| Sen. Bennet had previously promised Coloradans he would introduce the public option, in an attempt to drum up support from the Democratic base. With the Senate Dems deciding against any amendments whatsoever, discussion centered around introducing the public option at an undefined later date.
Arguments put forth by commenters at this and other sites ranged from the non-constructive - "you want to kill the bill, just like the Republicans!" to more valid process arguments. Sen. Bennet himself cited the process as the sole reason why he wouldn't introduce a public option amendment.
As a public option supporter, I'm interested in what the next move will be. Will Sen. Bennet (or Sen. Sanders) introduce a public option amendment now that the process argument is invalid?
Of course, if the "There aren't 50 votes" argument becomes the reason, inaction will continue to rule. Senate leadership likely knows the approximate number of votes a public option vote would and would not garner. Right now, the public does not. I would bet Senate Dems make the decision to keep it that way. We can't hold them accountable or know who to put pressure on if we don't know how they would vote.
Left unsaid in most of the conversations is the behind-the-scenes deal President Obama made with insurance corporations to keep the public option out of the final legislative package.
Sen. Bennet's office numbers are:
Denver: 303 455-7600
D.C.: 202 224-5852 |
