Whip count at 31: Kohl open to reconciliation, "not opposed" to including public option

by: Chris Bowers

Thu Feb 18, 2010 at 12:19

Longtime Open Left participant Neal scores a big find for the Senate reconciliation whip count. Just received from Neal over email:

I actually got through to Senator Kohl's office. First directly to XX. She transferred me to XXX, Kohl's aid specifically for responding to health care-related inquiries. She was very forthcoming. No definite answers, but she tried to address the questions (that I read more or less verbatim from you instructions email):
*****
--Does Senator [FILL IN BLANK] support using the reconciliation process to forge a deal with the House of Representatives and finish health reform?
XXX: "I don't know." She went on to say that Kohl was proud of the Senate bill and is strong supporter of health care reform now. She said that Kohls doesn't generally pre-disclose his position before legislation is on the table. I pressed a little and she ended by saying that Kohl "would be open to using reconciliation" to finish the process.
--Does Senator [FILL IN BLANK] support including a public option in that reconciliation process, including signing onto Senator Bennet's letter on the public option?
XXX: Started by saying that Senator Kohl is a supporter of the public option. He would "not be closed to the public option in reconciliation.
*****
I was surprised at how forthcoming she was. Whenever I've called Kohl's office in the past, I've gotten the hurry up, say what you want, we'll get back to you treatment. Never actually got to talk with someone about something. I'd say Ms. XXXXX answers to both of the questions were definite maybes.
Thanks for your efforts on this, and everything else. Best....

Great, great job Neal. Fantastic stuff.

I am a bit more optimistic than Neal. I take this as a "yes" to question #1 (use reconciliation to finish health reform), and a "maybe" to question #2 (include a public option in health reform). The key is the difference between "open," which I take as a yes, and "not be closed," which I take as a maybe.

Up to 31 Senators who are in favor of, or open to, using reconciliation to finish health reform. That is up 10 Senators in just one day, and only 19 away from the goal.

Update (Adam): Also, courtesy of our new Change.org widget, CREDO Action has a petition on this you can sign without leaving OpenLeft, titled "It's Time for Reconciliation". It's in the top right corner above the normal Menu. Simply click "Take Action" to get started on signing.

Chris Bowers :: Whip count at 31: Kohl open to reconciliation, "not opposed" to including public option

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Whip count at 31: Kohl open to reconciliation, "not opposed" to including public option | 4 comments

Good job, Neal! (0.00 / 0)

That's quite encouraging. Shows that those calls have an impact. Senators are moving. So, keep up the pressure, in order to show them that people aren't satisfied with a simple "maybe"! Try to get them into a more determined position.

by: Gray @ Thu Feb 18, 2010 at 17:23:53 PM UTC

How do you plan to address the president and WH (0.00 / 0)

who will attempt to kill what you are doing since they are focused on bipartisanship with the summit with the GOP?

By the way, I am glad to see this happening, but that thought is in the back of my mind so I thought I would ask out of interest of what sort of pressure people are trying to bring onto the WH?

by: bruhrabbit @ Thu Feb 18, 2010 at 18:30:36 PM UTC

Can the whip count be put at the top of the page? (4.00 / 2)

Maybe a box like the Senate projections that can be clicked for a current list of results? That would make it a lot easier to know who still has to be contacted and who requires further pressure.

by: DaveW @ Thu Feb 18, 2010 at 18:36:12 PM UTC

Do we yet know what "public option" means to Obama? Senators? (4.00 / 1)

Given the years before anything is workable, based on what is known about the Senate version, and the massive premium increases the BHIPs (Big Health Insurance Parasites) are sending out right now, we desperately need a real option, a working option, something that can be implemented in weeks, months, not years.

Medicare for All...with a robust private option.

That's what we need. Not some amorphous public option which will cover only a few and the rest will be mandated to buy from the parasites.

And if cost containment is a priority and not mere lip service, then single payer is the only way to accomplish that. And it would provide actual CARE, not just the additional denials of care.

C'mon, Dems! GET A GRIP! People need help, they need real, dependable health CARE. We do not need health insurance reform which will essentially insure additional years of high profitabiity and transfer of wealth to the BHIPs!

by: jawbone2 @ Thu Feb 18, 2010 at 21:04:17 PM UTC