Senator Kohl on the public option (4.00 / 2)

A message from Senator Herb Kohl, one of the undecideds:

While our goal is to reduce the growing costs of health care, we're going to make sure that those who like their current health coverage can keep it.  Others who are in need of better coverage will have more choices.  Ideally, I think health reform should include some type of a public option.  After all, millions of seniors are happy with their government-sponsored Medicare coverage.  There are many proposals on the table, and I am confident that we will end up with one that won't undermine current health providers, will not rely on government subsidies, and will garner bipartisan support.  I believe we can reach consensus on this and all of the critical issues in health reform if we don't get caught up in ideological labels and work together for the good of the country.

What do people think--is this a yes to the public option, or a maybe?

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by: Chris Bowers @ Fri Jul 03, 2009 at 11:41:44 AM CDT

Sounds like a public option supporter to me ... (0.00 / 0)

and OT ... but what happened to the QH comments?  Why were they disabled?

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by: Calvin Jones and the 13th Apostle @ Fri Jul 03, 2009 at 11:44:06 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

They weren't disabled (4.00 / 2)

They are broken. Working on it...

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by: Chris Bowers @ Fri Jul 03, 2009 at 11:45:02 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

I think that's a maybe (4.00 / 1)

Ideally, he's for a public option. That sounds like weasel wording to me--I wouldn't count on him not to settle for a fake public option.

Join the Iowa progressive community at Bleeding Heartland.

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by: desmoinesdem @ Fri Jul 03, 2009 at 11:46:37 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

There are a lot of qualifiers in this statement (4.00 / 1)

"Ideally," "I think", "some type of."  These sort of hedges are normal in everyday speech but on the issue that seems to be considered the most important of the day, they are unacceptable.  If he is a supporter, than he should say so.  If he won't say so, I have difficulty imagining a reason other than that he is not certain that he is a supporter.

The way I see it, vague commitments are useless - 'I will close GMTO' (but use alternatives to serve the same function', 'I oppose DADT' (but I won't lift a finger to secure legislation or stop its implementation despite full legal authority to do so.)

Who are the best keepers of the people's liberties? The people themselves. The sacred trust can be no where so safe as in the hands most interested in preserving it.
James Madison

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by: David Kaib @ Fri Jul 03, 2009 at 11:56:27 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Given Kohl's record, (0.00 / 0)

you should give that the most conservative reading possible.

Visit Street Prophets to talk about faith + politics!

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by: pastordan @ Fri Jul 03, 2009 at 13:10:54 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Kohl shows unenthusiastic, ambivalent support for the public option (0.00 / 0)

     If I am decoding the politician-speak correctly, Kohl does not want to be unpopular with Dem voters. His reading of the tea leaves says that most Dems favor the public option, so he wants to appear to favor it, too. However, if it fails to pass, or if it gets passed and then later becomes unpopular, he wants to be able to say later that he reluctantly went along with it.
    Does anyone here decode his words differently, or did I nail it?

1 Corinthians 13:1 (KJV) - "Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal."/ GOP = Greedy Old Privatizers or Greedy Old Privateers?

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by: Christian_Dem_NY @ Fri Jul 03, 2009 at 20:52:23 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Path to Victory on Public Option (4.00 / 2)

I think that any path to victory that counts on Dianne Feinstein's vote will be a hard slog.  I take her at her word when she says liberal pressure doesn't move her one whit -- it hasn't before, why should it now, when it looks like she will not be running for any office again?  

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by: pereubu77 @ Fri Jul 03, 2009 at 11:44:03 AM CDT

Her talk on CNN... (0.00 / 0)

that started all this buzz was about not taking money out of the Medicaid (?) money for senior citizens in California to insure rural people in other parts of the country.  We're already screwed over enough as it is in California with the budget, why take even more money away at the expense of senior citizens here?

I think if we get another source of funding and don't touch the Medicaid money, she'll be on board with it.

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by: BruinKid @ Fri Jul 03, 2009 at 23:33:00 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Schumer to push against co-ops, trigger (4.00 / 4)

Schumer to push for public plan in Finance committee bill:

Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., a member of the key Senate Finance Committee and advocate for a government-run health insurance plan, said yesterday he would abandon all other possible compromises in favor of immediately creating a public plan that "would operate on 'a level playing field' with private insurers," CongressDaily reports. Other proposals have included a plan that would establish health insurance co-ops with government seed money or "trigger" the creation of a public plan only if private insurers fail to meet certain targets for containing costs and improving access.

Schumer's office said he was preparing an amendment to the Finance Committee's bill, which is expected as early as next week, suggesting that the bill will include one of the other alternatives designed to seek bipartisan compromise.

Good that Schumer is pushing for this, but negative that the Finance committee bill will have either co-ops or a trigger.

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by: Chris Bowers @ Fri Jul 03, 2009 at 11:44:37 AM CDT

do we really have Hagan's vote? (0.00 / 0)

Or is she for a fake public option?

I wouldn't put Wyden in the low-hanging fruit category. He's been saying for months that Democrats should give up on the public option in order to get 70 votes for a health care reform bill (link). He'll only consider a public option if there is no chance for his own bill.

Join the Iowa progressive community at Bleeding Heartland.

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by: desmoinesdem @ Fri Jul 03, 2009 at 11:45:25 AM CDT

She is voting for the HELP bill (4.00 / 2)

So, I gues the answer to your question is whether you consider the HELP bill a fake public option or not.

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by: Chris Bowers @ Fri Jul 03, 2009 at 12:03:55 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

How much do we know about the HELP bill? (0.00 / 0)

Does it incorporate the Schumer compromise, i.e. public plan funded by premiums only?

For that matter, does the House bill's public option have that same caveat?  And are either bill's public plans allowed to actually bargain for lower rates?

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by: liberalmaverick @ Fri Jul 03, 2009 at 15:31:53 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

I give us no chance for Baucus (4.00 / 1)

The only "public option" that might make it into his bill would be fake. His preference is a bill that would be worse than the status quo.

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by: desmoinesdem @ Fri Jul 03, 2009 at 11:47:46 AM CDT

Is anyone going to challenge Bennet? (4.00 / 5)

In many ways he should be easier to beat in a primary than Specter or Gillibrand. Is anyone lining up a bid against him? If not, why not?

Join the Iowa progressive community at Bleeding Heartland.

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by: desmoinesdem @ Fri Jul 03, 2009 at 11:48:36 AM CDT

I wondered the same thing (0.00 / 0)

We need to get someone lined up against him, stat.  I really like Jared Polis but he might be too new to the scene to mount a credible primary challenge.

"Never be afraid to stand with the minority when the minority is right, for the minority which is right will one day be the majority." -William Jennings Bryan

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by: circlesnshadows @ Fri Jul 03, 2009 at 13:04:41 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

I've been anxious to see someone primary Bennet from the left (0.00 / 0)

since he's probably the most vulnerable primary-able Senator aside from Arlen Specter.  Surprised no one's stepped up yet.

I've heard rumblings that Andrew Romanoff might run.  We would do well to get him nailed down on his position on the public option (as well as on other issues) before we commit to supporting him.

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by: liberalmaverick @ Fri Jul 03, 2009 at 15:35:57 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Hard to expect it... (0.00 / 0)

Most "serious" Dem politicians in Colorado are respectful of seniority and Party establishment, especially when you get to state-wide politics.

A flyer from left field would be swatted back pretty easily, so I'm not sure that would provide any pressure.

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by: MetaData @ Sat Jul 04, 2009 at 09:32:27 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

I'd like to recommend today's Daily Howler (4.00 / 4)

for its description of what we may be up against.
Also take a look at the past few days Howlers.

I've been impressed lately with Somerby's focus on this issue and his description about how ineffective some of our spokesmen have been.  Even Ed Schultz, who I love for his passion about this issue is often quite ineffective in arguing with the Republicans he brings on his show.

Why aren't we more often bringing up the simple numbers on aggregate health care spending against other countries whose health care is as good as or better than ours?

   Total health expenditures per capita, 2003

   United States $5711
   Australia $2886
   Austria $2958
   Belgium $3044
   Canada $2998
   Denmark $2743
   Finland $2104
   France $3048
   Germany $2983
   Ireland $2466
   Italy $2314
   Japan $2249
   Netherlands $2909
   Norway $3769
   Sweden $2745
   United Kingdom $2317

They almost make the case on their own.

sTiVo's rule: Just because YOU "wouldn't put it past 'em" doesn't prove that THEY did it.

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by: sTiVo @ Fri Jul 03, 2009 at 12:03:00 PM CDT

Need to mention Quality as well (4.00 / 2)

It's important to emphasize that NOT only are costs higher, but overall quality is lower. Many on the right will argue "yes, it costs more, but we have better quality health care here." That's not true. It needs to be debunked with the hard data. Only arguing the cost part misses a key element. This article has a fantastic chart about half way through that goes through spending and two important measures of overall health (not health care) quality in comparison to other developed countries:

1. Life Expectancy
2. Infant Mortality

The US not only spends more, but also has lower overall quality.  

Demockracy.com

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by: kvandyke @ Fri Jul 03, 2009 at 13:43:22 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

you're right but (0.00 / 0)

even with people who refuse to believe that our Health Care isn't the best in the world, these numbers STILL allow you to make the point that you could pay MORE than the other countries, but less than we pay now and still "maintain our edge."

sTiVo's rule: Just because YOU "wouldn't put it past 'em" doesn't prove that THEY did it.

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by: sTiVo @ Fri Jul 03, 2009 at 15:28:09 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

What about kennedy? (0.00 / 0)

I think he is too sick to vote as well.  

That being said I think we will win the public option fight if one of these things happens

1: People in say Tester's district call him up and tell him that they are liberals who will only vote for a senator that votes for the public option.

2: Obama threatens to campaign against them in their next election.

The public option is too popular and this is a very public fight.  I wouldn't be surprised if it passes with 60+ votes after they get 51 votes for it.

http://transgendermom.blogspot....

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by: transgenmom @ Fri Jul 03, 2009 at 13:30:20 PM CDT

I think Kennedy will make it (0.00 / 0)

There's no way he misses a vote for the cause of his life.  If there's any vote he'll make it for it's this one.

We definitely need public pressure to make the reluctant Senators vote for the public option.  Good luck getting Obama to threaten anyone though.

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by: liberalmaverick @ Fri Jul 03, 2009 at 15:28:14 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

The only way Ted Kennedy will miss this vote (0.00 / 0)

is if he dies first.

sTiVo's rule: Just because YOU "wouldn't put it past 'em" doesn't prove that THEY did it.

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by: sTiVo @ Fri Jul 03, 2009 at 15:29:17 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Al Franken will support the public option for sure (4.00 / 1)

I'm sure of this because he supports single-payer: http://www.alfranken.com/pages...

Franken opposing the public option would be like Joe Lieberman wanting to nuke Israel.  He'll vote for it.

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by: liberalmaverick @ Fri Jul 03, 2009 at 15:42:02 PM CDT

sad story on dkos (0.00 / 0)

a very sad story on dkos-this is why we need real reforms
http://www.dailykos.com/story/...

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by: art3 @ Fri Jul 03, 2009 at 15:55:25 PM CDT

Kerry (0.00 / 0)

I spoke to Kerry's office last week and they were adamant that he supports a public option. Does he need more pressure? I am really confused about this, as the blogs are saying one thing, but his office seems to be saying another.

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by: coral @ Fri Jul 03, 2009 at 22:23:39 PM CDT

Kerry supports a public option (0.00 / 0)

But floated the idea of a trigger if a straight-up public option couldn't get enough votes.

The chart listing Senators' positions on the public option put Kerry as a Maybe for this reason.  Personally I don't think that's totally fair.

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by: liberalmaverick @ Sat Jul 04, 2009 at 00:31:14 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

What about 60 for cloture? Also, I live in California and have doubts about Feinstein! (0.00 / 0)

I agree that getting 50 votes for the bill is doable.  How about exploring what it will take to get 60 for cloture?  With Reid's weak leadership, it is not going to be easy.  IMO the only way we win on cloture is through arm-twisting by the Obama Administration.  And that is assuming that the bill in the Senate is something worth fighting for.

Also, I have lived in California for 11 years.  I have always had mixed feelings about Feinstein.  She is not bad on the envrionment, OK on women's issues, a solid vote to restrict assault weapons, and terrible on anything that restricts business.  She has waffled on EFCA and her statements about health care explicitly say that she does not care what we think.  

Given her age, 77, it could well be that she will not run again in 2012.  In which case, there is not much we can do if she decides not to listen to constituents.  When Arnold was pushing the special election initiatives in 2005, the California Nurses Association followed him and picketed him at every public event all over the country.  I think that sort of pressure would be necessary to get to her and, frankly, there are Senators that are more important on this fight so I do not see that happening to get to Feinstein.

Also Feinstein has won election in tough times, most especially in 1994.  That was a banner Republican year and Michael Huffington spent gazillions from his personal fortune to challenge her.  She had only been in office for two years and won by just 1.9%.  My guess is that she is highly confident that she will not be primaried from the left in 2012.  Elections in California are really expensive.  

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by: ammasdarling @ Sat Jul 04, 2009 at 08:16:17 AM CDT

What do we really know about Tester's opinion? (0.00 / 0)

As a farmer and small business owner he has certainly experienced the expense and difficulty of health insurance on a personal level. We're finding in Colorado that farmers and ranchers can be quite supportive if you describe the business proposition of health care reform, i.e. the savings and security it offers them for their family and employees.

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by: MetaData @ Sat Jul 04, 2009 at 09:36:51 AM CDT