Menendez believes more Senators will support public option vote

[ProSense]

Key Dem predicts 'a lot more' senators will sign public option letter

By Jordan Fabian

Many more Democrats will sign a letter demanding that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid pass a public health insurance option via the budget reconciliation process, Sen. Robert Menendez said Tuesday.

Menendez (D-N.J.), who has signed the letter, predicted that as more senators endorse the effort, it will be harder for Reid (D-Nev.) to not hold a vote on the public option.

"There is a lot more people who I believe will join," Menendez said on MSNBC. "When you get to a certain number, there is a tipping point and people who may have felt like it's not possible may feel it's possible."

The New Jersey senator's comments highlight the growing momentum behind reintroducing the public option. Reid stripped it from the Senate's healthcare bill in December after he could not attract enough centrists to support the bill with it included.

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[Jennicut]

1. Hmmmm.....so where is my Senator? Dodd needs to sign it already.

No hope for Lieberman, obviously.

[gateley]

2. Question:

President Barack Obama did not include the public option in his healthcare proposal released Monday, but Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said that it is up to Reid whether or not he wants to reinsert it into the legislation.

That could be a risky bet for Reid without knowing for sure whether or not he has 51 senators who would vote for the plan under the reconciliation rules.

Doesn't Pelosi always know how many votes she has when she's in a voting situation? Why can't Reid?

And I think that's a bit of a thaw on Gibbs's part -- up to Reid. I think that's an incremental movement in the right direction. IMO, natch.

[Cha]

3. Go for it Dems..prove the

White House wrong.:) They'll be overjoyed.

[brand404]

4. God i really hope so....i would have new faith in government

[kpete]

5. Key Dem (Menendez) predicts 'a lot more' senators will sign public option letter

Source: The Hill


Key Dem predicts 'a lot more' senators will sign public option letter
By Jordan Fabian - 02/23/10 12:33 PM ET

Many more Democrats will sign a letter demanding that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid pass a public health insurance option via the budget reconciliation process, Sen. Robert Menendez said Tuesday.

Menendez (D-N.J.), who has signed the letter, predicted that as more senators endorse the effort, it will be harder for Reid (D-Nev.) to not hold a vote on the public option.

"There is a lot more people who I believe will join," Menendez said on MSNBC. "When you get to a certain number, there is a tipping point and people who may have felt like it's not possible may feel it's possible."

The New Jersey senator's comments highlight the growing momentum behind reintroducing the public option. Reid stripped it from the Senate's healthcare bill in December after he could not attract enough centrists to support the bill with it included.

Read more: http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/83129-key-dem-predicts-a-lot-more-senators-will-sign-public-option-letter

[polichick]

6. Great - stop the dilly-dallying and get on it already! nt

[Mithreal]

7. Thank your Senator or step up the pressure. Updating list at link.

http://whipcongress.com/

Don't just call your own Senators either.

[dchill]

8. The senators should sign the letter...

whether they think it's 'possible' or not. It's what a majority of us want.

[fugop]

11. Where the heck is Cardin?

Hmnmm. My other Maryland senator still not signing. That's frustrating ...

[tallahasseedem]

9. I have a dream that they're all going to sign it...

tomorrow night at the last minute. Of course I'm batshit crazy, but one can dream.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

10. Don't stop calling, ya'll! Go to...

whipcongress.com

Find the senators who have not signed on, call them, even if they're not your senator!

Keep calling!!!!

[4lbs]

12. Woohoo! My two Senators, Boxer and Feinstein, have signed it!

:D

The complete list:

http://whipcongress.com/?source=letter

[NYC_SKP]

14. We should secede from the Union!!11!! And, be sure to elect Jerry Brown!

Kidding about seccession, serious about Brown!

[AlinPA]

13. Too bad, it is a waste of time because Harry Reid won't act; he won't want to anger "his friends on

the other side of the aisle". The man is a complete failure as majority leader. I also think about our Senate Majority Whip. These guys should be kicking ass.

[yurbud]

15. k & r: hope he's right.