Traitors.
I want you to take a long look at their faces. They're not Democrats. They are politicians that are completely bought and paid for by private insurers.
We've known this was coming for a long while that these "Democrats" would get up and vote against the public option amendments in the Senate Finance Committee. Yes, this was expected, but does that mean we shouldn't be angry about it? HELL, NO! We should have every right to be angry, and to let our anger be known to these elected officials! There's a famous quote which I'll like to put below:
If you're not outraged, then you're not paying attention.
And there are some that would prefer that we would be complacent, assume that this will be magically fixed in the conference process, and have us remain silent on the public option because they want any bill to pass that offers so-called regulations that private insurers can evade and with no price control on premiums over the long term for the photo op victory.
Here are the points that Senator Rockefeller brought up today during the mark-up:
10:41 - Rockefeller is now going after the Mark's plan to give the power to write regulation to the non-governmental non-profit NAIC.
10:37 - Rockefeller is putting the private health insurance industry on trial. He is going through all the different ways private insurance companies screw over their costumers and deny claims.
10:33 - Rockefeller pointed out that while the private insurance companies will receive a half trillion dollars in federal money, there is no requirement in the Mark for the private insurance companies to spend that money on care. The House bills has an minimum 85% medical loss ratio. Baucus's bill has no minimum medical loss ratio.
Here's the video of Senator Rockefeller calling out Senator Baucus on his bullshit today for defending the private insurance companies and the so-called regulations that his bill offers:
And here's the interview with Wendell Potter about the absolute gift to the insurance industry that is the Baucus Senate Finance Committee bill:
“The Baucus framework is just an absolute joke,” said Potter, Cigna’s former head of corporate communications who has been speaking out against insurance industry practices. “It is an absolute gift to the industry. And if that is what we see in the legislation, (America’s Health Insurance Plans chief) Karen Ignagni will surely get a huge bonus.”
Potter said the proposal would not provide affordable coverage. It gives the industry too much latitude to charge higher premiums based on age and geographic location, fails to mandate employer coverage, and pushes consumers into plans with limited benefits, Potter said.
The travesty that is the Senate Finance Committee bill is what we should BE outraged about! We can't just assume that it'll be magically fixed in conference because this will now be the dominant legislative package going into conference, and the Senate traditionally has had its say in the conference process, usually with progressive elements stripped out, like what we've seen with the ACES bill, and the economic stimulus bill, which was pared down in the conference process in order to get the "centrists' votes" for it. That assumption is foolhardy and naive to have.
It's time to stop believing in the magic fairy that everything will be made better in conference, and start by rising up to let your outrage be known, and with righteous outrage, it helps us remind about what is truly essential here:
A good health care bill with actual regulations and a strong public option---you know, kind of like what's in the House health care bill, and that's the kind of bill that we should support strongly going into the final conference process!
The only way to stop this traditional play from happening is to make phone calls to our Democrats in the House to let them know in no uncertain terms that we expect them to strongly support a trigger-free public option, and to vote for the final conference bill if it has a public option in it! They should have stronger leverage against the Senate because of our support for the Congressional Progressive Caucus.
It's why I want you guys to burn up the phone lines to the House tomorrow! They need to know just why we want a public option, and that there will be consequences to pay if they don't support the public option. Just like the kind of consequences that are happening right now for Rep. Jim Cooper, who's flip-flopped on the public option so many times. FireDogLake and Dailykos are going after Rep. Jim Cooper to make an example out of him for not supporting the public option as he should, through their PAC, Accountability Now.
Markos points out the hypocrisy of Rep. Jim Cooper:
Rep. Jim Cooper:
Not only the Daily Kos but also Firedoglake has accused me of being against "the public option." The truth is that I have been a leader in trying to define what a public option really could mean, and I have repeatedly stated that there are several definitions that I support. By my calculation, there are about 18 ways to define a public option and at least half of them could win my support and, in my opinion, a majority in Congress.
See? He's a leader in coming up with a dictionary definition of "public option"! And NO ONE will recognize him for that bold leadership!!!!
Of course, the only bill that he supports does NOT include the public option, and the one that does, he opposes. But that's just semantics, because you see, there are 18 ways to define a public option, and HALF of them would earn his support!
What are those 18 definitions? Who the heck knows. You can't expect Cooper to show any leadership by, you know, explaining those 18 different public plans. And forget about the kind of leadership that would lead him to introduce a plan, because if you were a leader in defining the 18 different types of public plan, you'd think you'd also be a leader by choosing one and giving the world the Jim Cooper Health Care plan.
Right now, consequences are also being paid to Senators like Max Baucus with this ad from the PCCC, and to Senator Blanche Lincoln through this ad we're running.That's what happens when so-called Democrats don't support what's in the Democratic party platform:
Our vision of a strengthened and improved health care system for all Americans stands in stark contrast to the Republican Party’s and includes:
Covering All Americans and Providing Real Choices of Affordable Health Insurance Options. Families and individuals should have the option of keeping the coverage they have or choosing from a wide array of health insurance plans, including many private health insurance options and a public plan.
And no, that doesn't mean supporting a trigger on the public option. That's a cop-out, and we need to let our Democrats in the House know it tomorrow! It's time to let them know just how serious we are by donating to Accountability NOW that is set up by the progressive netroots to hold elected Democrats accountable.
Please recommend this diary to hold our Democrats accountable!
We've lost a battle for the public option in the Senate Finance Committee today, but we haven't lost the war for the public option. We'll keep on fighting for what is right, and please help support our work (since we do literally work for you guys) by donating to our fund at Firedoglake! Your donations go to our living stipends, expenses, and travel costs, including awesome tools like these.