Pelosi throws down the gauntlet -- "A bill without a strong public option will not pass the House"

[grantcart]

Maligned by progressives Speaker Pelosi has thrown down a non negotiable position.

(Personally I find it hard to believe that she would take this position without the President's backing.)

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/09/pelosi-a-bill-without-a-strong-public-option-will-not-pass-the-house.php

Pelosi: A Bill Without a Strong Public Option Will Not Pass the House

If you weren't already convinced that the House and the Obama administration are on a collision course, you might be now.

The latest statement out of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's office is unequivocal: "A bill without a strong public option will not pass the House," Pelosi said.

Pelosi has said the same thing in the past, but with the fight over the public option reaching a fever pitch--and the White House signaling left and right that they're walking away from it--her renewed insistence is telling, and will no doubt come as encouraging news to progressives.

"If someone has a better idea for promoting competition and reducing health care costs, they should put it on the table," Pelosi said. "Eliminating the public option would be a major victory for the insurance companies who have rationed care, increased premiums and denied coverage."

[ruggerson]

1. didn't she telegraph something very different earlier today?

[grantcart]

4. I do not believe so - google for Pelosi Public Option last 24 hours shows supportive statements

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&as_q=Pelosi+public+option&as_epq=&as_oq=&as_eq=&num=10&lr=&as_filetype=&ft=i&as_sitesearch=&as_qdr=d&as_rights=&as_occt=any&cr=&as_nlo=&as_nhi=&safe=images

[ruggerson]

21. She said something earlier today

that made it sound like she was ready to accept a trigger. Then she backed off and came out with the statement you quoted to "clarify" her earlier remarks.

[grantcart]

22. #19 below has it

I don't see it as much of a softening - she is advising the insurance industry that they should take the current bill, if they add a trigger then they are going to have to make the public option even stronger than it is now.


Its hard to see without the full context but it seems like they are taking her out of context.

[ruggerson]

23. could be

I would hate to see her stand down and accept a trigger.

[Why Syzygy]

6. Like what?

Please show us. I've never heard her back away from the public option. Ever.

Rahm hates her; but I'm happy to observe she isn't afraid of him!

[grantcart]

19. I saw what you were talking about - she was simply responding to

her opinion on a trigger -



"That is true," Pelos said of stepped-up talks on a trigger mechanism as a replacement for the public option. "But I don't know what particulars are of the trigger. Here we have a situation where in the Kennedy bill in Senate, there is a public option -- it's not as strong as the public option in the House bill. If they want no public option, but a trigger, you can be sure that the trigger will bring on a very robust public option. So, if I were advising insurance companies, I'd tell them take this bill the way it is now."

[YOY]

2. Holy shit...did she just do something to impress me?

Nona Nancy! You sly ole Dem!

[grantcart]

5. Yeah timely, almost like a plan, or even a script.

[YOY]

7. Scripted or no...it's what I want to hear.

n/t

[Why Syzygy]

9. This isn't new for her.

Gosh. Is she making Obama look bad? I don't know why you would think she has Obama's support on this. Rahm hates her.

[grantcart]

18. without any special knowledge I think that all of the public sentiments

are being issued as part of a prepared confrontation.

They are backing the Senate Democratic Caucus into a corner.


When everything seems like it will not pass some other face saving solution will be found to help blue dogs support the bill.

They will be able to claim a moral victory and we will have our public option.


In order to pull it off it will require the progressives going crazy, maybe like KO calling for a primary opponent.

What could the face saving gesture be? I would guess ensuring that the bill will truly be deficit neutral.

[Honeycombe8]

3. Yeah, Baby!!!!!! It's time the good side took a stand and threatened to vote NAY.

BOTH sides can play at that game.

This may just be a case of whoever shouts louder and lasts longer. If the good guys take a stand, this just might get done. Now is the time! NO TRIGGER! NO BARGAINING WITH THE GUYS WHO GOT US INTO THIS HORRIFIC MESS AND HAVE NO INTENTION OF STANDING UP TO THEIR OBLIGATIONS! (the Republicans AND the insurers AND pharma)

[DJ13]

8. Good for her, but what if it gets dumped in Reconciliation?

Is she just posturing now hoping the Senate holds their ground, or does she truly want a public option?

(Its a shame her position has changed so often I cant be sure when she's bullshitting.)

[Why Syzygy]

10. Her postion on this has never changed!

Obama has never stated his postion! Other than "copetition and choice". No leadership.

[DJ13]

16. Her position has softened from time to time

But the House Dem Leadership may be hoping the hardliners in the Senate kill the public option in any Reconciliation talks so they can claim they tried.

Thats my fear, and Obama hasnt done anything to ease that fear since he refuses to say he'll veto any bill that doesnt include a public option.

[Why Syzygy]

17. Congress is the only example we have of committment.

(Rahm told them to back off after this announcement. "Rahm" = Obama administration.)
The problem isn't in Congress!


Over the weekend it became clear that the Obama Administration wants to drop the public option from health care reform.

We saw this day coming. That's why for two months, we've been working hard to get members of Congress to draw a line in the sand: no public option, no health care reform. Yesterday, they did it.

This is exactly the kind of spine we need to see from Congress. Indeed, it's the only way we can pass health care reform that's not a bailout of the insurance industry.

These 65 Democrats need to be commended for doing the right thing. We set up a fundraising page for you to donate to any of the 65 members who drew the line in the sand.

Click here to reward good behavior: http://www.actblue.com/page/theytookthepledge

From Kathleen Sebelius to Rahm Emanuel to Barack Obama himself, the Administration appears ready to throw the public option under the bus. If that happens, any "health care reform" bill will simply be a bailout for the insurance industry and drug companies.

By holding 40 votes in the House, we can ensure that the only health care reform bill to pass is one with a strong public option. To see 65 members of the House drawing a line in the sand on this issue is huge.

The tide is turning in our favor. Passing health care reform with a strong public option is now in sight.

We need to make sure that these members know we support their efforts to pass a strong public option.

Click here to contribute: http://www.actblue.com/page/theytookthepledge

Thanks for everything you do.

Best,

Jane Hamsher
Firedoglake.com
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=222x67553

[DJ13]

20. You're the best

Thank you!

[grantcart]

11. I understand your feeling but the progressive caucus is taking a similar stand

and I think that the Democratic caucus as a whole is also feeling the same.


In other words I don't see this as a very courageous stand (no insult to the speaker intended) but it actually is democracy working as the House Democrats have been listening.

[wtbymark]

12. She's got more balls than Harry Reid

:wow:

[Enrique]

24. no, it shows the metaphor is flawed

"balls = courage" should have been phased out long ago, imo.

[Odin2005]

28. Ovaries are balls, too!

:P

[grantcart]

30. lol

[Generator]

25. Maybe more than Obama too

She can stand up to him, but he can't stand up to the "blue dogs"? Or does he not want to????

[PFunk]

13. I dislike Ms Pelosi as much as the next folk, but she has always been for the public option.

But I also think this is because she see's the writing on the wall (i.e a repug beat-down of the dems in 2010 if their's none) more than actually caring about helping others.

[grantcart]

26. I am liking her more and more

[malletgirl02]

14. Enough with the Talk

Pass a bill with the public option.

[LooseWilly]

15. Cheers for Pelosi!!

[grantcart]

27. yup

[Odin2005]

29. Give 'em Hell, Nancy!!!

:woohoo: