Update: On MSNBC, Adam Green announces that Debbie Stabenow has signed on, too. Post reflected to update.
****
According to whipcongress.com, South Dakota Senator Tim Johnson and Michigan Senator Debbie Stabenow have signed onto the Bennet letter calling for a public health insurance option to be passed via reconciliation.
This makes 36 public supporters for passing health reform via reconciliation, and 24 in favor of passing a public option through that process. Here is the current whip chart in detail:
#1: Use reconciliation to pass health reform?
Yes: 36
Maybe: 4
No: 1
No comment: 18
#2: Pass a public option through reconciliation?
Yes: 24
Maybe: 8
No: 5
No comment: 22
Concerning the "maybes" on question #2, there are five Senators--Cardin (MD), Casey (PA), Klobuchar (MN) McCaskill (MO) and Reid (NV)--who have said they they support reconciliation, and support the public option, but just haven't confirmed that they support passing a public option through reconciliation. Plus, there is also Tom Harkin, who has not gone on record, but who has been a very strong supporter of the public option. Also, anonymous sources closer to matter indicate Harkin supports passing a public option through reconciliation.
The true "maybes" for the second question are Maria Cantwwll and Herb Kohl, whose statements on the matter show real signs of being undecided.
This is a long-winded way of saying that there are probably 30 Senators in support of passing a public option through reconciliation, 2 truly undecideds, 5 opposed, and 23 who have yet to comment.
Slowly but surely, progress is being made.
|
STATE BLOGS
