I love Nancy Pelosi! Standing tough, she has told the White House and Senate that a bill without a STRONG public option will not pass the House:
The latest statement out of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's office is unequivocal: "A bill without a strong public option will not pass the House," Pelosi said.
TPM
More, after the fold.
She also says that a bill without a strong PO will "be a major victory for the insurance companies who have rationed care, increased premiums and denied coverage."
Pelosi's full statement via TPM:
"Any real change requires the inclusion of a strong public option to promote competition and bring down costs. If a vigorous public option is not included, it would be a major victory for the health insurance industry.
"President Obama has said that a public option will keep the insurance companies honest. If someone has a better idea for promoting competition and reducing health care costs, they should put it on the table. But for the past month, opponents of health insurance reform have demonstrated that they are afraid of the facts. They have only offered distortions, distractions and misrepresentations to try to kill this historic legislation.
"A bill without a strong public option will not pass the House. Eliminating the public option would be a major victory for the insurance companies who have rationed care, increased premiums and denied coverage."
TPM
Now it is time for the White House to do the right thing. Reconcilation in the Senate with at least 50 votes and Biden and pressuring blue dogs instead of those who are ones who worked so hard to elect this President and this Congress, the base of the Democratic Party.