Health Care Reform Reminder: Dems Could Still Pass Public Option Through Reconciliation

[Write Left]

By: Jon Walker Tuesday December 7, 2010 12:15 pm

When health care reform was passed, we were told by Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA) it was only a “starter home” that would be improved later. We were also offered vague promises from Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and Bernie Sanders (I-VT) that we would get a vote on a public option in the months following the passage of the new law. Obviously this hasn’t happened.

But there is no reason why Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid couldn’t bring up the public option for an up or down vote next week.

(more)

http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/2010/12/07/health-care-reform-reminder-dems-could-still-pass-public-option-through-reconciliation/

[andym]

1. Let remind them. Please call your representative nt.

[Dawgs]

2. Well, let's hope Obama doesn't block it again.

Not trying to be snarky. Just stating the facts.

NY Times Reporter Confirms Obama Made Deal to Kill Public Option
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/miles-mogulescu/ny-times-reporter-confirm_b_500999.html

[Poboy]

3. NY Times Reporter Confirms Obama Made Deal to Kill Public Option

NY Times Reporter Confirms Obama Made Deal to Kill Public Option
NY Times Reporter Confirms Obama Made Deal to Kill Public Option
NY Times Reporter Confirms Obama Made Deal to Kill Public Option
NY Times Reporter Confirms Obama Made Deal to Kill Public Option
NY Times Reporter Confirms Obama Made Deal to Kill Public Option
NY Times Reporter Confirms Obama Made Deal to Kill Public Option
NY Times Reporter Confirms Obama Made Deal to Kill Public Option
NY Times Reporter Confirms Obama Made Deal to Kill Public Option
NY Times Reporter Confirms Obama Made Deal to Kill Public Option
NY Times Reporter Confirms Obama Made Deal to Kill Public Option



Robust Public Option?
You lying piece of republican.

[BrklynLiberal]

6. Who knows what else was given away during these "negotiations"?

[BrklynLiberal]

7. Who knows what else was given away during these "negotiations"?

[BlueDemKev]

4. Forget it....

...with the Bush tax cuts all but permanently extended, there isn't going to be any money for a public option....or social security, or medicare. However, if we need to start a useless war somewhere to help a Teapublican president get re-elected, then, of course, trillions of dollars will suddenly pour out of the sky.

[BrklynLiberal]

9. Good point..Where were all these "deficit hawks" during pres shit-for-brains' war mongering?

[BlueDemKev]

10. Standing Right Behind Him....

...cheering him on and saying anyone who opposed the president was an anti-American, pro-terrorist, socialist pig. They only care about deficits when the Democrats are in office.

[BrklynLiberal]

12. True!! Why aren't the Dems shouting that out from the rooftops.

Why is there no massive publicity aobut hte fact that the deficit was inherited from Dimson?
The repukes have managed to make the public believe Obama is responsible for every penny of the deficit..
THAT is why the midtems went the way they did..and why people like Scott Brown were elected.


Pathetic job of message framing by the Dems. The repukes have been playing chess, and the Dems are stuck in checkers mode.

[BlueDemKev]

15. That's exactly right....

...the Democrats are no longer allowed to even speak the truth by saying they did inherit a huge economic mess from 8 years of Bush-Cheney, most of which time Congress was controlled by Republicans.

The Democrats' P.R. machine is always atrocious...it was under Carter, the first two years of Clinton, and now the first two years of Obama. The opposition always gets to define us.

[Poboy]

14. Why didn't the Caver-in-Chump demand the Billionare tax cuts be PAID FOR?

Not only did the tax cuts for 8 years NOT work, but now we have to pay for them.

This man is despicable!

[BrklynLiberal]

5. I would not hold my breath waiting for that to happen.

[Renew Deal]

8. DADT

Nothing should pass before that's repealed.

[Llewlladdwr]

11. How can reconciliation be used when there's no budget? NT

[FBaggins]

13. The blogger is ignorant of how reconciliation works.

There has to first be a budget resolution passed which instructs certain committees to follow the reconciliation instructions... then the bill they vote out and debate is limited in the Senate.

It isn't possible to complete that process in the time remaining.

And that assumes that there aren't a handful of Democratic Senators who are so fearful of losing their jobs in two years that they wouldn't even vote correctly if given the chance.