I just called Wyden's number here in Portland to encourage him to join Merkley in signing the Bennet letter and the guy who answered the phone assured me that although Wyden hasn't signed, he will support the public option if it comes to a vote in reconciliation.
I thanked him for that but suggested that his signature of support would be more reassuring to us here at home and may help persuade others in the Senate. He said that he'd be sure to pass my message along.
Don't know why Wyden is playing so hard to get. I would have thought he'd be one of the first to sign. His artful dodge strikes me as a little condescending. And the excuse he gives has expired.
From his press release of Feb 24, 2010:
"Over the last few days, many Oregonians have been calling our offices asking Senator Wyden to sign Senator Bennet’s letter urging the use of budget reconciliation to pass a public health insurance option. Callers should know that Senator Wyden appreciates the time that each and every one of them has taken to call his office. He not only continues to support the public option – which he twice voted for in the Senate Finance Committee – he continues to think reconciliation should remain on the table if it proves necessary to guarantee that every American has quality, affordable health insurance. Senator Wyden has, however, held off on signing the Bennet letter because – as is now known – the President invited him to attend tomorrow’s bipartisan health care summit and he intends to first join the President in a good faith effort to see if a bipartisan solution is possible."
[emphasis mine]
Well, with all due respect, Ron, the summit is over.
Let's start ringing those phones again! Here's Wyden's Portland number: 503-326-7525 and the office in D.C.: 202-224-5244