Chuck Schumer: The Public Option is Now in Harry Reid's Hands
Chuck Schumer talks to Rachel's fill in Alison Stewart about what the next steps are as negotiations continue on what's in the final version of the health care bill. As Schumer explains, what happens next is in Harry Reid's hands.
Stewart: You called the bill you voted on today “Not ideal but a good bill”. Despite your best efforts the public option was not part of it. Why not?
Schumer: Well, we didn’t have the votes obviously but we are making good progress once again. We never thought we’d win in the Finance Committee but thirty Democrats have signed a letter saying the public option must be in the combined bill. There are many others who are supportive. The four of us in the leadership didn’t sign the letter because they were to the leadership. We’re for it as well and I am very optimistic that we’re going go get a strong public option.
The House is standing firm on public option and I think all of those when they saw the vote in the Finance Committee who thought “Oh it’s over” hadn’t really read the situation correctly.
Stewart: Well, how do you get it done? How does it end up in the final bill?
Schumer: Well, first Leader Reid has the option of putting it in the final bill. If he puts it in the final bill, in the combined bill then you would need sixty votes to remove it and there clearly are not sixty votes against the public option. If… and so we’re urging him to do that and he’s seriously considering it.
Once it passes the Senate if that were to happen, it’s in the House Bill, it’s in the Senate bill and it would have to be in the final product. So it’s very important to see if a public option is in the bill that Leader Reid puts together. He hasn’t yet made up his mind, but many of us who believe in the public option are urging him to do so and so far we’re getting, we’re getting heard.
Chuck Schumer (R-Wall Street) comments after the Max Baucus (R-Health Insurance) bill passes that anything benefiting the public, as in public option, will be left up to Harry Reid (R-Casino Gambling).
The Pope of Hope (R-Government Sachs) says the process of reform is underway.
Do not adjust your dial, whatever is wrong with this picture is not the fault of your TV.
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The Public Option is now in Harry Reid's hands, and that is a truly frightening thought.
The Public Option, that flim flam piece of vaporware legislation; that bait and switch, now you see now you don't, call it what you will, imaginary safety net from the insurance parasites, that even if they pass it, you won't get it.
Even if you do get it, it will not do squat.
But the Pope of Hope will give a good speech and that, to many, will count for a lot.
HR 676, single payer is the minimum.
statusquObama, change you can only pretend in
Reid Rips Schumer For Saying Public Option Is In His Hands
harry is such an adamant coward, he's actually enraged when he is pointed to as being clearly responsible for something. If he's not snowjobbing the media with some rumored Democratic strategy, he's openly opposing Democrat and progressive effort on any and all legislation. Now, as Senate Majority Leader With clearly enough votes to pass legislation, harry gets all hapless when Schumer points out that harry is supposed to be the leader of the Democratic Party in the Senate as they actually are visibly on trial and in the spotlight on healthcare. Too bad, harry. grow a set.
Some stuff you can't make up!
Harry Reid is a fine example of showing just how spineless and gutless the democratic party has become..
Obama and Emanuel wants this option without a single payer of public option , but are to spineless to come out in the open and state it..
Just who pick the committee of Six republicans to be what they call bipartisan??? was that Obama and Emanuel picked the personal they wish to create the bill they wish an all along have been hiding behind others..
Just about all the democrats , if you wish to call them democrats are spineless or really the second hand for the republican party..
This whole soap opera which the democrats are playing out,, on this Health Corporate written health bill is for the purpose of no democrats receiving any blame for forcing this useless piece of BS on the American citizens....
Why do we keep voting these a...h... back into office... Why doesn't the democracy sites start a campaing NOW to recruit a candidate to run against these useless people calling themselves democrats..
We need a compaign to recruit and fund candidates to run against these corporate paid officials and we need it now..
None
with no hope.
at least the suspense has been removed.
I'd say the fate of the Public Option could be in hands of the DSCC.
"The deal has to be negotiated in the real world, not on some idealized Aristotelian plane. We understand that. A 100-percent deal may be impossible."
Famous "Reality Based" Commentator
So, now we are relying on the human Halloween decoration, Harry Reid, to get this done?
Be still my heart.
"Anyone that makes less than $150K in this country, has no business voting Republican."
Hope he washed them.
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
http://hollyczuba.files.wordpress.com/2009/06...
All he has to do is enable the corporate line on this bill, and it'll be a disaster for the Democratic Party. He can go back to being the minority leader, and won't need to think up more excuses for why he managed to "lose" on any given issue. Back to raking in corporate cash with that old, all-purpose excuse: "the Republicans did it!".
Reid won't go back to being Minority Leader because he will loose his seat in 2010. His poll numbers are in Cheney territory and he won't be re-elected unless he is seen as a hero for pushing through a good reform bill with a PO. Reid's future rests with a strong PO and progressives need to hammer that message home to him. However, Schummer is wrong about the ball being completely in his court. Everyone needs to continue to call, write and generally harrass their own Senators to keep the pressure on Reid. They need to know that if they sell us out on the PO, they loose us. I refuse to vote for anyone anymore simply because I have no where else to go, and that goes for compaign cash as well. If they are going to be solely working for corporations, let the corporations completely bankroll them.
Limp noodle Harry will hand off responsibility to Grassley.
BINGO!
"Anyone that makes less than $150K in this country, has no business voting Republican."
not always positive either.
...and now in the hands of Harry Reid?
Gee, this bill is REALLY being legislated democratically. I mean, these caretakers are just SOOO representative of Liberals in this country, eh?
Look Cave-In Reid is looking for a back room to meet then a excuse to let it fail, who are they going to appoint to be the fall guy.
Hey Reid remember FOOL you are up for re-election. A little hint.
No Public Option, NO Money, NO Vote. Think about it.
invalid as that excuse may be.
If "Leader Reid" is all we've got to get this done, wonder if Grayson is ready to run. (hey, THAT ryhmes!)
dandy
Let me put this bluntly: WE ARE FUCKED!
Since when has Majority Leader Reid shown any actual leadership abilities, let alone a spine?
I will say it again: WE ARE FUCKED!
Election 2012: Be Educated! Be Active! Vote!
www.phoenixjustice.com
How are you? . . Oh yeah? Well I got to take this other call.
GOD HELP US.
i for one will not sleep at night knowing it is in the hand of what has to be the weakest leader of a complete majority in the history of the senate. what else can be said?
need to do something for yourself.
i would have voted his ass out long ago. but sadly he is not. gee maybe a phone call to his office will help.
and don't want "we the people" to upset their collective ongoing scam.
do they even give a rat's ass about the "insurance companies mad or the drug companies mad"?
Jesus Frickin' Christ. You don't work for the insurance companies or the drug companies. Tell them to go fuck themselves for one goddamned time in your career.
You work for us.
Why didn't she ask him why they care about making some insurance or drug company mad?
Get a clue, even if you are on the same side, you still have a responsibility to ask these questions.
I suppose it depends on your definition of "work" but that is where most of their money comes from.
Geez... what a depressing thought so early in the day (PST here...)...
Along with a pile of greasy, blood-stained hundred dollar bills gratis the insurance companies, no doubt...
Will be in the bill.
You're all a bunch of worryworts.
Harry Reid doesn't have the spine to face the backlash of a bill w/o the PO.
Sometimes the spinelessness works in our favor.
"I know that there are people who do not love their fellow
man, and I hate people like that! " ~ Tom Lehrer (1928 - )
Hash browns, anyone?
an angry populace shouting Hell No We Won't Pay!!
in each hand...
It's done.
"Parachutes are allowed in checked or carry-on baggage, but may not be worn in flight."
---Southwest Airlines
I couldn't trust him to stick it in a parking meter. We're screwed.
hand you back a nickel and fine you 4 cents if your policy expired.
"The deal has to be negotiated in the real world, not on some idealized Aristotelian plane. We understand that. A 100-percent deal may be impossible."
Famous "Reality Based" Commentator
Can you believe this kind of drivel from a senator? Ignoring the fact that the house of representatives will create a bill that the senate can vote for? We certainly aren't going to get anything from our senate. You can tell when the so called signers of the gang of 30 vote for a bill without a public option. They lie to anyone asking a question. They lie about everything, and you can't be certain that everything they say is not a lie.
The senate is our house of lords. It is corrupt and self serving and never has the interests of the people in the discussion. We need to be rid of it, for it is a drain on our country. A drain that all the money is poured into.
Harry Reid is like a Polack joke. You can count on him to find at least one or more other idiots to help him screw things up. And just because I hate to waste my time, I'll put the pressure on my own IL senators. One of them is Roland Burris. Oh, lucky me.
How so, tasteless? Offensive? Reflects more on the joker than the target?
Don't get defensive, Mojopo. I'm just politically correcting you.
If it were me I'd say an Aggie joke. But we Texans are a whole 'nother country. And joke.
"The deal has to be negotiated in the real world, not on some idealized Aristotelian plane. We understand that. A 100-percent deal may be impossible."
Famous "Reality Based" Commentator
No offense taken. Sorry, but I'm from the WNY area and live in Chicago. I've heard more Polish jokes from the Polish people here than anywhere on earth. I suppose it's not politically correct, but we have enjoyed each other's company too much to even notice.
I lived in a Polish neighborhood in Detroit for some time. They were very kind to me and some of the finest people I have ever known.
statusquObama, change you can only pretend in
a- Harry has given every indication that a public option is not needed or supported by him
b- When Harry says he hasn't made up his mind yet, he's lying. He doesn't want to come out and say he doesn't support it because the last time he did, all hell broke out on the blogs and, I'm sure, he was innundated with calls and e-mails. He then backtracked a bit.
c- For Chuck to say it is now in Harry's hands is basically saying Harry isn't for it and he, Chuck, isn't willing to go to the mat for the PO.
Of course, all of this is just my opinion and could be completely wrong. However, I join the chorus of many of those who have already said it:
We're fucked
I can't vote in Nevada, but I can donate to anyone who challenges him to a primary.
This bill is a piece of crap! I agree with Senator Bernie Sanders who said he would have voted against it!
Some of the most politically unsavy people I know, think this bill is a pile of corporate shit! They said they understood Obama's original health plan, paid for by taxing the super-rich pricks who stole all of our money, and they liked it!
They are calling this POS from Max Fuckus "Obama's real health bill." If the democrats pass this flaming turd, they are done! They might as well stand in line and let the repukes kick them in the crotch.
Rush Limbaugh is what a smart person thinks a stupid bigot sounds like.
Public Option in Harry Reid's Hands?
“If, as Chuck Schumer proclaims, the future of the public option in any health care reform bill is in the hands of Harry Reid, YOU need to put pressure on this guy to GET THE JOB DONE!!!
I have absolutely NO FAITH in Harry Reid's ability to get ANYTHING done, but YOU need to ensure that it does!
Please don't respond with a letter claiming your support of the public option without including a statement as to how YOU have put pressure on Reid to ensure a viable public option is included in any health care reform legislation coming out of the Senate!”
Speaking to reporters just outside the Senate chamber this afternoon, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid scoffed at the suggestion--articulated last night by Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY)--that the public option is simply in his hands.
It's a real dog and pony show.
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OH..SHIT!
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W H Y
D O N'T
A M E R I C A N S
D E S E R V E
A F F O R D A B L E
H E A L T H
C A R E
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