Reid won’t commit to public plan: ‘No decision’s been made yet.’
Reid won’t commit to public plan: ‘No decision’s been made yet.’
In a briefing with reporters this afternoon, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) was asked whether the public option will be part of the health reform package that he brings to the Senate floor. Reid, who indicated earlier this month that a public option will be part of the final bill, gave a much more ambiguous answer this afternoon:
QUESTION: Are the negotiations leaning toward or against a public option at this point?
REID: The negotiations are leaning about a public option.
QUESTION: Can you clarify?
REID: He said, are we leaning toward or against the public option. I said we’re leaning toward talking about a public option. No decision’s been made. We had a — not a long discussion last night on public option. I’ve had a number of meetings in my office dealing with Democrats and Republicans on the public option aspect of it.
Reid concluded, “It’s not done yet.” Watch it:
Today, Colorado Sens. Mark Udall (D) and Michael Bennet (D) called on their Senate colleagues to give the public option an up or down vote.
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WHEN will Dems find a collective spine?
October 20th, 2009 at 4:32 pmEugeneDebs says,
First, we need a Senate Majority Leader AND a President with one.
October 20th, 2009 at 4:33 pmIf Reid cobbles together a bill without a public option, if he gives into corporate interests rather than those of the citizens of Nevada and of the rest of the country, if he buckles under the pressure…his political career is over. His re-election chances will be nil.
I am still relatively confident that a public option of sorts (likely, the opt-out) will make it into the bill, onto Obama’s desk, and into law.
October 20th, 2009 at 4:38 pmYou can almost see how this is going to go.
there will be a weak PO from the senate it gets its 60 votes then the house puts a stronger PO and the senate only needs 51 votes.
Well there is hope right :-)
October 20th, 2009 at 4:38 pmway to use that 60 senator majority harry, you wuss.
October 20th, 2009 at 4:41 pmten bucks says he’s the type to roll over and waste a good erection as well.
If Bennett and Udall have any say about it, then it will come down to a reconciliation vote. That’s the only way it will happen with the lack of leadership at the top.
October 20th, 2009 at 4:42 pmIf their is no Public Option in the final bill……it will get ugly in 2010 and 2012.
possibly the biggest pussy ever.
October 20th, 2009 at 4:43 pmREID: “The negotiations are leaning about a public option.”
Pillar to post, eh harry?
October 20th, 2009 at 4:43 pmI have a hard time believing that Reid once had the guts to take on the mafia.
October 20th, 2009 at 4:44 pmWill Democrats PLEASE use some of their fundraising dollars to BUY SPINES?!!!
Americans are falling into poverty, losing their homes, going bankrupt, losing their jobs, and can’t afford healthcare, and Democrats are “meeting behind the scenes” to discuss whether or not to have a public option AT ALL?!!!
ABSOLUTELY DISGRACEFUL!
They obviously care (just like Republicans) more about corporate profits than American families. They do not deserve to hold public office or represent the American people in any way.
Kudos, Harry, keep up the great anti-American work your doing!!!
October 20th, 2009 at 4:45 pmHarry Reid = POTTED PLANT
October 20th, 2009 at 4:45 pm“Reid won’t commit” yeah, yeah, yeah. Water is wet, the sun sets in the west and Beck is an idiot. What else is new?
October 20th, 2009 at 4:48 pmHarry used to be a boxer?
WTF was his record?
Had to be, like, 1-49, with the “1″ coming from a no-show.
I just hope the Democrats realize their future depends on this. If they can’t come through with a robust public option with the current numbers they hold in Congress, there is no reason at all to believe they can accomplish anything of substance and value to progressives.
October 20th, 2009 at 4:49 pmI take offense to that. The ficus Michael Moore ran against Rodney Freylinghuysen had class and fortitude.
October 20th, 2009 at 4:49 pmgot single-payer?
Wake me up when that’s “on the table.”
October 20th, 2009 at 4:52 pmWhat’s with the abivalence, Harry?
Afraid of rejection?
Failure?
Then quit manifesting it.
Demand Public Option.
That’s what WE voted for, last year.
October 20th, 2009 at 4:52 pmGet. Rid. Of. Reid.
October 20th, 2009 at 4:53 pmYeah?
Well I’m leaning toward talking about thinking about voting Democrat next election, too.
Damn it.
October 20th, 2009 at 4:56 pmThe arrangement of votes haven’t been made yet?
Senators voting for the HC industry representing the fooled who won’t vote them out vs Senators who do not dare vote against a public option as they will surely be voted out. All this for a slight win for the HC industry and a good appearance to the public?
What else could it be as the public has spoken.
October 20th, 2009 at 4:56 pmJust do the right thing and take a decision that the population supports! Once the public option exists it’s loved by all. Show some balls.
October 20th, 2009 at 4:59 pmWhat a wuss. What more do they want? They have both Houses and the Presidency. If these spineless Dems can’t get it done, then what? Wait for the Repugs to do it??? Yeah right.
October 20th, 2009 at 5:01 pm45,000 die annually with the status quo HC system…. that is 15 9/11’s a year.
Unconscionable to see this foot dragging.
October 20th, 2009 at 5:06 pmOMG! A total nut-job is on ‘HardBall’ right now.
October 20th, 2009 at 5:08 pmUKBristolDave01 says:
“Just do the right thing and take a decision that the population supports! Once the public option exists it’s loved by all.”
I agree wholeheartedly Dave.
“Show some balls.”
Harry is nervous about doing that in front of corporate ‘health care professionals’ and their penchant for surgery…
October 20th, 2009 at 5:09 pm“Reid won’t commit to public plan: ‘No decision’s been made yet.’”
Absolutely a wet noodle, spineless, and a DINO. As Grayson said to the GOP on healthcare reform: Either lead, follow or get out of the way. I say to Reid on public option: Get out of the way!
October 20th, 2009 at 5:10 pmCan anyone out there give me ONE good reason why the insurance industry should have any power or say in the matter of health care reform as they have been given?
October 20th, 2009 at 5:13 pmReid is a worthless, gutless wonder and Obama is lurking somewhat in the backyard, with his yellow daisy flower, picking off the petals one by one, Public Option Yea, Public Option Nay, Public Option Si, Public Option No, Public Option Ho, Public Option Nahee (my representation of Marathi, a language in south India). Obama seems to be afraid to commit to the Public Option, why? God only knows… It’s a win, win, win situation for the Democrats, for they can always point at the Party of No for their endless obstructionist tactics…
We need a robust Day One non-for-profit Public Option federal health insurance program that will be open to all Americans on 1 January 2010. Anything less will be BS…
October 20th, 2009 at 5:16 pmnoseeum says:
I know the NHS is pummelled by right wing US politicans but, if any party in the UK tried to break it up, it would be electoral suicide. It’s not perfect but we made the decision that, via general taxation, everyone would get healthcare.
OK, no-one makes a profit. This must be evil right? Profit is king…
October 20th, 2009 at 5:17 pmhad enough says:
“Can anyone out there give me ONE good reason why the insurance industry should have any power or say in the matter of health care reform as they have been given?”
Only one… they employ hundreds of thousands of Americans who will potentially be affected by the changes. Unless they’re say has something to do with that, no. Not at all.
October 20th, 2009 at 5:20 pm“Show some balls Harry!”
October 20th, 2009 at 5:24 pmReid is trying to balance all the competing interests in this debate. He has to negotiate with both sides of the Dem party as well as with Pelosi. This is not going to be an easy thing to do. The reimbursement rates are a big problem under the bill. The rural states have a legitimate concern about the rates. If that can be resolved then it would leave the Blue Dogs with no real reason to oppose the bill. Then the only question is whether the senators from Maine will sign on. This is not going to be easy for Reid or any of the other people involved to strike a deal that is acceptable to at least 60 vote majority or the 51 Senators for the reconciliation process.
October 20th, 2009 at 5:25 pmOr we will fire your old tired arse!
October 20th, 2009 at 5:25 pmDump Reid now!
October 20th, 2009 at 5:32 pmUm…. hold it– the vast %age of Americans (your constituents!!) are pro- Public Option. Do you even care about that? Do you care what your constituents want? Do you care that your constituents are overwhelmingly in favor of a pubic option? Are you an idiot? Do you care about your constituents?
October 20th, 2009 at 5:36 pmiF Reid were in the Wizard of Oz his line would be:
October 20th, 2009 at 5:41 pmIf I only had a spine.
tony and lido
I hope the voters of Nevada won’t commit to re-electing Harry Reid in the primary. It’s time for Harry to retire.
October 20th, 2009 at 5:56 pmI hope that Reid is just playing things really close to the chest so the Insurance Cartel doesn’t go off on another spending spree for Senators…and that is why he isn’t speaking to the press…
October 20th, 2009 at 6:15 pmIn spite of Relentless GOP fear mongering, and Lackluster Democratic Promotion … a Public Option is winning in the polls almost 2 to 1.
Americans Get It.
October 20th, 2009 at 6:29 pmSenator Reid is getting an earful today from callers across the nation. Keep calling!
In Washington—202.224.3542
Toll free from Nevada—1.866-SEN-REID
Members of Congress have received over 200,000 calls today.
October 20th, 2009 at 6:58 pmThere is something seriously wrong with Reid. I can’t think of anything but severe corruption and blackmail would making the Senate Leader be so unable to state his position on an important Bill.
October 20th, 2009 at 6:59 pmreid MUST GO.
October 20th, 2009 at 7:22 pmpags2 says:
——————————————————————————–
Reid is trying to balance all the competing interests in this debate. He has to negotiate with both sides of the Dem party as well as with Pelosi. This is not going to be an easy thing to do. The reimbursement rates are a big problem under the bill. The rural states have a legitimate concern about the rates. If that can be resolved then it would leave the Blue Dogs with no real reason to oppose the bill. Then the only question is whether the senators from Maine will sign on. This is not going to be easy for Reid or any of the other people involved to strike a deal that is acceptable to at least 60 vote majority or the 51 Senators for the reconciliation process.
There isn’t a single issue that can’t be worked out to get a public option. Every other industrialized nation can manage to create a public healthcare system, we can too. The Democrats have the power to do this and to make it a strong public option if they choose to. They can force it through anytime they decide to do it. People are dying every day. People are suffering from lack of treatments. The Democrats claim to be so worried about us, why won’t they force the issue? Where is all that corporate money going now that the repugs are barely holding on to a few seats? A plan without a public option is crap and the Democrats know it. They also know we have no where else to go so they can play their games while we pay for their fantastic health plan and we keep on dying.
October 20th, 2009 at 7:42 pmWith apologies to women everywhere, whenever I hear Reid talking about the Public Option, I want to run up and kick him in the vagina.
October 20th, 2009 at 8:33 pmjwmuiyaai says:
There isn’t a single issue that can’t be worked out to get a public option. Every other industrialized nation can manage to create a public healthcare system, we can too. The Democrats have the power to do this and to make it a strong public option if they choose to. They can force it through anytime they decide to do it.
Harry Reid cannot force Dems to vote in a certain way. As majority leader he has been doing a balancing act to keep all doors open in the negotiations. If he were to publicly demand a public option that would kill any efforts to negotiate. He is bringing together all the major players to see if there is common ground to get a bill through and what it will contain. If he cannot get 60 votes for the bill, he has to make sure he has 60 for cloture and 51 for reconciliation. Some parts of the bill have been agreed. The mandate and public option as well as reimbursement rates are major issues that need to be resolved. If Reid keeps people in conference talking, he is doing a good job. The longer they talk, the more likely they will be able to come to an agreement on most issues that will allow enough members to vote for it.
October 20th, 2009 at 8:55 pmLook you guys need to stop being such homers and contact Harry Reid and chew his a s s. He’s trying to sell us out by backing away from the public option. This proves what I’ve known for years; “Harry has no business being majority leader” he’s too weak. If the wind blows hard, he gets scared. This man is basically a political “Coward” and so weak I can’t stand him. Don’t get me wrong, I love the Democratic Party, but people like weak kneed “Harry” make my stomach turn. So take my advice, “Call this idiot and chew his a s s out, because reform without the public option, is reform in name only.
October 20th, 2009 at 10:42 pmCould we please elect a new majority leader? I have contacted Harry Reid several times. A leader does not always split the difference. Instead he goes to every Democratic senator and tells them they will lose their next election if they don’t support an effective bill–one that saves money, covers more people, and penalizes the insurance industry. I guess that’s not how it works when Harry likes those same companies and allows Max Baucus to participate in this charade. This is from opensecrets.com:
“Campaigns Donors: Despite having no serious opponent in the 2008 election cycle, Baucus raised $11.6 million for his campaign, nearly twice the amount ($6.7 million) he raised for his previous re-election bid in which he faced a challenger with some real financial clout. Most of Baucus’s top 10 contributors have remained the same since the 2002 election–predominantly health and finance-related industries–but nearly all ramped up their contributions this cycle, in the midst of an economic crisis and in preparation for impending health care reform. Absent a threat to his elected office, Baucus’s surge in contributions is most likely a reflection of his rise to chair of the Finance Committee, a position that many industries will need to push in order to see their desired policy changes implemented.
Since 1989, Baucus’s top donors have been American International Group (AIG), Goldman Sachs and New York Life Insurance–in the 2008 election cycle alone, these companies’ employees and PACs contributed $148,550 to his campaign chest. After law firms, securities and investment companies and insurance companies, the most generous industries to Baucus’s campaigns have been health professionals and pharmaceuticals. The health sector has given Baucus at least $2.8 million during his career, more than any other sector with the exception of finance, insurance and real estate companies, which have given him $4.6 million.”
Any questions?
October 20th, 2009 at 10:54 pmi’ve heard many times that harry used to be a boxer,
as a compliment, an advantage of sorts…
i don’t get it myself… boxers get hit in the head… a LOT.
how can that be a good thing…?
how can someone who allowed himself to get beat up,
and who wanted to beat up others, really be smart…?
i think boxing is stupid and dangerous…
October 20th, 2009 at 11:28 pmMany people have this idea that because he is a majority leader, he has a lot of power. He does not and his power within the Senate is the power of persuasion through negotiations. Reid cannot dictate the bill provisions without consulting the major factions. It would be a bad move for Reid to tell everyone what will and will not be in the bill. There will be a lot of horsetrading for other bills as part of the negotiations. If Reid pulls off this health care bill with a public option, I would consider it a miracle. There are a few Blue Dogs that are holding the bill up. Without their votes for either the bill or cloture, the bill will die.
October 21st, 2009 at 1:14 am.
“No decision’s been made.” = Code word for: “I need more Lobbyist monies”
.
October 21st, 2009 at 1:28 amEnnuiDivine says:
If Reid cobbles together a bill without a public option, if he gives into corporate interests rather than those of the citizens of Nevada and of the rest of the country, if he buckles under the pressure…his political career is over. His re-election chances will be nil.
October 21st, 2009 at 2:44 am““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““
The really sad thing is that he probably doesn’t give a shit about the citizens of Nevada or of the rest of the country or his political career because he will be set for the rest of his life. Sticking with the health insurance industry will no doubt lead to $$$$ under the table for him and all the rest of the politicians who oppose or defuse a strong public option.
Harry Reid: a most pathetic asshat, indeed. What a coward.
October 21st, 2009 at 3:34 amSpineless coward. Grow some cojones. It’s amazing what insurance industry money will do to politicians.
57% of Americans are in favor of a Public option, and yet his desire to wh0re himself to and fellate the insurance industry is clouding his sense of reality.
October 21st, 2009 at 8:40 am“The negotiations are leaning about a public option.”
It is time for rank-and-file Democrats to lean about kicking Harry out of the party..
October 21st, 2009 at 9:02 ampags2 says:
——————————————————————————–
Harry Reid cannot force Dems to vote in a certain way. As majority leader he has been doing a balancing act to keep all doors open in the negotiations. If he were to publicly demand a public option that would kill any efforts to negotiate. He is bringing together all the major players to see if there is common ground to get a bill through and what it will contain. If he cannot get 60 votes for the bill, he has to make sure he has 60 for cloture and 51 for reconciliation. Some parts of the bill have been agreed. The mandate and public option as well as reimbursement rates are major issues that need to be resolved. If Reid keeps people in conference talking, he is doing a good job. The longer they talk, the more likely they will be able to come to an agreement on most issues that will allow enough members to vote for it.
Reid alone doesn’t have that much power, but President Obama and the Democratic leadership as a whole do. They can put on real pressure and guarantee those who oppose the will of the people will have a strong opponent and no support from the party come election time.
October 21st, 2009 at 9:19 amRemember Obama discouraging progressive groups from airing commercials critical of Democrats who oppose the public option? If Obama and the Democratic leadership pushed hard for the public option, the public option that a majority of Americans want, instead of their wishy washy “well I prefer a public option but …” even the blue dogs would have no choice but to follow the wishes of the people. They are playing politics as usual while people are suffering and dying.
jwmuiyaai says:
Reid alone doesn’t have that much power, but President Obama and the Democratic leadership as a whole do. They can put on real pressure and guarantee those who oppose the will of the people will have a strong opponent and no support from the party come election time.
Threatening people is not the best way to cooperation. It is better to negotiate so that from a psychological standpoint where everyone comes out thinking they got a concession.
October 21st, 2009 at 11:58 ampags2 says:
——————————————————————————–
jwmuiyaai says:
Reid alone doesn’t have that much power, but President Obama and the Democratic leadership as a whole do. They can put on real pressure and guarantee those who oppose the will of the people will have a strong opponent and no support from the party come election time.
Threatening people is not the best way to cooperation. It is better to negotiate so that from a psychological standpoint where everyone comes out thinking they got a concession.
Seriously? I’m sorry if we have Congressmen who need their ego stroked in order to get them to do what they were elected to do. But not as sorry as I am for the people who are going without heart medicine or chemo treatments because they can’t affored it. Besides that, any congressman who is that much of a wuss needs to go.
October 21st, 2009 at 2:21 pmfgdgf
October 21st, 2009 at 3:06 pmggg
October 21st, 2009 at 3:19 pmThank you for your sharing.!
October 23rd, 2009 at 5:49 pm