Legal Commentary

An Up Or Down Vote On The Public Option

By Big Tent Democrat

mcjoan writes:

We're going to be hearing a lot from the White House and Dem Senators that, to quote Dan Pfieffer, "the American people deserve and up or down vote" on healthcare reform. So here's the message to Harry Reid: "the American people deserve and up or down vote on the piece of reform they want," the public option.

Show us whether or not it can pass the Senate in a reconciliation vote, Senator Reid. Put it on the floor and see if it gets 50 votes. You'll at least get points from the base for making people go on the record. Give us an up or down vote on public option.

Indeed. And it can be done by allowing an amendment to the base reconciliation bill for those concerned it will gum up the works. What's wrong with this approach? Nothing of course, except that pols will have to go on the record against a proposal very popular with the Dem base.

Speaking for me only

Full post as published by TalkLeft on February 24, 2010 (boomark / email).