My Buddy Sammy over at “Yid with a Lid” has pointed out some interesting things about the so-called’ “Public Option. Looks like we should not break out the bubbly just yet:
* House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she is firmly committed to passing a comprehensive healthcare reform bill with a public insurance option despite signals from top White House aides that the president may forge another path to gain bipartisan approval. “We can’t pass a bill without a public option,” Pelosi told reporters after speaking at a healthcare event hosted by the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce in her home district.
* The AFL-CIO drew a line in the sand today, saying a health care reform bill must include three specific elements — including a government-sponsored health insurance plan, or “public option” — in order to win their support.
* Democracy for America, the liberal advocacy group founded by former Democratic National Committee Chair Howard Dean, expects the president to reiterate his support for the public option when he addresses Congress next week, DFA spokeswoman Mary Rickles said. Meanwhile, she said, her group and its 400,000 members will continue to pressure members of Congress to back the proposal. “Any member of Congress who votes for a bill without a public option and against the wishes of the American people will stand alone for reelection,” she said.
* With or without any skeletons in their closet, members of Congress should feel pressured to vote for a public option if they want to keep their seats, argues the group the Progressive Change Campaign Committee.
* House Progressive Caucus co-chair Lynn Woolsey, D-Calif., said it will be a “grave error” for Congress to draft a health care reform bill that does not include a government run health insurance option and she believes there are enough liberal lawmakers to block its passage. Woolsey said she is setting up a meeting with President Barack Obama, who this week signaled that he would not insist that a public option be a component of the health care reform bill that is to be the crowning achievement of his first term in office. “The president must support,” a strong public option, Woolsey said, “and he must tell the Senate to get its act together.”
So, before everyone celebrates, keep vigil until after this bill officially dies. Because you know Democrats, you let your guard up for one minute and they will sneak something through, when we are not looking. Kudo’s to Sammy for pointing all this out to us. Good Job! 😀