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Harkin: I've Got Votes to Pass Public Option

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

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Sep 29, 2009 2:04 PM CDT
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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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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 31 comments
thejoint00
Sep 30, 2009 7:09 AM CDT
no more government programs. if you beleive in it, you don't have to wait on the government. you can have it right now. it's called a free market for a reason. .... unless the program is unsustainable even if it were a Non-profit Organization. Breast Cancer Foundation, Salvation Army, Feed the Children. they are all going strong
cornelison
Sep 30, 2009 6:37 AM CDT
Some Americans have a message that they sent to Flickr; http://www.flickr.com/photos/j.../
cornelison
Sep 30, 2009 4:11 AM CDT
To RobN. A great deal of the blame can go to the Republicans. They don't want to talk, discuss or pass any bill that originates from the President & the Democrats. Democratic Senators can be replaced. The Republicans want the President to fail, even if it means that Americans are suffering without health insurance. Willful neglect on the part of federal legislators is what's happening & you don't seem to care.
Politics • Health • US

 
Senate • filibuster • health care reform • Tom Harkin • Health, Education, Labor & Pensions • public option

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