The co-op plan was expressly designed to decentralize control by keeping it at the state level where the ability to negotiate to keep costs down at the national level is neutered.  You can’t be fiscally responsible and for the co-op at the same time.  On the up side, it probably does keep your health insurance industry donors happy.

Call him and let him know conservatives don’t like health insurance companies either:  (202) 225-4276, (215) 826-1963, (215) 348-1194

A majority of Iowans want a public plan, as do 67% of Iowa Democrats (of which Boswell is ostensibly one).  He recently signed on to a letter to Nancy Pelosi demanding a Medicare reimbursement fix in any health care bill, so it’s not like he has trouble speaking up.

Maybe he’ll find his voice if you call him:  DC (202) 225-3806, Iowa (515) 282-1909  

Salazar knew enough about the bill last Friday to sign on to a letter from 40 Blue Dogs to Nancy Pelosi, telling her that it was unacceptable in its current form. Pelosi responded by saying today that changes would be made to accommodate them.  Can 40 progressive members get it together to demand the inclusion of an overwhelmingly popular public plan?  Evidently not.

If you want to talk to Rep. Salazar about his persistent memory problem, you can call him at 202-225-4761.

Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) Give Carolyn Maloney credit: she says what everyone else is thinking. The health care bill that comes out of the Senate is going to be shitty, and she wants to be able to vote for it. This despite the fact that Maloney is a member of the progressive caucus, and the progressive [...]

Whip Count Day 20 Took the Pledge Leaning Yes Undecided Weasel Words Emanuel Cleaver II Donna Edwards Keith Ellison Raul Grijalva Phil Hare Rush Holt Jerrold Nadler Lynn Woolsey Maxine Waters Tammy Baldwin Xavier Becerra Howard Berman Jerry Costello Elijah Cummings Peter DeFazio Sam Farr Alan Grayson Maurice Hinchey Mazie Hirono Barbara Lee Sander Levin [...]

Ben Nelson Kyle Michaelis of New Nebraska Network: While Nelson backed-down from the fighting words he’d initially used against a public health care option, he’s given no real indication of being any more open-minded on the subject than was necessary to get the heat off his back.  And, it’s just not true – not in [...]

I understand the term used often by our hero Ted Kennedy, that “the perfect is the enemy of the good”. However, in this case, I’d like to turn that spin around and say that, in the instance of the public option, half-assed and inadequate is the enemy of the necessary and the acceptable. — Steve Steffens

The Hill is reporting “that President Obama would consider asking Congress to delay the summer break if he hasn’t seen sufficient progress on healthcare reform by the August recess.

From Brian Beutler over at TPM: House health care leaders will hold an event at 3 pm this afternoon spotlighting health care horror stories as told by the people who lived through them–but they will not unveil legislative language. That appears to be on hold for at least a few more hours as intra-party disagreements [...]

9 down….31 to go. Keep up the great work folks. Whip Count Day 19 Took the Pledge Leaning Yes Undecided Weasel Words Emanuel Cleaver II Donna Edwards Keith Ellison Raul Grijalva Phil Hare Rush Holt Jerrold Nadler Lynn Woolsey Maxine Waters Tammy Baldwin Xavier Becerra Howard Berman Jerry Costello Elijah Cummings Peter DeFazio Sam Farr [...]