Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-NM)
I spoke with Jude McCartin, Press Secretary for Jeff Bingaman, who indicates that Senator Bingaman as a member of the HELP Committee supports a "strong public option."
She wanted to clarify that there has not been language written yet for a public option, and therefore nothing to vote on. She felt my earlier story, which stated that Bingaman and Senator Kay Hagan were blocking the inclusion of a public plan on the HELP committee, implied that there was a specific amendment both were refusing to vote for.
The source clarified: "There is a working draft of language being written right now. It’s the concept of a robust public option they’re objecting to." Numerous Senate staffers have now confirmed that this is their understanding of what has been happening on the committee, and that nobody from the White House is whipping the bill.
Nyceve is also reporting that Hagan and Bingaman have been the roadblocks.
But McCartin insists this is not true. "Senator Bingaman absolutely supports a strong public option," she says.
"Does he support one that is available everywhere from day one?" I asked.
"Yes," she said.
Roger Hickey of the HCAN steering committee indicated that there was concern that if the public plan came out as an amendment it could lead to a floor fight, and said that it was important that any public plan be included in the core of the bill. McCartin indicated that Senator Bingaman was in favor of that, too.
"It would be great if we could get it in the bill before it leaves the committee," she said.
Bingaman has signed on to Sherrod Brown’s resolution demanding that any health care reform bill include a public insurance option.
Local blog New Mexico FBIHOP and Democracy for New Mexico are keeping an eye on the situation.
If Bingaman does in fact support a public option, that means Kay Hagan is the sole obstacle on the HELP committee. A call to Senator Hagan’s press secretary, Dave Hoffman, has not been returned.
Hagan’s offices: DC 202-224-6342, Greensboro 336-333-5311, Raleigh 919-856-4630.
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thanks for the update Jane
Jane,
You deserve kudos, IMO, for attempting to work within the system.
Suggest you work without.
This is a question that should not need to be asked, but one that does indeed need to be asked.
The way Jude McCartin speaks for Bingaman is like deciphering a riddle. Typical, but ridiculous.
Great post, Jane. Sure hope Dems all come to understand that healthcare “reform” without a public option is just a toothless replica of any real “reform” and is essentially a deal breaker for their constituents.
What position has Baccus taken today? He needs to be with us.
I tried to call, but the line was busy. I got a call from some people asking me to call him, so I did, but wound up having to send an email. It was pretty serious.
I’m glad so many are calling. I hope it works this time.
I fought Bush against 5 years, (I was taking care of other business the previous 3!)now here we are, fighting a sweet-talking Democrat. It’s getting old and so am I!
Jane,
The point you made earlier today was excellent (that if Obama wants a public option, the blue dogs will go along). I was at work so couldn’t comment but this is so true. There will be no excuse for Obama to push a mediocre plan on the pretense that he can’t get the votes. This is a deal breaker for me. If we don’t get a real change in our healthcare, I will lose all faith in Obama and the dems. It’s time to see just who’s side they’re on.
Truly strong, truly robust, truly “reform” is already off the table:
NPR, June 16:
Sixty percent of physicians, a comparable percentage of Americans at large, have just been Sista Souljah’d by the Obama administration.
Nomi Prins is upstairs at the Mothership!
Obama’s Financial Overhaul — More Like a Tune-Up
I’m wondering if we can throw the private insurance programs “into the briar patch”, e.g. force ALL private insurance providers to (for starters) cease discriminating against the people who need them, force them to reduce administrative overhead to a level comparable with Medicare / Medicaid, etc.
In short, if the “alternative” to a public option is to force private insurers to act in the public interest, then the private insurers might begin to view the “public option” as the lesser of two evils.
For that matter, I’m still amazed that we allow private companies to discriminate against classes of people in the first place.
I’ve been emailing Bingaman every week since February on this issue. I hope this means he’s been listening to his constituents, not health care lobbyists.