move by the 60 house democrats. How the democrats *usually* lose on bills is they go in, say “We’ll do X for the american people!”, then the republicans say “NO WAY, X IS EVIL COMMUNISM”, then the democrats back out the important part of the bill. Those 60 house democrats are showing backbone. If the conservative democrats threaten to take their ball and go home, it’s a few votes. Maybe enough to hurt the bill. If the *actual* democrats threaten to take their bill and go home, the bill *is* dead. And the conservative democrats are in a minority. I’m just happy to see someone growing a spine.
Good job! Who signed the bill? I want a list!
After finding that the deal with the drugs- and insurance companies was done, my world had suffered a severe blow in the most sensitive part of my being. Everything I read after that only added to that sinking feeling. I cannot remember ever having been so disappointed in my life, it truly brought me to tears. It is extremely hard to believe that the man who promised, *PROMISED* every voter new and reformed healthcare, squandered away that dream and let the greedy criminals have it their way – again.
Now, after reading the letter to Sebelius, I am beginning to feel a little hopeful. Not much, just a teeny tiny glimps of optimism. It sure feels good that – maybe – the House matters again.
Milli Denney,
Vermont.
Interesting reading.
wait! for years liberals have said that Wal – Mart is bad. A big bad profit making business. So now if they’ve dropped Glenn Beck wouldn’t that make him…a good guy? Liberals, sheesh, trying to figure them out is like thinking the 3 stooges are Shakespeare.
If this gets crammed down the throats of the “We the People” you can bet there will be less Progressives in 2010 to steal our country’s and children’s futures. WE CANT AFFORD IT!!!
Michael said: “wait! for years liberals have said that Wal – Mart is bad.”
You’ll get some valuable mileage in “understanding liberals” if you begin from the presumption that most of us consider black/white dichotomies aren’t really instances of thinking.
WE CAN’T AFFORD IT!!
Of course that’s why in every country where “it” is done it costs LESS than our insane, rotten system does!
Terri, if one more person scream we cant afford it! I will scream. Can we afford to let the Insurance Companies rip us off! When you need them the most they leave you to die! Perhaps you can start to think of a solution rather than promote fear and ignorance. We have to afford it! whatever it takes. This statement “Oh what will I tell my children we will leave them in debt” What you need to be thinking what can I do to ensure our children life! A life of good health! A life with affordable healthcare, A life of prosperity. There is no such thing as prosperity without your health! You dare leave your children to suffer and support the insurance companies? For christ sake focus and look at the big picture! We can generate revenue from various sources starting with the corps who contribute to obesity. Inaddition to higer prices for the consumers who insist on eating these unhealthy foods. Think!
The government does such a wonderful job with Social Security, Medicare, US Post office, why not let them run Health Care? NO YOU CAN’T!!!!!!
How many senior citizens on Medicare hate it so much they want the government to make it go away?
You are an ignoramus.
If we do nothing in about 30 years the cost of healthcare will be so great we won’t have money to do anything but pay doctor bills, drug bills, hospital bills, and health insurance bills. This isn’t just true of the American people but also the American government.
We can fix this now, or we can let it get worse so it’s even more expensive to fix later.
This Great, Thank for share