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Progressives Push Reid On The Public Option
Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH)
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Last night, a number of Senate progressives, led by Sherrod Brown (D-OH), met with Majority Leader Harry Reid to make sure his eyes are still trained on the importance of a public option, and to game out a strategy for getting 60 votes to pass a health care bill with a public option on the floor.
According to sources, the meeting was meant to serve as a reminder to that progressives still feel very strongly about the importance of including a public option in the Senate's health care bill and that they've compromised enough.
Today, Reid expects to receive an analysis of his bill from CBO, which he'll circulate among members of his caucus. It should show that the cost of the bill is below $900 billion, and that it reduces the deficit in both the near and long term.
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cmpnwtr
November 17, 2009 9:09 AM
Sherrod Brown, a real senator, with real guts, kicking ass and taking names. I like that.
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The Commenter Formerly Known as NCSteve
November 17, 2009 9:26 AM
So basically, they had a meeting to talk about Joe Lieberman. Good for them. I certainly hope they had some constructive and specific ideas about how to get the smarmy little prick and his cohorts in evil onboard, rather than just contributing some exciting action verbs like "lead!," and "fight!" and "push!," and "twist arms!," which seems to be the norm among net progressives.
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Riesz Fischer
November 17, 2009 9:32 AM in reply to The Commenter Formerly Known as NCSteve
If you think we could ever get Holy Joe on board with us on HCR I'd say your enlightenment is not progressing well at all.
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rwc
November 17, 2009 4:52 PM in reply to Riesz Fischer
And if you don't, it goes down. Even Sen. Brown, who i think is one the best senators we have, still has hopes of turning around Holy Joe, at least, as he said on MSNBC last night, to vote proceedurally to break a filibuster, even if he then does vote against the bill. The more Liebersmuck is villified by Dems, the less likely he is to back them on the cloture vote. That's why Brown, Reid, et all are not critizing Joe. It's counterproductive. If and when Dems get several more seats in the Senate, then I, and probably a lot of Senate Dems will be willing to tell him to take a hike.
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Indie Pro
November 17, 2009 9:58 AM
I was glad to hear NPR report on the lack of cost containment in the House bill.
I'm glad news organizations are starting to talk about this aspect in HCR.
A good PO would help in this regard.
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Indie Pro
November 17, 2009 10:01 AM in reply to Indie Pro
wait, I mean Health Insurance Reform.
Since that is what we are calling it now.
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ondioline
November 17, 2009 10:19 AM in reply to Indie Pro
Yeah, I agree; that was an important step and a good piece.
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democratICnproud
November 17, 2009 10:29 AM
Sherrod was my senator when I lived in Ohio and I could not have been prouder of him because he was MY SENATOR !!
He is a fighter for the people unlike my current Missouri bought and paid for senators Bond and McCaskill who won't make ANY commitment until their lobbyist allows it.
My God we need more Sherrods and many less of the others.
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Silence
November 17, 2009 10:38 AM
Jobs, jobs, jobs. Where are the jobs?
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CVille Dem
November 17, 2009 11:10 AM in reply to Silence
They went south during 8 years of incompetent management; too bad you didn't notice in time to do something about it.
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Silence
November 17, 2009 11:23 AM in reply to CVille Dem
10.2% with an effective rate over 17%. Starving people don't need govt run health care.
Do you happen to have any jobs in your "oppressive" bag of tricks?
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CVille Dem
November 17, 2009 11:35 AM in reply to Silence
Why do I not believe you give a rat's ass about "starving people?" And all people need health care, BTW
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Silence
November 17, 2009 11:47 AM in reply to CVille Dem
Do they need govt run health care that costs more and offers less than current benefits?
If so, why?
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CVille Dem
November 17, 2009 12:08 PM in reply to Silence
The people I'm talking about don't HAVE health care! Why do you think that government-backed insurance would be worse? The entire Congress has government-backed insurance that we all subsidize. I don't hear any of them complaining!
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Homefries
November 17, 2009 11:59 AM in reply to Silence
TANSTAAFL.
Presumably, you're out of a job and upset. Either that, or your current job doesn't pay nearly enough, and you're upset. Either that or you are a paid shill against "government run healthcare".
If you're a shill, there's no point in responding to you. I'll be optimistic and assume you're serious. So consider this. One of the first, most crucial steps we have to make on the road back to prosperity is health care reform. Foreign companies who compete with US based corporations don't have to worry about the burden of health care payments, which gives them a competitive advantage.
This is part of the process of doing things in this country that we're not used to doing. Taking the long view versus the "quick fix". Health care reform--even this bill with all of its flaws--is a big step for the long view.
A lot of people are going to be out of work--or underpaid--no matter what we do. Now is as good a time as any to start building towards a future as opposed to the philosophy of simply taking from it.
Good luck us.
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Indie Pro
November 17, 2009 11:37 AM in reply to Silence
many have moved overseas, or across the border. Free trade, nafta and such -globalization is to blame mostly. Conservative (Dem and repub) ideas like that are to blame.
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Silence
November 17, 2009 11:44 AM in reply to Indie Pro
That's it? That's all you've got?
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Progressive Party
November 17, 2009 12:17 PM in reply to Silence
fucking troll...try using your avatar...silence
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Stephanie Hunter
November 18, 2009 6:19 PM
I think Brown is pushing this because he knows the way Ohio is being served by the public option already. He's got to want to expand this great success to the entire nation! http://cli.gs/23yYaM/
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