Harkin says he has the votes to pass public option bill in the Senate

[spanone]

The Senate has the votes to pass a healthcare reform bill including a public option, a key Senate chairman said Tuesday.

Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa.), the chairman of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, said that the Senate "comfortably" has a majority of votes to pass the public plan, and that he believes Democrats can muster 60 votes to break a filibuster.

"I have polled senators, and the vast majority of Democrats -- maybe approaching 50 -- support a public option," Harkin said told the liberal Bill Press Radio Show. "So why shouldn't we have a public option? We have the votes."

"I believe we'll have the 60 votes, now that we have the new senator from Massachusetts, to at least get it on the Senate floor," Harkin later added. "But once we cross that hurdle, we only need 51 votes for the public option. And I believe there are, comfortably, 51 votes for a public option."

The Iowa lawmaker's statements mark a bold claim that Democrats have the votes to pass a health bill in the Senate including the prized public (or "government-run") plan after signs for weeks now that centrist Democrats and virtually all Republicans would not support a bill including the provision.

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/60683-harkin-says-he-has-the-votes-to-pass-public-option-bill

[Demoiselle]

1. OH please let him be right! nt

[spanone]

4. i hope so

[Arkana]

2. Thank God for Harkin.

Keep sending him back to the Senate, Iowa.

[Frustratedlady]

3. No problem there. As for Grassley? I don't think so!

It's time to put him out to pasture.

[wroberts189]

5. Despite a few things I cannot remember... I have always liked this guy.

One of the few lone voices defending Bill Clinton when no one else would or dared.

[still_one]

6. If they can't get the 60 votes, go through reconcillation /nt

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

7. I'm thrilled about this, but at the same time, I wish he didn't show his cards so soon.

[Ruby the Liberal]

11. Maybe hes providing cover to the DINOs on the Finance Committee?

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

12. Interesting... n/t

[Ruby the Liberal]

13. They just broke for lunch. 6 more to speak.

I hope we have a vote by the end of the day.

[Gwereeya]

14. Maybe he's doing a Dr. Phil!

You know, "behaving your way to success."

[Kalyke]

8. Kick

This is so much more important than strip clubs.

:kick:

[Echo In Light]

9. Rec

[grantcart]

10. We know about the 50 votes for PO its the 60 votes for cloture that is the question