Obama "rallying support for a public plan option" now has between 54 and 56 vote

[240 is Back]

Obama "rallying support for a public plan option" now has between 54 and 56 votes

The NYT noted over the weekend that senior Senate Democrats are "increasingly confident" that health care reform really will pass this fall. Sen. Kent Conrad (D-N.D.), who hasn't exactly been helpful this year, said, "I am Scandinavian, and we don't like to overstate anything. But I have a solid feeling about the direction of events."

What's driving the optimism? According to a report in Roll Call, moderate Dems appear less likely to break ranks on the signature domestic issue of their party.


Moderate Senate Democrats face increasing pressure to support a health care bill that includes a public insurance option, and many appear prepared to fall in line with Democratic leaders -- provided they are presented with a bill that can withstand public scrutiny in their home states.

Centrists are adamant that any bill they support must be deficit-neutral. But they are also loath to cross President Barack Obama by causing a health care bill to fail this year. <...>

To seal the endorsement of moderates, Democratic leaders are working to wrap the controversial elements of reform in a politically attractive message to the centrists' conservative-leaning constituents. That could include the addition of provisions aimed directly at problems or issues in each Senator's state, such as tweaks to state funding formulas for federal programs, aides said.

<...>

In related news, Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) told MSNBC this morning that a public option has between 54 and 56 votes in the Senate. "I'm talking to some of the moderates," Schumer said, "and they're very open to it."

If that count is right -- and it's a higher number than I usually hear -- the key would be to find four to six Democrats who oppose the public option to nevertheless let their colleagues vote up or down on the bill.



<...>

Garnering Public Plan Support

Over the last week, Obama and members of his administration have been rallying support for a public plan option in private meetings, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Obama has reached out personally to more than 12 rank-and-file Senate Democrats, while administration officials have held almost daily private meetings at the Capitol with senior Democratic staff to discuss ways to include a public plan option in finalized Senate reform legislation.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) plans to bring legislation to the chamber floor this month that includes proposals from both the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee reform bill and the Finance Committee bill.

Since the more bipartisan bill generated in the Finance Committee does not include a public plan option, Obama is attempting to ensure that it will be considered as part of the final overhaul plan.

[Soul Crusher]

Obama "rallying support for a public plan option" now has between 54 and 56 votes

The NYT noted over the weekend that senior Senate Democrats are "increasingly confident" that health care reform really will pass this fall. Sen. Kent Conrad (D-N.D.), who hasn't exactly been helpful this year, said, "I am Scandinavian, and we don't like to overstate anything. But I have a solid feeling about the direction of events."

What's driving the optimism? According to a report in Roll Call, moderate Dems appear less likely to break ranks on the signature domestic issue of their party.


Moderate Senate Democrats face increasing pressure to support a health care bill that includes a public insurance option, and many appear prepared to fall in line with Democratic leaders -- provided they are presented with a bill that can withstand public scrutiny in their home states.

Centrists are adamant that any bill they support must be deficit-neutral. But they are also loath to cross President Barack Obama by causing a health care bill to fail this year. <...>

To seal the endorsement of moderates, Democratic leaders are working to wrap the controversial elements of reform in a politically attractive message to the centrists' conservative-leaning constituents. That could include the addition of provisions aimed directly at problems or issues in each Senator's state, such as tweaks to state funding formulas for federal programs, aides said.

<...>

In related news, Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) told MSNBC this morning that a public option has between 54 and 56 votes in the Senate. "I'm talking to some of the moderates," Schumer said, "and they're very open to it."

If that count is right -- and it's a higher number than I usually hear -- the key would be to find four to six Democrats who oppose the public option to nevertheless let their colleagues vote up or down on the bill.



<...>

Garnering Public Plan Support

Over the last week, Obama and members of his administration have been rallying support for a public plan option in private meetings, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Obama has reached out personally to more than 12 rank-and-file Senate Democrats, while administration officials have held almost daily private meetings at the Capitol with senior Democratic staff to discuss ways to include a public plan option in finalized Senate reform legislation.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) plans to bring legislation to the chamber floor this month that includes proposals from both the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee reform bill and the Finance Committee bill.

Since the more bipartisan bill generated in the Finance Committee does not include a public plan option, Obama is attempting to ensure that it will be considered as part of the final overhaul plan.

240 - was that a wet dream you just awoke from? 

[kcballer]

It'd be great if they could think of the majority rather than themselves but it's politics.  It's about survival and winning the next election.  What helps though is if this gets through the repubs will attack it, but really they have no grounds to do so.  They have no alternative, a majority of people want reform and/or a public option.  It's more dangerous to vote against this than for it. 

[shootfighter1]

Unfortunately, more than half the nation does not want a public option...so they just don't f'n listen to us, they have their own agenda.

There's so much they can do to improve our current system without having the government run healthcare plan.  Its all about their agenda...they don't listen to mainstream docs or mainstream American.
The few leaders of the AMA who are supporting the president have been heavily criticized by many other physician groups.  The AMA represents less than 20% of all physicians.  Suck up political sell outs.

[kcballer]

Your poll is from where? Because everywhere i read it's a majority of people.  Maybe a minority of people in your circle of friends but that is not the country.  

[Soul Crusher]

Your poll is from where? Because everywhere i read it's a majority of people.  Maybe a minority of people in your circle of friends but that is not the country.  

Shoot represents the doctors who are going to get screwed because you deabeats want a free lunch at his expense. 

[kcballer]

Shoot represents the doctors who are going to get screwed because you deabeats want a free lunch at his expense. 

Oh so shoot speaks for all Dr's does he? I value his opinion but not some fabrication of the truth based on a straw poll help at his office. 

[Soul Crusher]

Oh so shoot speaks for all Dr's does he? I value his opinion but not some fabrication of the truth based on a straw poll help at his office. 

KC - GFY

Shoot paid a fortune in school loans, debt, etc and just because you yourself feel that he should make less and you get free services does not make it right. 

You communists are a real joke.  What service do you provide?  Maybe I dont want to pay for it and you should take a 50% pay decrease beccause "I feel" you should. 

[kcballer]

Getting affordable health care for a majority of people is called democracy.  A majority of people want it so they get it. Majority rules.  You may not always agree with it but you do your best given the circumstances. 

[Soul Crusher]

Getting affordable health care for a majority of people is called democracy.  A majority of people want it so they get it. Majority rules.  You may not always agree with it but you do your best given the circumstances. 

Wrong you moron.  If 50.1% want slavery that is ok with you?

If 50.1% want no abortion, no affirmative Action, no welfare, no illegal immigration, etc, that is ok with you? 

If 50.1% want do get rid of the EPA, DOE, NEA, PBS, EEOC, DOL, etc, that is ok with you?

If 50.1% want to ban gay marriage forever no exceptions that is ok with you? 

If 50.1% want no gun control whatsover you are ok with that?

If 50.1% want a free lawyer, you are ok with that at the taxpayers expense?

[MRDUMPLING]

LOL The government already runs healthcare...who do you think mandated HMOs?  Get government out of healthcare and let them regulate it as it should(no subsidies, or exemption from laws etc.), basically fight for the people and see what happens. 

More government isn't the answer

[shootfighter1]

I am speaking from a few things I have read and also the docs I interact with (which are mainly doctors in private practice, not hospital owned practices).

kc, I would like to see a real vote too, large poll specifically on the public option part of reform.  I still think over 50% of people in the country want meaningful reform but without a public option.  The vast majority of people want reform...but the liberal dems keep selling "our way vs. do nothing", that is just not the case.  Its political bullshit again which justifies growing bigger government and more taxation to support it.  Many people I talk to don't understand, they think reform is tied to the public option.  If we talked more about options, people wouldn't be misled.

 Its not an either or....plus they continue to completely ignore the horrible economic position the country is in right now.  I absolutely do not agree with Obama's salesemen that a public option will not cost taxpayers money.  The CBO is an independent body that said it would, we must listen to unbiased sources.  This administration has a liberal agenda and is twisting #s to justify it.
Just like the turnpike taxes were just temporary.  The gov always paints a bright picture of what they are doing.  Just like medicare was well designed and efficient....and now we find 500-800 billion of mismanagement that can be cut.  The government cannot run things efficiently.  They need to be the regulators that protect the people in a free market system.  Let them make rules that protect people and limit excessive greed.  Let gov. give tax incentives, make it illegal to deny care based on pre-existing conditions, open up competition across state lines, allow people and companies to pool for decreased rates, nonprofit co-ops may even be a real option.  All these things, and more, should be done before the gov runs any aspect of healthcare.  Gov is inefficient and wasteful, its just what happens when something is so large, the bureacracy is mindboggling.