This morning, four bold senators, led by Colorado's Mike Bennet
defied the DC conventional wisdom that tells Democrats to be weak.
Instead, they wrote a letter calling on Majority Leader Harry Reid
to pass the public health insurance option through "reconciliation,"
which only needs a simple majority in the Senate.
Senators Kirsten Gillibrand D-NY, Jeff Merkley D-OR, and Sherrod Brown D-OH
have co-sponsored the letter.
There will never be a more important time to call Congress about health care reform.
The story can be found:
CBS Politics
The Hill
Information on what to do and how to call:
Bold Progressives
Credo Action
Americans overwhelmingly want the public option.
A majority of senators have said they want the public option.
And finally, "reconciliation" is seriously under consideration.
Joe Lieberman would be unable to block the bill.
The February 2010 Franklin & Marshall College poll, shows majority support for a public health insurance option.
55% -- Creating a government health insurance plan similar to Medicare that provides an alternative to private health insurance plans (29% strongly, 26% somewhat)
Full details on the poll are available as a pdf here.
Thanks to gooners diary for the news.
Additionally, 120 House Democrats signed and delivered the Polis/Pingree
letter calling for the public option through reconciliation, to Harry Reid a little over a week ago.
Today, four Senate Healthcare Heroes saw that leadership and your hard work.
They aren't sitting around and hoping for change.
They're taking the lead and making it happen.
Call your senator and urge them to sign on to the Bennet letter,
urging Harry Reid to pass a public health insurance option through reconciliation.
Democratic U.S. Senators complete contact info here
Daniel Akaka HI (202) 224-6361
Max Baucus MT (202) 224-2651
Evan Bayh IN (202) 224-5623
Mark Begich AK (202) 224-3004
Michael Bennet CO (202) 224-5852 initiated the letter!
Jeff Bingaman NM (202) 224-5521
Barbara Boxer CA (202) 224-3553 signed the letter
Sherrod Brown OH (202) 224-2315 co-signed the letter!
Roland Burris IL (202) 224-2854 signed the letter
Robert Byrd WV (202) 224-3954
Maria Cantwell WA (202) 224-3441
Ben Cardin MD (202) 224-4524
Thomas Carper DE (202) 224-2441
Robert P. Casey, Jr. PA (202) 224-6324
Kent Conrad ND (202) 224-2043
Christopher Dodd CT (202) 224-2823
Byron Dorgan ND (202) 224-2551
Richard Durbin IL (202) 224-2152
Russell Feingold WI (202) 224-5323
Dianne Feinstein CA (202) 224-3841 signed the letter
Al Franken MN (202) 224-5641 signed the letter
Kirsten Gillibrand NY (202) 224-4451 co-signed the letter!
Kay Hagan NC (202) 224-6432
Tom Harkin IA (202) 224-3254
Daniel Inouye HI (202) 224-3934
Tim Johnson SD (202) 224-5842 signed the letter
Ted Kaufman DE (202) 224-5042
John Kerry MA (202) 224-2742 signed the letter
Herb Kohl WI (202) 224-5653
Amy Klobuchar MN (202) 224-3244
Mary Landrieu LA (202) 224-5824
Frank Lautenberg NJ (202) 224-3224 signed the letter from his hospital bed!
Patrick Leahy VT (202) 224-4242 signed the letter
Carl Levin MI (202) 224-6221
Joseph Lieberman CT (202) 224-4041
Blanche Lincoln AR (202) 224-4843
Claire McCaskill MO (202) 224-6154
Robert Menendez NJ (202) 224-4744 signed the letter
Jeff Merkley OR (202) 224-3753 co-signed the letter!
Barbara Mikulski MD (202) 224-4654 signed the letter
Patty Murray, Patty WA (202) 224-2621
Bill Nelson FL (202) 224-5274
Ben Nelson NE (202) 224-6551
Mark Pryor AR (202) 224-2353
Jack Reed RI (202) 224-4642 signed the letter
Harry Reid NV (202) 224-3542
John Rockefeller WV (202) 224-6472
Bernie Sanders VT (202) 224-5141 signed the letter
Charles Schumer NY (202) 224-6542 signed the letter
Jeanne Shaheen NH (202) 224-2841 signed the letter
Arlen Specter PA (202) 224-4254 signed the letter
Debbie Stabenow MI (202) 224-4822 signed the letter
Jon Tester MT (202) 224-2644
Mark Udall CO (202) 224-5941
Tom Udall NM (202) 224-6621 signed the letter
Mark Warner VA (202) 224-2023
Jim Webb WV (202) 224-4024
Sheldon Whitehouse RI (202) 224-2921 signed the letter
Ron Wyden OR (202) 224-5244
Call your senator today, and tell them to sign on to Mike Bennet's letter.
Tell them to pass a public option through reconciliation!