One of the most important aspects of this campaign is how it is the first attempt to really push Senators to make their position on the public option clear. More than one Senate staffer has written us to say that no one in the media has ever asked them such detailed questions on the public option before:
Do you support a public healthcare option as part of healthcare reform?
If so, do you support a public healthcare option that is available on day one?
Do you support a public healthcare option that is national, available everywhere, and accountable to Congress?
Do you support a public healthcare option that can bargain for rates from providers and big drug companies?
To date, Senators have been allowed to avoid real pressure by providing vague, almost open-ended responses to health care questions. This has allowed them to sound good to the base, but also provided them wiggle room to cut backdoor deals with health insurance companies.
Today, we are starting to put an end to that. Through your emails, we are going to get every Senator to provide clarity on where they stand on the public option. And with such transparency comes accountability.
Hi, folks. This is Zach Lowe, Press Secretary for Senator Russ Feingold. I wanted to let you all know that Senator Feingold's response to all four questions is "YES!"
Here's what Senator Feingold had to say following the president's stop in Green Bay, Wisconsin last week. Thanks.
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