Rockefeller Meets Privately with Obama on Health Care

[ProSense]

Rockefeller Meets Privately with Obama on Health Care

United States Senator Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) has stated publicly he won't support a health care bill without a public option.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (WSAZ) -- United States Senator Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) met privately with President Obama Wednesday to discuss health care reform.

Rockefeller has said he will not support a bill without a public option of health care.

“The President and I met today to talk privately about health care reform. I do not want to go into the specifics of the meeting but I will say that nothing is clearer than the President’s commitment to providing affordable and effective health care for all Americans and he and I are united in our efforts to deliver on this promise," Rockefeller said in a written statement.

“The President is aware that I have concerns with the current Senate Finance bill offered by my friend Chairman Baucus. He is also aware that I have made clear I cannot vote for this bill in its current form. I am working to improve the Finance bill in Committee and it is my great hope that substantial progress can be made.”

[emulatorloo]

1. Here's to Substantial Progress on "improving" Baucus's bill.

Thank you for posting this. This I think is pretty good stuff.

[PopSixSquish]

2. Welll You Go Senator Rockefeller - Take Max Baucus to the Woodshed

I almost feel sorry for Max...almost...

[AlinPA]

13. Baucus has been beaten by the republicans and his sponsors in the insurance industry.

He is totally sold out to them and is probably going to fold and drop out.

[BootinUp]

3. Rockefeller seems to get it

I hope he can build some consensus in the Senate.

[BlooInBloo]

4. Sounds Obama has decided that Baucus is as useless as a republican...

And is going with Rockafeller.

[PretzelWarrior]

5. great.

[Jennicut]

6. Good, meeting with a Senator that actually cares about a public option

[Pirate Smile]

7. On Ed's show Rockefeller said "I had about a half an hour with him (the Pres). It was great!"

[Cha]

8. Thanks for that

report!

[ej510]

9. Obama should wipe his with the Baucas plan.

[gateley]

10. I'm so happy to hear that "it was great!" -- I was afraid that Obama had

hauled Rockefeller in because of his statement on public option and told him to fall in line with Max, and this eases that worry. Also, Howard Fineman (on Olbermann) just said that the WH doesn't seem to be too impressed by it, either.

[BlooInBloo]

11. Um, that's stupid.

[gateley]

15. Thank you.

[Clio the Leo]

12. Yes, thank you.

I usually skip Ed .... but I'll DVR the 3am show just to watch that.

[Vidar]

14. Good for Rockefeller. Hopefully Obama does some listening.

[quantass]

16. "I am working to improve the Finance bill in Committee.."

so let's get this straight...in its current form 0 republicans will vote for it. What's to improve? Flush the toilet and do a REAL bill that doesnt include any republicans at all...no improvements...it's rewrites.

[eleny]

17. Good, because Rockefeller is firmly against co-ops

I've seen him interviewed a few times and whenever he's asked about them he practically sneers out how they're worthless. It's a thing of beauty. So this news is heartening.