Comments on: Elliot Engel Wasn’t Always Muttering “Weasel Words” on the Public Plan

By: stsmytherie

stsmytherie — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 04:02:30 +0000

I’ll try to drop by Engel’s Riverdale office tomorrow and see what they have to say. I’ve already sent a few e-mails clearly stating my support for public option. (Schumer is the only one to acknowledge, with a big e-mail blast today to folks who’ve contacted him on public option. His support seemed very clear in my reading of the e-mail.)

By: judybrowni

judybrowni — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 19:55:01 +0000

Called Engel’s office for the third time, same snotty clerk, and told him that as a 59 year old Democrat, I’d seen the Democratic Party, twice, consign itself to the minority (for decades) by refusing to do the right thing, that it’s base also desperately wanted and needed.

“I assume you’re answering this phone because you want a career in government or politics,” I said. “Keep that in mind, unless you want to be working for a minority party with little opportunity to affect the governance of this nation.”

By: Neil

Neil — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 19:51:40 +0000

tax on manufacturers of medical devices.

for BOSTON SCIENTIFIC?

I’ll ask why we aren’t hearing about two problems - with the bill public option and tax on medical devices.

By: judybrowni

judybrowni — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 19:31:30 +0000

Called the office — twice — and got a snotty assistant who reiterated over and over that the Congressman is a “strong supporter” of the public option (with a history of supporting single-payer), but would NOT say he’ll vote against a healthcare plan that doesn’t include the public option.

And snotty clerk also offered — twice — to transfer me over to “my” representative.

By: Blub

Blub — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 18:00:39 +0000

Jane,

http://www.boston.com/business.....p_opp.html

for their request of him. I vaguely recollect that he pledged to back their concerns.

Also, if you look at his long list of May 09 earmarks, more than a few went to MA equipment manufacturers.

By: Jane Hamsher

Jane Hamsher — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 17:53:54 +0000

I’d be curious to see a link if you can find one.

By: Jane Hamsher

Jane Hamsher — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 17:51:19 +0000

that’s hilarious

By: Blub

Blub — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 17:50:31 +0000

by the way, Wyden’s declaration just now that he wants to amend the Baucus fiasco with a “two choice” requirement (which does exactly nothing to salvage a horrendous bill) as part of the employer mandate is a prime example of why we have to stop the Baucus bill from leaving the finance committee. It’s going to be a zoo and the forest will get lost for the trees. I feel that we have to end this now.

By: Blub

Blub — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 17:46:53 +0000

anyone else see this gem from Graham: http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-.....thin-weeks

Baucus didn’t work hard enough to achieve a bipartisan compromise, sayeth the gentleman from South Carolina.

By: Ann in AZ

Ann in AZ — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 17:44:53 +0000

Sounds like Senator Kerry has a lot of constituents that work for medical device manufacturers and may be afraid of losing their jobs.