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Sanders would support reconciliation to break Republican filibuster | ||
2009-11-11 | ||
A leading Senate Independent on Monday stressed he would support using reconciliation to break a filibuster and bring healthcare reform to a conclusive vote.
"The American people overwhelmingly want a public option for a variety of reasons," he added. "Correctly, they want a choice between a private insurance company and a Medicare-type plan. And they should have that choice."
Lawmakers and pundits throughout the healthcare debate have kept a watchful eye on Sanders, wondering how he might ultimately side on his chamber's proposed reform. While he has long supported the public option and offered some favorable, choice words for Senate Democrats' work, he has been noncommittal recently about whether he would lend his voice to a cloture motion. Without Sanders' support, ending debate on the bill would be exceptionally difficult, if not impossible. "All I'll say for now is that I want the strongest public option possible in the bill," Sanders told The Hill. "Beyond that, we're going to have to look at what develops." Sanders never broached the subject of his cloture intentions on Monday, but his otherwise stated support for Democrats' healthcare bill is at least likely to calm some party leaders a little. They are also sure to take some solace in his qualified endorsement to use reconciliation, as well as his newly stated concern that abortion restrictions in the House version of the bill could doom healthcare reform writ large. "It is hard to imagine that with a Democratic president and a Democratic Congress, we would take a major step backward in a struggle that women have engaged in for decades," he said of Rep. Bart Stupak's (D-Mich.) amendment, which sets strict rules on the public plan and abortion services. "So, it just seems to me inconceivable that that can remain in the bill." | ||
Posted by:Fred |
#2 "The American people overwhelmingly want a public option for a variety of reasons." Exactly which public option are you referring to Bernie? Is it the one where states can “opt in” or is it the one where states can “opt out”? Or maybe it’s the “trigger option”? Or maybe it’s the “exchange”? Maybe it’s the “co-op”? Or do you suppose it’s the one where people think they get free health insurance? The answer to that question may shed some light on the validity of the opinion polls you like to cite…don’t’cha think? |
Posted by: DepotGuy 2009-11-11 08:52 |
#1 "A leading Senate Independent..." Independent my ass. Bernie is a commie. |
Posted by: Whiskey Mike 2009-11-11 01:29 |