http://www.rollcall.com/news/39362-1.html

 

As the Senate gears up for the next phase of the health care debate, 30 Democratic Senators on Thursday sent a letter to Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) demanding that the final bill include a public insurance option.

 

Awesome. The letter says they're looking for a "robust, Medicare-like public option".

 

“We have spent the better part of this year fighting for health reform that would provide insurance access and continuity to every American in a fiscally responsible manner,” the 30 Democratic Senators wrote in the Oct. 8 letter. “We are concerned that — absent a competitive and continuous public insurance option — health reform legislation will not produce nationwide access and ongoing cost containment. For that reason, we are asking for your leadership on ensuring that the merged health reform bill contains a public insurance option.”

 

FINALLY! The Democrats grow a spine. Seriously. I was soooo worried they'd half-ass healthcare and leave us with a bill that didn't cover all Americans (or couldn't easily be expanded to in the future). It looks like half of them, but Senate representation at least, are willing to make a stand. Bravo.

 

I would hope this sends a clear message to the Senate Finance Committee, who recommended a more expensive bill for political reasons, that a bill without a public option is not going to get the 60 vote majority needed to bypass a Republican filibuster.

 

Now perhaps the focus of the debate can turn to getting those reluctant Blue Dogs to finally pass the bill, instead of siding with the Republicans who don't mind that 10 9/11s happen every year because people don't have health insurance.

All I can say is thank goodness, it's about bloody time. I really hope the plan goes through with the public option, and the Democrats really start to realize they really have to get it straight before it hits the floor for a vote.

+1

 

As an aside, I chuckled a bit after misreading the title, when I thought it said "3D Democratic Senators."

+1

 

As an aside, I chuckled a bit after misreading the title, when I thought it said "3D Democratic Senators."

 

That's probably due to the inflated egos of the politicians

 

*apologizes and points in the right direction to get the discussion back on topic*