Franken still fighting for public option; Amy is still lame-y

[Minnesota Raindog]

Al Franken just signed onto a letter to Harry Reid calling for reconciliation to be used if necessary to pass the public option with just 51 votes as part of the health care reform measure. He was one of nine Senators to sign the letter from Sen. Michael Bennett (D-CO). Franken has far exceeded my expectations as a U.S. Senator and this is just one more example why.

Amy Klobuchar, meanwhile, refused to sign on, demonstrating she is no supporter of the public option. This is one more example why she has become a major disappointment as a Senator.

Call Franken's office and thank him for staying in the fight instead of running for the cover of Big Insurance like his lame-y colleague. 202-224-5641.

More here:

http://minnesotaindependent.com/55378/franken-signs-letter-supporting-public-option-and-reconciliation

[Owl]

1. Yay for Al! Boo for Amy.

[becxx]

2. Typical for Senator Cruella Klob

Al is turning out to be a great senator! Amy turned out to be Senator Cruella. She's a witch and a serpent in my view--ready to turn the country into another chapter of a Charles Dickons novel.

I just called her office and, as usual, Senator Cruella is doing nothing. The country falls apart and Senator Cruella meets with the rich.

[Mister Ed]

3. I just sent my letter of thanks to his office

This guy's got heart, guts, soul and integrity. He's doing a great job, and I'm downright ashamed that my support for him in the '08 campaign was only lukewarm. I'm sure going to support his efforts in any way I can during this term and beyond.

[dflprincess]

4. Apparently Amy-kins may have changed her tune as of 6:30 tonight

sort of, maybe but she needs to think about it some more

http://minnesotaindependent.com/55404/klobuchar-supports-reconciliation-public-option

Though, the headline is somewhat misleading. Per the article:

Klobuchar didn’t indicate she’d sign the letter, but said she supports “using reconciliation to pass the health reform bill with changes, such as getting rid of the Nebraska deal” — a reference to an addition to the bill to win conservative Nebraska Democrat Ben Nelson’s vote.

I would want to make sure that the bill contains the Medicare care cost reform measures included in the existing bill. I am also supportive of the President’s efforts to forge a bipartisan agreement. We must reduce health care costs for the people of this country.

I support the House bill version of the public option which is based on negotiated rates. I do not support a public option based on Medicare rates because it exacerbates geographic disparities that already hurt Minnesota.

That's the Amy we know - never take a firm position when you can avoid a position by baffling 'em with bullshit.

[becxx]

5. Notice how Sen. Cruella does not say boo about ..,

Did you notice too how Sen. Cruella does not say boo about what the polls show the great majority of USA voters actually want: 1) access to quality health care for all citizens regardless of their means and 2) better use of our health care resources?

No, of course, Sen. Cruella Klob doesn't mention these things because, of course, UnitedHealth Group would not like that. And Sen. Cruella has sold out.

[Eric J in MN]

6. We should ask her to sign.

Any public option voted on through reconciliation this year probably would be be based on "negotiated rates."

[Minnesota Raindog]

7. Call A-Klo today!

Senator Amy Klobuchar
202-224-3244

[DisgustedInMN]

8. Wrote Senator Lamechar again this morning.

As I have daily. I've also called, and will again today. Unfortunately we've got to keep the heat on Senator DoNothingThatMatters. I've made it clear to her, that for me at least, lack of PUBLICLY voiced support for at least a Public Option, if not Single Payer, by ANY Democratic candidate, is a deal breaker "litmus test."

As to Al, I was delighted to write and call to thank him for all he has done. He has turned out to be even better than I had hoped he would, and I have BIG hopes.

[Eric J in MN]

9. I emailed Amy Klobuchar's office last night to ask her to sign the letter.

http://klobuchar.senate.gov/emailamy.cfm

[dflprincess]

10. Anyone else hear Amy on Ed Schultz today

being all weaselly about signing the letter? She did keep saying she'd vote for the public option through reconcilliation but she absolutely refused to say she'd actually sign on to it. Then she kind of flip flopped and said she can't support a bill without cost reform in it.

She continues to claim her number one goal is to improve the way services are delivered (she means paid for when she says that. If she actually cared about delivery of services, she'd support single payer). Good ol' Amy is more concerned with Medicare reimbursement rates than people actually being able to get care.

[DisgustedInMN]

11. Damn...

.. I missed it. I listen to Ed almost every day too. Doesn't surprise that she weasled around the issue though. I've never been able to get a straight answer to any question from her or her staff.

I think she needs primary'ed, big time.

[becxx]

12. It's time for Amy to go!

No doubt about it. Amy needs a primary and a one-way ticket out of Washington. She's disgusting.