FDL Action: Whip It! Day 9

We’ve added Tammy Baldwin to the "leans yes" category. Keep the calls coming folks, we’ve had very positive responses from Hill staff. And we’ve put Donna Edwards in the "Undecided" category.

As Jane noted yesterday, there are 19 Dems who have taken a pledge to vote against a health care bill. Too bad it wasn’t a group of progressive Democrats stepping up to the plate to demand a strong public option:

Nineteen House Democrats have told Speaker Pelosi they will not vote for healthcare legislation "unless it explicitly excludes abortion funding from the scope of any government-defined or subsidized health insurance plan."

I think Jane said it best yesterday:

If you want a decent health care bill, you’re going to have to get on the phone and tell people you’re pissed and that you’re not going to settle for kabuki. If Joe Lieberman can say where he draws the line, so can they. And if they’re not willing to hold a line, if they’re only willing to take progressive votes when they don’t matter, then at least we’ll know what we’re dealing with.