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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2009
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33

Harkin: I've Got Votes to Pass Public Option

Democrats have votes to break filibuster, pass bill, he says

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(Newser) – Sen. Tom Harkin sees no good reason Democrats can’t pass a health care bill that includes a public option. “I have polled senators, and the vast majority of Democrats—maybe approaching 50—support a public option,” the newly minted Health, Education, Labor and Pensions chairman said today. “So why shouldn’t we have a public option? We have the votes.”

With Teddy Kennedy's replacement on board, Harkin thinks he's got the 60 votes to bypass a filibuster and get the bill to floor vote. “Once we cross that hurdle, we only need 51 votes for the public option,” he said. “And I believe there are, comfortably, 51 votes for a public option.” Harkin thinks Harry Reid should include the controversial plan when he merges the HELP committee bill with the Finance Committee’s version.

Newly-named Senate HELP Committee Chairman Tom Harkin, accompanied by Max Baucus, speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill, Sept. 9, 2009.
Newly-named Senate HELP Committee Chairman Tom Harkin, accompanied by Max Baucus, speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill, Sept. 9, 2009.   (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
Newly named Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee Chairman Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, takes part in a news conference on Capitol Hill, Sept. 9, 2009.
Newly named Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee Chairman Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, takes part in a news conference on Capitol Hill, Sept. 9, 2009.   (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
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33 comments
VIEWING:
 
bahari@bellsouth.net
Sep 29, 09 2:07 PM CDT
Just DO IT already. Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
+19
IN RESPONSE:
Timinator2K
Sep 29, 09 2:21 PM CDT
YES! JUST DO IT...SO WE CAN CLEARLY SEE WHO DESERVES TO GET THE BOOT OUT THE DOOR.
Vote up! Vote down!
-8
IN RESPONSE:
cornelison
Sep 29, 09 2:26 PM CDT
It'll be the Republicans who get the boot. Their political lives depend on pleasing the health insurance companies - not the lives of the Americans that they are supposed to represent.
Vote up! Vote down!
+2
IN RESPONSE:
godawgs
Sep 29, 09 2:30 PM CDT
@corn actually the blue dog dems and the white house both just received a bunch of money from the insurance industry.
Vote up! Vote down!
+2
IN RESPONSE:
RobN
Sep 29, 09 2:36 PM CDT
Other than the wholly unnecessary use of Caps, what is so particularly offensive about Timinator's post that it needs to be flagged? No swear words, no personal attacks. The implementation of Newser's policy is a joke.
Vote up! Vote down!
+4

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