Tag Archives: public option

Working overnight in the blizzard, today Senate Democrats announced that they have the necessary 60 votes to approve the health care reform bill. The news came this morning after Sen. Bill Nelson (D-NE) agreed to vote for cloture. “Change is never easy, but change is what’s necessary in America,” Mr. Nelson said at a morning news conference. “And that’s why …

Late last night the U.S. House narrowly approved its version of the health care reform bill by a vote of 220-215. Only one Republican, first termer Rep. Joseph Cao (LA), voted yes and 39 Democrats voted no. Roll call here. A triumphant Speaker Nancy Pelosi likened the legislation to the passage of Social Security in 1935 and Medicare 30 years …

Today Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) said that health care reform could mean the end of America’s two-party system, because everybody will come to depend on Democrats to stay alive. Or something. Hatch asserted that the health bills, which he believes represent a “step-by-step approach to socialized medicine,” will lead to Americans’ dependence on Democrats for their health and other issues. …

Follow the bouncing ball as insurance stocks rollercoastered yesterday on the news that Sen. Joe Lieberman would filibuster against a public option.

Weeks after he announced that the GOP plan for health care reform was for people to “die quickly,” Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL) is unveiling a website titled Names Of The Dead, where families and loved ones can share stories about those lost due to lack of proper health care access. “Every year, more than 44,000 Americans die simply because [they] …

As usual, Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-NY) says it well. He’s also been a great ally of the LGBT community and has shown up at every anti-bashing rally I’ve attended.

Barney Frank talks to Joy Behar about health care reform, then at the 4:00 mark, defends his comments ripping the National Equality March.

(Tipped by JMG reader Peter)

At yesterday’s Senate committee vote against the public option in health care reform, GOP senators cited studies from a right-wing think tank and an insurance company astroturf group as evidence that the public option would lead to “denial of care” and “rationing.” Surprise!

Moments ago: Members of the Senate Finance Committee on Tuesday rejected an amendment to a sweeping health-care overhaul bill that would have created a government-run insurance plan option. Authored by Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., the amendment failed by a vote of 15 to 8. Rockefeller said a so-called “public option” would have offered a competitor to private insurance companies. Congratulations …

Edward Kimmel of Takoma Park, Maryland took his life in his hands by marching into the teabaggers in DC waving a “Public Option Now!” flag. Park Service police had to rescue Kimmel and escort him out.

Uninsured father, filmmaker, and writer Lee Stranahan pleads with the president to ignore the crazies and support the public option in his upcoming national speech on health care reform. Watch this.

Keith Olbermann reports that the White House is asking progressives to “be good soldiers” and play along as the public option back-off continues.