The health care fight on the public option is going well. In the Senate, two recent developments have helped turn the tide. First, with the formation of a Progressive Bloc in the Senate, the Democratic Senate leadership is now abandoning futile attempts to win Republican votes out of fear of losing progressive Democratic votes. Next, with the seating of Senator Al Franken, and putting pressure on all members to make sure that major Democratic legislation requires only 50 votes in the Senate. Great stuff!
The over 20,000 emails you have sent to your Senators asking them to state their views on a public option are having a big impact, too. As the chart in the extended entry shows, we now have public statements from 39 Senators in favor of a public option, only 11 short of the necessary 50.
Of course, just any public option is not good enough. We need a strong public option that is available on day one to all Americans, and which has bargaining power. Unfortunately, as the chart in the extended entry also shows, most Senators are still dodging on those type of specific questions on what sort of public option they support. Based on responses you have sent in, DFA, HCAN and Open Left have compiled all of the "dodge" statements that these Senators have given on the public option, which you can read here.
Let your Senators know that vague, open-ended answers may be good enough for most political news media, but it isn't good enough for their constituents. If you are from a state with a Senator or Senator who is still dodging specific on the public option, send an email telling them to clarify their position now.
We are winning this fight. We are going to win this fight. Send an email to your Senators now, and let's bring this one over the finish line.
Complete Senate targeting / whipping chart in the extended entry.
