(Sen.) Burris: No complaints, but not going to vote for a health care bill without a public option

[sabra]

Source: Chicago Trib/AP

WASHINGTON (AP) — For Democrats determined to get a health care bill, Sen. Roland Burris is like the house guest who couldn't be refused, won't soon be leaving and poses a plausible threat of ruining holiday dinner.

Suddenly, he can no longer be ignored.

The Illinois Democrat, appointed by disgraced former Gov. Rod Blagojevich, says he'll only vote for a bill to provide health care to millions more Americans as long as it allows the government to sell insurance in competition with private insurers.

And he says he won't compromise.

"I would not support a bill that does not have a public option," Burris, 72, said in a recent interview with The Associated Press. "That position will not change."

Those words caught the attention of the very Democratic leaders who tried to keep Burris out of the Senate, suggested he resign and have shunned him in unprecedented fashion. Burris is not the only Democrat to insist on creation of a government-run health plan. But he is the one who has the least to lose by defying President Barack Obama and the Democrats who once turned him out in the cold rain.


Read more: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/sns-ap-us-h...

[Alhena]

1. But will he FILLIBUSTER a bill without it? Nothing else matters

they don't need him to be one of the 51 Dem Senators to vote for it. The 60 vote issue only matters if Burris will team up with 39 Republicans or whatever to fillibuster a health care bill with no public option. I have a hard time seeing any Dem Senator doing that- even Sen. Nelson said he wouldn't fillibuster a public option bill.

[pundaint]

47. I hope so.

They've got things so twisted now that any version cobbled together will just further institutionalize the problem for more than another decade while continuing to dampen hiring, as the overhead costs continue to rise. At least a Public Option could morph into a solution in 8 or 10 years.

Time to pitch all the BS, and make at cost Medicare available to all takers, or even better extend it to all Americans and adjusting the tax rates to cover it. It totally solves the reimbursement problem, and opens the way to start addressing the health care problem.

[Winterblues]

2. In your face Lieberman lovers

Most all of the Senators that were so opposed to him are the same ones that supported Lieberman over Lamont even though Lamont won the Democratic Primary...

[saigon68]

22. Joementum Limpman = The TURD in the Punchbowl

[No Elephants]

42. Yes, but, sadly, far from the only one. That is one crowded punchbowl these days.

[SPedigrees]

3. Thank you Senator Burris! eom

[saracat]

4. Good for him.

[sandnsea]

5. Every Senator must say the same - hold them ALL accountable

That's the only way to get real change. You can't just scream at one person and change the entire government.

[ShockediSay]

34. Best Reason For Public Option - Threats by INscos

to raise rates

[No Elephants]

39. Many in the federal government pay no attention to you unless you are from their state or district.

I have had emails to Congresional Reps in my own state bounce back to me because my address, while in their state, is not in their respective district. Sometimes, I even get back a form email saying "your address indicates you are not in my district."

Sooooooo, I now focus on only the White House, my Senators and my own Rep. Also, I will never donate to any Rep who bounced back my email or sloughed off my concerns because he or she figured I could never do him or her any good.

[Bette Noir]

6. Who would have thought that *he* would be the one to stand on principle?

[Alhena]

9. He's not standing for anything if he doesn't fillibuster

he's just putting on a dog and pony show. Cloture is all that matters on this issue.

[No Elephants]

41. I don't believe that many Democrats will deprive Obama of the ability to sign SOMEthing

and declare victory.

If Obama seems as though he cannot get his own Party to pass what he wants, his chances for re-election will be dealt a severe blow. Parties tend not to do that to incumbent Presidents.

[OKNancy]

7. He is free to do it now

He can do and say what he wants I guess, since it doesn't look like he has a future political career.

[DeSwiss]

8. I'm loving it!!!!

"For tis the sport to have the enginer Hoist with his owne petar". ~ Shakespeare, Hamlet

- Good on ya Sen. Burris!!!!

K&R

[Geek_Girl]

10. I wish more Dem Senators would do the same.

nt

[classysassy]

11. Hello

remember me?,snub me you smug clowns,stick it to em Roland.

[msongs]

12. uh oh President Snowe is not gonna like this much nt

[ooglymoogly]

16. +1 nt

[Jim Sagle]

20. + another 1 nt

[rosesaylavee]

13. There is also the possibility that this is

part of the overall plan. He may have been asked to dig in so the others will have an excuse to get the public option in. He doesn't have a career to go to when he leaves office as he's retiring ... he's the ideal senator to dig his heels in. And if that is the 'plan', good on him for going along. We need to have that public option and competition for the insurance hosers.

[ooglymoogly]

15. Ahhh yes the 10 dimensional chess ploy.

Just wait till you taste that pie in the sky. Banana coconut cream I believe...mouth watering...umm...just thinking about it while we are getting screwed makes it all so much easier.

[Iowa]

25. +1

[rosesaylavee]

36. Ahhhhh. Aren't you witty.

[No Elephants]

38. Standing firm for the public option may resurrect his political chances.

[amandabeech]

46. yup. n/t

[rosesaylavee]

48. No. Here in Illinois he's done.

I thought it quite odd that I received an email from him on this. My first of the year and I don't know how he got my email unless he received it from Durbin. He's taken no other stand on anything... been keeping low and under the radar since the Blago thing. He's not running again for almost certain.

[David Zephyr]

14. Bravo!

K&R.

[ooglymoogly]

17. Ain't no strings on me Burris.

This is your time to shine; Take it to the mat. Filibuster the damn wealthcare bill if it is a no PO sham, as it appears to be!... the whole nine yards...and you might just get elected again.

[ooglymoogly]

18. This is all exciting but in the end piles of insurance lobbyists will

be clammering at his door with barrels full of lolly ready to dump in his "campaign chest" IF.

[dionysus]

29. you have to be *that* damn pessimistic?

[ooglymoogly]

32. Just give it a little thought....who knows maybe Burris can

now prove he is truly an honorable man. We can all hope. However, he will now be courted by the big bucks and it will take a mighty big lot of honor to hold his ground. If he sticks it out, he just might win an election on his own, with ticker tape parades and all. If he does this and is instrumental in getting a strong public option, he will be the man of the hour and campaign donations will flow in like water from folks like us.

[Fire1]

19. Thank you, Senator Burris. n/t

[Ramsey]

21. Hallelujah! He jsut rose in my opinion big time.

[Oldtimeralso]

23. This is my Senator!

I can finally say that about him.

[orbitalman]

31. Ditto Oldtimer! n/t

[nolabear]

24. Isn't it ineresting that it's the new kids that are willing to face up to the GOP?

[Frank Booth]

26. Blago's Revenge!!

Go Burris!

[Jefferson23]

28. ROFL

[LiberalLovinLug]

45. Ha Ha

Blago sends the DLC a real progressive!

Just what they didn't need.

[Jefferson23]

27. This is too funny, Burris, go out swinging for what is right.

[AllyCat]

30. Nice!!! No wonder they didn't want him.

Wish they would all show this kind of spine. Amazing what kind of backbone they can have when there is nothing to lose. Public financing of campaigns would go a long way towards ensuring more behavior like this.

[earcandle]

33. Thanks Senator Burris!

[johnaries]

35. We are going to hear this more and more....

the movement may be slow, but we will see more and more Reps and Senators saying that no bill will pass w/o a PO.

Fuck all that M$M sensationalism and speculation - Obama has never changed his position: If you can show me a better option, I'll go for it. Well, so far, there ain't one.

I'm sick and tired of all the "Obama has sold us down the river" bullshit. He has been consistent. "If you have a better idea, I'll listen". So far, they haven't had a better idea.

In the meantime, he has done the Constitutional thing. Unlike GWB who would just grab power under the unConstitutional theory of a Unitary Executive - Obama is trying to get things accomplished LEGALLY - through Constitutinal Law.

A President can issue an Executive Order. The next President can revoke it. Obama is not trying for temporary change, but lasting change that actually means something.

It is true that Obama could revoke DADT literally with a stroke of a pen. That would be the popular action. But it wouldn't last. If he did it by Executive Action, as soon as another President took office that same right could be revoked just as quickly. BUT, if he can convince Congress to change the Law - well the "stroke of the pen" - will do nothing. The rights of all citizens will be protected, by law. No matter who is President.

[andlor]

37. Thank You Senator Burris!

[No Elephants]

40. Let's not forget Jay Rockefeller, who does have something to lose and was the first to

take a stand.

He's my nominee this year for Profile in Courage, along with Senator Ted, of course.

[lumberjack_jeff]

43. Poetic justice. My favorite kind. n/t

[ThisThreadIsSatire]

44. Hate to sound cynical...

but did his price w/insurance lobby just go up?