Dems Vote No on Public Option in the Senate
Five Senate Democrats in the finance committee just voted NO on a robust public option proposed by Jay Rockefeller. FIVE. What does that mean? That those five Senate Democrats owe more to the insurance companies than they do to the American people.
The final vote was 8-15 with 5 Democrats–Sens. Kent Conrad (D-ND) 202-224-2043, Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) 202-224-4843, Tom Carper (D-DE) 202-224-2441, Bill Nelson (D-FL) 202-224-5274, and Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT) 202-224-2651–voting with all Republicans to kill the proposal.
“They are getting away with banditry and they revel in it” – Jay Rockefeller (D)
Chuck Schumer’s less robust public option comes up for a vote later today.
Follow it at TPM Muckraker
Yes, I did put links to their emails and phone numbers up there. These Senators just voted against everything that Democrats stand for. They are bought and paid for. We expect this from Republicans, but these Democrats need to hear from us and we need to vote them OUT.
It’s imperative that we hold these Dems accountable for their vote when the next election cycle comes around. I, for one will give til it hurts to get these fools out of a position to keep hurting our country. Please join me and give to the opposition candidates, no matter what the party, to eliminate these idiots.
I am proposing that we craft legislation to prevent politicians form voting on campaign contributor’s issues, similarly to how judges have to recuse themselves when a large contributor comes before the docket. This, more than anything else, would put a stop to big money controlling the debate and the legislation.
Thanks for the phone numbers of those senators. I have called all of them, and all but one was “line-busy,” which means the phone is off the hook, they’re meeting, or someone else is calling to complain. I will continue to call until I can leave a message on all of them. We knew it would be negative, but somewhere in my heart, I had hope. We still should push the senators to think beyond their future political contributions. I personally have good insurance policies. I am fighting for those who are not as blessed as I am.
schumer’s public option also defeated
On the phone as we … uh… read!
Schumer’s amendment defeated 13/10
Maybe 1864, all over again?
Whats left reconciliation?
Dear Sen. nelson,
Come next election your NO vote on a Public Option will not be forgotten by this voter.
We have spent 4000+ lives and hundreds of BILLIONS of dollars to give all Iraqi’s single payer health care for all of its citizens and now we cant afford OUR OWN CARE?
Shame on you and your collegues.
It seems like the Democratic party wants to self-destruct just as much as the Republican party. I wish we had some real choice.
I am sorry
I’ve been reading here for a very long time but have never posted. I am de-lurking to urge everyone to e-mail and call these so-called Democratic Senators out! I just sent a rather frosty e-mail to Bill Nelson (as did SJK above, waving to you!) and am currently on hold with his Washington office as I type.
The Democrats appear to be the new Republicans and it is shameful.
Sorry my first post here is not a warm and fuzzy one but I am so angry right now I cannot even think straight.
Fate of public option now sits on the shoulder of Barack Obama. Muscle-time, Mr. President
Shame on all of them.
I wonder how many of these elected officials utilize their own public option by using their government sponsored health care. If so, I think they should give it up and BUY their healthcare, like we are forced to do. What’s good for the goose.
Just wrote them all, Baucus’s link is not going through.
Here’s what I wrote.
You voted NO on the public option???
I have just found out that I have liver cancer. If I was not already on Medicare, the Blue Cross Blue Shield policy would only cover 80% of what they think the bill should be. Then they would probably try to get rid of me, because I have had HCV for 35 years, which I got through a transfusion, and I should have told them I would be getting liver cancer.
I am ashamed of you calling yourself a Democrat. Have you not noticed that 65% of people WANT a public policy?
NO HEALTH CARE FOR YOU!!!
Wrote to all of them. Happy to say that my guy, Sen. Ron Wyden, was not amongst the no-voters. He’s been very vocal about the need for a strong public option and I’m very proud of him.
These ‘representatives’ have been bought.
Pinch me, has this really happened. Just wrote Baucus,Conrad, and Lincoln. Sad day for America.
I wrote them, too. None of them is from Oregon, tho, so I doubt if they will care. I was impressed with Michaal Moore’s interview the other day and agree with him that the public option is a compromise on what we all really want and need–universal health care. I have written my local Congressman to ask him to get a bill written up for universal health care. I don’t think our President will do it; he is a good-hearted man who wants to include everyone in the decision process. The Republicans will not vote for ANY health care bill because their agenda has only one item: ruin Obama. So it is up to our Congressmen to write a universal health care bill and push it through without the Republicans. Please write your own Congressmen and see if they will join together to get this done. Time is short; the 2010 elections will be upon us soon, and then the make-up of our government will change. Sadly, President Obama has lost our best chance at getting us the health care coverage that we so desperately need. I still love him, though. : )
http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/story/30219673/the_lie_machine
What will it take for the Dems/Progressives to become organized like this?
What will it take for THE REST OF THE COUNTRY – THE 65%+ – TO STAND UP AGAINST THIS VERY VOCAL, VERY ORGANIZED group of domestic terrorists?
I’m not believing this!! I hope everyone remembers this betrayal when election time rolls around. NO DONATIONS FOR YOU!!
In this current political circus, we have just learned who the closet republicans are.
The final vote was 8-15 with 5 Democrats–Sens. Kent Conrad (D-ND) 202-224-2043, Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) 202-224-4843, Tom Carper (D-DE) 202-224-2441, Bill Nelson (D-FL) 202-224-5274, and Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT) 202-224-2651–voting with all Republicans to kill the proposal.
Shame on them all. Scoundrels, every one of them.
Death to America?
North Dakota
Arkansas
Delaware
Montana
How many people live in these crappy states?
I just wrote a scathing letter to my insurance company after they denied me a prescription I’ve had forever.
I’d like to offer to to anyone who wants to send it to a local paper, etc with their name on it…or change whatever you want.
I’m so angry I can’t see straight.
The more I wrote about it, the more clear it became to me. I looked up the definition of “insurance” company and I was shocked with how they are tricking us all!
ERGRRRRRRRRR.
Please use all or some of the text in my letter which I posted as an article at politicususa…you can get the copy there or you can pm me here if you want me to email it to you.
Here’s the start of it:
“I am writing to request that your decision to no longer cover the drug amount prescribed by my doctor be reviewed. See, United is coming in between my doctor and me, instead of acting as an insurance company. And I’m curious– Is United in the habit of interfering with physicians care for their patients?
Also, too, I’m writing for all of those patients who are too sick and depressed after receiving their Death Panel Denial Form to call or write you. Yes, I know, you’ve heard it all and more importantly, ignored it all, before. But let’s pretend United cares about my health.”
http://www.politicususa.com/en/node/7197
Of course, there is a hat tip to $arah for her Death Panel lie…
Geeze, I’m so mad right now…and I feel so bad for people who are worse off than me. I might have to go to Europe to see a dr so I can get my RX. It will save me money…isn’t that sad?
Schumer is on Hardball now – says he did NOT ever expect the public option to pass in the finance committee. Says vote today was actually better than expected. Says even Conrad and Bacus said that they are NOT opposed to passing the public option in the Senate Committee.
Says we ARE moving in a direction to GET the public option.
Hatch is now on, and says opposite – preaching it must be bi-partisan blah blah blah.
Remaining hopeful here.
Bi-partisan? Why> Since when did R’s want us to have health insurance reform?
They had power for the last 8 years and never brought it up once.
I just emailed my Sen. Bill Nelson, told him we would start a fund raiser against anyone that voted against public option, there were what 54 million people that voted for change and if each one of us paid $5 we would defeat all of them that are not standing with our president. I’m mad! I will call his office tomorrow in Fl. & Wash.
The Max Baucus link above is, accidentally I believe, linked to Bill Nelson. Don’t leave Senator Baucus out of your emails and calls.
http://baucus.senate.gov/contact/emailForm.cfm?subj=issue
Washington D.C.
511 Hart Senate Office Bldg.
Washington, D.C. 20510
(202) 224-2651(Office)
(202) 224-9412 (Fax)
Link is fixed now. Thanks for the heads up. AKM
There’s still HR3200 (3 versions), the HELP Committee bill, floor amendments in the House & Senate, and conference committee. And if all else fails, there’s reconciliation. We can lose TEN Democrats in a reconciliation Senate floor vote and still pass the bill.
YES WE CAN!
Don’t forget the Golden Boy Begich is against the Public Option.
He was pretty clear in his recent re-election campaign stops that as long as people pay their premiums they shouldn’t lose their health insurance.
Nicely worded for a man who has had government health insurance for how many years now?
Wurzelhexl: I so agree with you!! I am so mad that I am boiling!!!! We need to come together and organize and stop these politicians who are in the pockets of the insurance companies! They do not care about Americans and they have just shown it by their votes!! We need to get fired up and ready to go!! These politicians work for us and we need to let them know that they cannot get away with this because of their own greed!!! I am calling now but we need to do more!!
mmboucher: Good observation and good suggestion. I am for that all the way!!
But Lori, the house always defers to the senate. Pres. Obama, has to weigh in, and in a way he ‘s not comfortable with. He needs to flex muscle.
Barack Obama is not a dictator. Just because he wants something, (the public option) does not mean he is going to get it. Some people are accusing Barack Obama of being a DLC democrat. If that is the case, then why are the blue-dog “democrats” giving him such a hard time? At the beginning of his presidency, 15 blue-dog “democrats” did publicly announce that they were going to join the republicans to obstruct Barack Obama’s agenda. The blue-dog “democrats” are just keeping their promise.
Zack, I couldn’t agree more. Bush rammed stuff down everyone’s throat- violating and expanding the office constantly.
We all need this to pass…but I’d like it to pass the right way. And Obama is the man I voted for because I trusted him not to violate the office by being a dictator like Bush.
The blue dogs….Eh. I don’t have words right now because I’m too sick and angry. But I’d like to remind everyone that I suggested that any representative who lies about healthcare in order to get it to fail should lose their healthcare that we pay for IMMEDIATELY.
No cobra, no anything.
Barack Obama show some muscle? I think he means well, but he won’t do it. He never has. He seems to be afraid to twist people’s arms. He tries to kill people with kindness. But, they don’t see kindness, they see weakness. He is still acting like candidate Obama. He needs to act like President Obama. He needs to stop acting like a wimp, and stop letting people push him around, and stab him in the back.
Thanks to Jay Rockefeller for flushing them out & hopefully the voters will do the same in the next election.
Be sure to write to the DNC as well. I wrote an email to each Senator and then to the Democratic National Committee.
The DNC needs to know that these Senators are outraging voters and endangering support for the Democratic Party from all those Democrats, moderate Republicans, and Independents who supported Obama and others who we believed would bring about change in our health care system.
I am trying not to get discouraged, but I am getting so frustrated by this resistance to helping every citizen escape fear of financial ruin from illness or injury. Why is it so hard for them to care?
I wish we could start a petition drive to repeal their right to insurance. They are our employees after all. Why can’t we revoke their right to affordable health care?
Thanks for keeping us on top of things, for organizing protests, and for giving us hope. WE certainly cannot rely upon many of current politicians for hope, can we?
If Baucus and Snowe had vorted for the last PO option today, it would have passed. Here’s something you can do:
STRIKE BACK AND HIT THEM HARD BEFORE THEIR NEXT VOTES
http://www.actblue.com/page/baucuspublicoption?refcode=hccw_baucus-dfakick
The link for Baucus leads to Nelson which I only discovered after I sent the message.
Apologies. It’s fixed now. Thanks for stepping up and sending emails! AKM
I wonder how much either in kind (seats on corporate jets) and/or in campaign donations each of these representatives has accepted from the health care industry.
to madeinalaska
A lot more than I have given them. Apparently my vote just doesn’t pay enough to cover their expenses.
Just a reminder: on the Mudflats Forum there is a section dedicated to Health Care Reform Alerts, Actions & Information. http://www.themudflats.net/forum/index.php/board,36.0.html
#1 Rick – “It’s imperative that we hold these Dems accountable for their vote when the next election cycle comes around. I, for one will give til it hurts to get these fools out of a position to keep hurting our country. Please join me and give to the opposition candidates, no matter what the party, to eliminate these idiots.”
I concur, me to
Here is the email I just sent to Sen. Baucus:
I am writing to say that I am outraged that Sen. Baucus is holding out on the public option. I am not a constituent, and I can not vote in Montana, but I am stating for the record, that as soon as someone challenges Sen. Baucus’ seat, I am donating to the challenger. I am sending a copy of this email to all my friends and family and will post it on internet blogs to encourage others to do the same. Sen. Baucus, if you’re more interested in lobbyist money than the health and financial well being of the American public, then you can face the consequences when you’re up for re-election. I, for one, will be working against you.
To email Sen. Max Baucus:
http://baucus.senate.gov/contact/emailForm.cfm?subj=issue
This post from DU says how I see it:
“The Public Health committee (under former Sen. Kennedy) already passed through a bill with a strong public option in it. The Blue Dog infested finance committee predictably tried to end it. All versions of the Senate Bills are then brought together before Reid submits them to the full house. this is the first chance to put the Public Option back in. Then when it passes the Senate, it must reconcile with the House version of the bill, which also has a strong public option in it. This is the second chance to reintroduce the Public Option to health care reform.
This battle isn’t even close to over.”
Now they can spend time watering down the climate change bill, creating a ruckus over the Afghan war, and wait for Palin/Bachmann to take over in 2012.
I’m moving to Argentina.
I literally am filled with rage.
The attacks on Acorn, the lies, the endless lies, the attacks with the intent to destroy all progress, the attacks on our President….
I’m so sick of it all.
I agree 100% the Democrats that vote with the Rpublicans and take huge amounts of money from the health insurance companies just to give the American people the finger MUST BE VOTED OUT OF OFFICE!!!!!
blue dog democrats suck!
The Senator from VP Biden’s state voted no??? What a great way to show disrespect to the former senior Senator from DE.
Conrad needs a kick in his emphatic “no.”
And Baucus… what a moron. Why does he need 60 votes when only 51 votes are needed to pass the measure? He lacks the courage to say what he’s thinking. What a coward.
50 yellowdog granny Says: September 29th, 2009 at 6:20 PM
blue dog democrats suck!
_____________
I beg your pardon???
This is really a sad day-proof that the representatives don’t necessarily work for the people who voted them in. This could all cost the Democrats badly in the 2010 election and even Obama in 2012. Hopefully, it’s not over yet.
This wasn’t going to pass the FINANCE COMMITTEE anyway. That Schumer’s amendment got a whole 10 votes was a BIG surprise to me. The Blue Dogs have been called out. This is far, far, far from over. Baucus covered his a$$ with his insurance cronies, but he’s toast if he doesn’t support a procedural vote against a filibuster, and he knows it. As stated before, the Health Committee already passed a public option. The House bill will definitely have a public option. And even if the Senate fully drops a public option, the bills have to merge between House and Senate.
And at the end of the day, whatever comes out of both the House and Senate will have a public option. To do otherwise would be political death in more ways than one: the bill will die because there’s too many Progressives supporting a public option, OR a weak bill will sour many to going to the polls again to vote for a Dem. Plus, when all is said and done, 51 votes will seal the deal, not 60.
I’m going to stick my neck out and say Obama will ramp up his efforts for a public option big-time by the middle of October to get a vote before the end of the month. Enough time to whip up support, but not enough time for the opposition to whip up a counterattack. If it doesn’t look like a vote will be near done by the end of October, Obama will wait until it gets close. After following his campaign style this tactic seems likely. It also seems likely that he’s kept his distance in order to 1) flush out the opposition–especially Blue Dogs, 2) get everyone engaged like a good community organizer would, and 3) not muddy the waters too soon.
This has been his style. I think he’s doing it again. I hope so… It seems like every time people get nervous about what Obama might or might not do, and considers him weak, he comes out of nowhere and surprises everyone.
Those five can look for democratic challengers come their next re-election. And those challengers will have the backing of the Democratic Party.
You don’t do this and get away scot free, no matter what Lieberman thinks.
Where are the real leaders?
AKM ~ Thank you so much for posting the names and email addresses of the people who dare to vote their pocketbooks… people who are scared of losing their juicy war chest money… people who whore themselves out to the lobbyists at the expense of the masses.
I took advantage of your courtesy and emailed everyone of those mercenaries. Thank you, again, for making it SO easy to express my pi$$edoffedness!
I can’t help but feel betrayed. I voted for change .What change ?.. It seems like there is little backbone in the democrates who voted the public option down . It seems all it takes is a.m radio and a minority boo-ooing and moaning very loud about nothing but nonsense which gives some senators an excuse to vote pro health insurance companys and their medicare advantage windfall. Maybe we should start carrying signs and yelling at our politicians , maybe they would listen . INSTEAD of a novel idea ” How about our vote counting”…..So start calling your local rep and senator.I guess we have to hold their hand…..And why do we need to compromise with the republicans . It seems like just a way out, so they can keep the status…. CNN seems to be promoting that the public option is out..
Some of the greatest changes in society have been made when people got angry enough! I pray enough will be motivated to act. It has taken so long to reach this point that to lose now is unthinkable.
Dear Sister,
Thank you for posting the emails – I wasted NO time in letting these despicable cowards and (lets go ahead and say it – whores) just what I, as one progressive, think of them.
I don’t expect we will alter their stance, which is a shame, and those of us NOT their constituents will be viewed askance anyway…still, this “open, transparent and accountable” administration is only just beginning to discover what accountable is!
I often re-read my Declaration of Independence, just to remind myself of the WHY for our Republic. It is time WE, the PEOPLE stood up and took back this government.
Thank you, again, for your help in this important work. If I can help, shoot me an email.
@nats #60
You’re right. To lose now is unthinkable.
You are all right, everyone of you.
What I haven’t seen mentioned though is the roll played by the media. All the major networks from CNN, NBC, CBS, ABC, HLN, MSNBC and our local channels have not given this issue the coverage it deserves nor the public the information we are entitled to. Yes, I do mean entitled.
The media has been bought and paid for by the political and insurance beasts. It is apparent they will continue with their gluttonous ways taking and stealing until we are, quite literally dead.
We could always submit a bill that would remove government employees, House and Senate Representatives too, they are after all employees, from receiving free health care. In addition, we the riff-raff, oh I mean, We The People, could put in a “Trigger”, that when the country is at war or when unemployment is at double digits, no travel reimbursement or other expenditures will be covered. And most certainly, they should not be covered for life. Absolutely a deal breaker. No more of this getting something for nothing attitude!
Now, I think I will take a very expensive pill and try to get some sleep. I have been up since yesterday, twiddling my thumbs while I sit on my ass.
And thanks “Irishgirl” #10. I believe you really mean you are sorry for us. This is something I just can’t understand. When did our elected officials turn to bite the hand that feeds them.
Is it not conflict of interest to accept money from a group (like insurance companies) and then to vote on issues directly affecting them? Sounds like it to me…
opensecrets has the info on just how much each of them gets…
Is it time to go after the media big time? Seems like they are a big part of the problem.
This truly is a sad day for us. But a term- limit day for the Democrats who forgot who elected them. We know who they are now and how to reach you (thx AKM). It is time for you all to know what it is like looking for employment and hopefully, we can ban you from acquiring health insurance coverage!!
Thanks for the addresses. I contacted all! Keep up the good fight!
PART of the problem is ‘the urban rural divide’. This article: http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2009/07/19/rural_urban_hospital_rift_may_imperil_healthcare_overhaul/ in the Boston Globe on-line does a reasonable job of explaining the problem. Ed Schultz had an OpEd last night that broached this subject. It is certainly NOT a problem that could be overcome, but it is indeed a problem.
I’ve used the handy links you gave to email each one of them even though none of them are from my state of Maine. I told them they were a disgrace to the Democratic party and their loyalty was to corporations and not to the voters. I’m sure they are quaking in their fancy custom made boots, but if enough people would email their outrage it might give them pause the next time they vote against the interests of the people and support corporations.