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Liberals revolt over public option
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| Contributor | Scott³ |
| Last Edited | Scott³ Aug 19, 2009 04:40am |
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| Category | News |
| Author | JONATHAN MARTIN & CARRIE BUDOFF BROWN |
| News Date | Tuesday, August 18, 2009 10:00:00 AM UTC0:0 |
| Description | "The White House’s signal that it’s willing to back off support for a public health insurance option has sent congressional liberals into full revolt, bluntly warning the administration that no legislation will pass without a government-run plan.
A group of left-leaning House Democrats tells POLITICO that a bill without a public option simply won’t win enough votes in their caucus — a sentiment that raises fresh questions about the prospects to enact sweeping health care reform this year.
“A bill without a public option won’t pass the House,” said Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.), a member of Energy & Commerce Health subcommittee. “Not only are they weakening their proposal, but they are also weakening their hand. This is legislative subtraction by subtraction.”
Privately, the leaders of the Congressional Progressive Caucus and Congressional Black Caucus sent the same message to Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, who said Sunday that a public plan is “not the essential element” of comprehensive reform.
“To take the public option off the table would be a grave error; passage in the House of Representatives depends upon inclusion of it,” wrote Reps. Raul Grijalva (D-Ariz.), Lynn Woolsey (D-Calif.) and Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) in a letter to Sebelius on Monday.
Along with their sharply worded letter, the three House members sent an attachment listing the “60 Members of Congress who are firm in their position that any legislation that moves forward through both chambers, and into a final proposal for the president's signature, MUST contain a public option.”
Even if top aides didn’t intend to do it, the White House got a glimpse of what may well happen — a Democratic civil war — if President Barack Obama does indeed give up on the public option.
The liberal uprising comes after weeks in which Democratic congressional leaders have focused their energy on winning over moderates ..." |
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