It appears the Progressive Block has raised the stakes (maybe). The co-chairs of the Progressive Caucus, Lynn Woolsey and Raul Grijalva, just delivered a letter to the White House reiterating that they will not vote for a bill that does not contain a public option. Here is an excerpt:
We continue to support the robust public option that was reported out of the Committees on Ways and Means and Education and Labor and will not vote for a weakened bill on the House Floor or returning from a Conference with the Senate.
Any bill that does not provide, at a minimum, a public option built on the Medicare provider system and with reimbursement based on Medicare rates-not negotiated rates-is unacceptable.(...)
A health reform bill without a robust public option will not achieve the health reform this country so desperately needs. We cannot vote for anything less.
The reason I am not saying this definitely raises the stakes is because the letter was, at first, only signed by Representatives Woolsey and Grijalva. Since that time, Representatives John Conyers, Hank Johnson, Barbara Lee, and Eric Massa have also signed. I will update as more signatures come in, but unless it is signed by at least 40 members, then it is not an effective threat to block health care legislation if their demands are not met.
The letter is open, and more Representatives can sign on. Updates will appear in this space as that happens.
The letter also requests a meeting with President Obama. If it reaches 40 signatories, I wonder, via Joe Sudbay, if President Obama will grant that meeting.
The latest statement out of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's office is unequivocal: "A bill without a strong public option will not pass the House," Pelosi said.
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