FDL's Jane Hamsher posted this:
Sources say that there will be a meeting of the House Democratic Caucus tonight to discuss health care with Rahm Emanuel.
Rahm told the WSJ that he is open to the idea of "triggers." Some are hailing Obama for walking it back, but I frankly don't see how this is any different from what Rahm said:
I am pleased by the progress we're making on health care reform and still believe, as I've said before, that one of the best ways to bring down costs, provide more choices, and assure quality is a public option that will force the insurance companies to compete and keep them honest. I look forward to a final product that achieves these very important goals.
More after the jump.
As Jane said:
A "trigger" means that a public option gets implemented at some time in the future if the insurance industry doesn't do what they are supposed to do. A "public plan" and "triggers" aren't necessarily mutually exclusive, which is why we've always emphasized FROM DAY ONE as part of our Whip Count on the public option.
Sam Stein repors that Rahm has been pushing for triggers since February. It's a way to keep from implementing a public plan NOW, and gives us absolutely NOTHING to build upon toward the goal of providing single payer coverage.
It's a vile proposal designed to protect insurance company profits at the expense of the public.
The Democratic caucus will be meeting tonight at 7pm with Rahm. Call progressive House members and ask them to confront Rahm directly about the trigger option, and let them know you'll be calling back tomorrow to find out what they did.
This is unacceptable.
CALL NOW
Call even if your congresscritter's not on the list of forty progressive Democrats being targeted for the whipping, but call especially if he or she is on the list.
Obama wouldn't have felt the need to make an emergency interruption of his Moscow trip, simply to 'clarify' Rahm's remarks, if we weren't having an effect. Keep the pressure on!