Our favorite Democratic 'svengali', Rahm Emanuel, just said that he didn't think the Senate would be able to pass a public option in spite of the three public option amendments offered so far by Senators Rockefeller, Schumer, and Cantwell. I guess he takes conservative Senators like Kent Conrad, Nelson, and Baucus at their word when they say they don't have the votes to pass a health insurance reform bill with a public option in it.
The Senate has been fairly clear that they cannot pass a healthcare bill including a public option, White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel asserted Wednesday evening. Emanuel professed pessimism that healthcare reform would include a strict public (or "government-run") option, though he signaled an expectation that House liberals may still push for the prized reform.
"I think Senate's been clear about the prospect there is," Emanuel told PBS's Charlie Rose when asked if healthcare can pass with the public option. "That doesn't mean in the House they're not going to come to the table and demand it."
I believe one of the qualities of a chief of staff in the White House is to do some arm-twisting. Looks like he's not bothering to twist the arms of these Senators on the Senate Finance Committee when it comes to the three public option amendments being offered. It means that he's fine with the Democrats on the Senate Finance Committee not supporting the public option, and voting it down in favor of a possible trigger amendment being floated by Senator Snowe.
And that's a gross mistake on his part, and it's up to the Congressional Progressive Caucus to set Rahm Emanuel straight on this issue with huge grassroots pressure from us in the netroots.
So, please don't stop on making these phone calls to the Congressional Progressive Caucus today to demand a public option in the final bill with no triggers on it, and to come together as a voting bloc against the final conference bill if it doesn't have a strong, robust public option in it! Here are the talking points for your phone calls to these Members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus today so they can be ready to stand up for us at the Democratic caucus meeting tomorrow:
Hi [Representative's Name]. I want to thank you for supporting the public option, but I don't want you to support a trigger on the public option! A trigger on the public option would be a surrender to the private insurance companies. Please don't let the insurance lobbyists win by allowing a trigger on the public option. I also don't support co-operatives as an alternative to the public option since the CBO have said they will do nothing to lower costs of private insurance premiums. Also, please STAND TOGETHER as a Member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus to fight for the public option in the final conference bill! If the bill doesn't have a public option to control premium costs, please vote against that bill!
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Please RECOMMEND this diary so people can make phone calls to our Progressives in Congress today!