Good Insider Piece About How The Public Option Made It

Very interesting interview with Sen Chuck Schumer on how the public option got into the bill. The quote is long but good. Check it out over at TPM.

This evening I spoke with Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY), who was in that infamous Thursday night meeting with President Obama and other Senate leaders--and who has been one of the most persistent advocates of a public option on Capitol Hill. As Schumer explains it, the disagreement between the White House and Senate wasn't substantive so much as it was tactical: The White House had its doubts that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid could really get 60 votes for a public option with an opt out for states.

"The President listened very carefully," Schumer said in an interview moments ago. "He wanted to make sure that the strategy upon which we were embarking had the ability to carry through."

Schumer has been at the center of the fight over the public option from the earliest days of the health care debate--always there to pull it back from the brink when it at times seemed on the verge of collapse. This situation was no different. After the Thursday meeting, four sources in different Democratic offices told me that the White House had suggested they believed a strategy of pursuing Sen. Olympia Snowe's preferred compromise--a triggered public option--might be an easier path to 60 votes. In the end, though, Schumer and the rest of leadership seem to have prevailed upon President Obama that they've picked the right strategy.

What is so interesting about this is that I feel the leadership for the bill did not come from Obama. This early in his presidency, it feels as if he's being too cautious. It might be, to be honest, the move of someone who is showing that he's a bit young in politics. It was the senate and house (of all places!) that showed the leardership here. Which is scary because I always felt the houses couldn't lead a horse to water.

I am sure there is a lot more to this and I can't wait to read the book about it. I do feel as if we are at the precipice of a really good thing to happen to the United States. We are seeing an institution being formed that our kids will look at as if it is part of their rights. Like medicare, social security, civil rights and the lot.

Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) Uncommitted

Staring history in the face, Dem Sen Blanche Lincoln says she is not committed to a yes or no vote on the health care bill. Can you believe this? The single biggest piece of legislation for the dems in DECADES and this senator is riding the fence.

From TPM:

"When asked if she would vote yes on a procedural motion (cloture) to bring the bill to a vote, a spokeswoman said Lincoln "has not committed her vote to anyone.'"

The polling in her reelection is not good and she doesn't see the opportunity here. The south has huge numbers of uninsured and she could be the one brining this to her state.

She is too damn worried about her seat. This is bigger than her seat. This is history.

Reid To Unveil Health Care Bill With Public Option

All things are pointing to a public option right now. Reid will give details about the health care bill going to the senate floor. It WILL include a public option with states given the option to opt out. My god, is this leadership? There are still a ton of hurdles but this is VERY promising.

From Politico:

"Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid will announce this afternoon that he plans to push ahead with a public option vote – most likely one that includes an opt-out provision for states – even though he's currently short several votes for passage, according to people close to the situation."

Will it get the 60 votes. Right now, only 57-58 votes of the 60 needed are for the bill.

Nancy Pelosi Kicking Butt

It has been a while since I have felt empowered by a political figure. Obama was a start but proof is in the pudding. I find that the proof I was looking for is in Nancy Pelosi. She is doing everything she can to put the public option in the health care bill.

From TPM:

"Pelosi's pulling out all the stops to pass a health care reform bill with a public option that pays providers at rates slightly higher than Medicare--even if it means she has to squeak a bill out of the House with the barest majority. Since the beginning of the push to pass reform, the public option has been at the center of the fight, pitting Republicans, moderates, and major industry stakeholders against an extremely determined majority of Democrats, progressive interest groups, and the public at large."

I have heard Obama say he wants the public option in the bill but is not requiring it. I have to state the obvious. What a wuss! There are certain things you fight for as a dem and one of the biggest is health care. While I am not saying Obama hasn't fought for this. His fence riding on the public option is infuriating. I worked for this moment. Called people during elections, gave money, and started this blog all for moments like these when we do something that is right for this country and who do I see doing it. The Rep from San Fran.

This needs to get passed. 20 years from now when my kids don't have to worry about health insurance while in college and when people aren't going bankrupt from medical bills, I will look back on these months.

And The Beating Continues

Looks like the attempt by the insurance companies to destroy Obama's health care bill has seriously backfired and they are in serious trouble.

"The House Judiciary Committee voted Wednesday to strip federal antitrust protections shielding health insurers from investigations into price fixing and other business practices, the first step in a legislative bid to clamp down on the much-maligned industry."

You can check out a previous post here that describes what antitrust is for the insurance industry.

Keep the ball rolling... all over the insurance industry.

Top Execs Won't Get Paid

Looks like the people who almost brought down our country aren't getting paid for it this time around. Reading the Times, the Obama admin has finally gotten tough with the companies who were bailed out with tax payer money.

"Responding to the growing furor over the paychecks of executives at companies that received billions of dollars in federal bailouts, the Obama administration will order the companies that received the most aid to deeply slash the compensation to their highest paid executives, an official involved in the decision said on Wednesday."

I was listening to Fresh Air yesterday and an author was saying how these execs consider themselves survivors for surviving their own screw ups. I am glad these guys are not getting their obscene bonuses that us tax payers were paying for. This is great news for Obama.

Grab A God Damn Mop

Only rarely do you catch a glimpse of Obama serving partisan inspiration to the dem base. Well, in San Francisco, (the heart of very left people) he hit upon a theme that needs to be sung from the mountain top. Check it out.

Yes, GOP. We are cleaning your damn mess. Stop bitching and grab an f-ing mop.