January 27, 2010 10:49 PM UTC

Polis Pushes Public Option In Reconciliation

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• by: Phoenix Rising

Rep. Polis and other House Democrats are pushing for inclusion of the Public Option in the much-discussed hypothetical Senate reconciliation bill.

House progressives organizing to rescue health care reform are pressuring their Senate counterparts to go back to the provision that has most energized the party and a majority of Americans throughout the debate: The public option.

“The public option,” said Polis, “is not dead.”

The article notes one major problem blocking passage of Health Care Reform as a factor in getting the public option put back in: the House doesn’t have enough votes right now to pass the Senate bill.  Rep. Bart Stupak, who created the (IMHO) odious anti-abortion language that passed the House, has said he won’t vote for the Senate bill; and House Progressives have voiced objection over some aspects of the excise tax and other less-than-progressive Senate provisions.

Since budget reconciliation can’t change the abortion language, it seems the only path to success is to work the progressive caucus and throw them some bones.  The public option is likely to pass under reconciliation rules in the Senate, and would be a huge win for House Progressives who’ve felt shut out.

Congratulations to Rep. Polis for taking the lead here.  If you’re inclined, call your own Rep and get them to sign Polis’s call to Sen. Reid.