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Progressives Say They Have 53 Signatures On Letter Rejecting Public Plan Compromise
Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D-CA) just announced that Congressional progressives have 53 signatures on the letter that says their caucus won't vote for legislation that contains the Blue Dog compromise.
Woolsey spoke at a rather raucous press conference happening right now outside the Capitol building. (You can watch live on CSpan.org.)
Several members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, speaking at this presser, said they won't vote for legislation that doesn't include a "robust public option."
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Who are the signatories?
I have to admit I'm slightly confused why medicare vs negotiated rates, specifically, is the line in the sand. Won't the public plan be large enough to negotiate some fairly impressive rates as it is? And might mandating medicare rates potentially create problems with inducing doctors to sign on to the plan? This is not to criticize the signatories to Woolsey's letter-- this is the kind of action I want to see the progressive caucus taking as often as possible-- I am just trying to understand their reasoning because I have not looked closely into this particular aspect of the debate myself.
This said it's also pretty funny to me that the blue dogs are agitating to make the public plan cost more for the government. Theirs is a strangely capricious fiscal conservatism.
July 30, 2009 3:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
Honestly, the public plan they're fighting for is pretty pathetic anyway. It'll only be available on the exchange and is expected to cover only 11 million by 2019.
July 30, 2009 4:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
This, in a nutshell, is why it's harder for Democrats to pass legislation than it is for Republicans. Republicans are much more monolithic. They mostly think alike and any time someone offers a rational thought they just get shouted down. Getting Democrats all moving in the same direction is like herding cats, and there's simply no way to satisfy all of them. What finally needs to happen is someone needs to put the hammer down and say "All right. You've all had your say, but this is the bill we're going to pass" and then pass it. Otherwise this wrangling can go on forever.
July 30, 2009 3:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
Here's the problem: while Blue Dogs lose nothing by sinking a bill because they don't give a shit about healthcare reform, if progressives vote against a bill that is better than the status quo because it's not better enough, they are in practical terms sabotaging real (but incremental) progress.
Progressives simply have no leverage. Wishing they had more leverage, wishing they would act as if they had more leverage, actually acting as if they had the leverage they don't have--none of these changes that reality.
July 30, 2009 8:01 PM | Reply | Permalink