70% of Americans supported the public option
only 30% of all Americans support the current bill. Which one do you think the Senate Dems passed?
Sad day, indeed, final vote will be Christmas Eve with the same voting pattern of 60 -40 expected. Obama is touting it will reduce the deficit, but the previous bill (with the public option in it) reduced the deficit by $25 billion.
Senator Feingold chastised the bill before voting for it:
Unfortunately, the lack of support from the administration made keeping the public option in the bill an uphill struggle. Removing the public option from the Senate bill is the wrong move, and eliminates $25 billion in savings.
Sen. Al Franken brazenly went on the Daily Kos and posted a cheerleading diary about this “Historic Piece and why he supports the Senate Health Reform Bill”. Here’s some of it:
Requiring insurance companies to spend 85% of premiums on actual health services — not administrative costs, TV ads, or gargantuan CEO bonuses — is a big victory. Senator Rockefeller and I worked hard to get that provision included because it holds insurance companies accountable and will put an end to exploding premiums and obscene profits – a huge win for progressives.
His diary has generated close to 2500 comments mostly against his sell-out stance. Most progressives don’t think this is a huge win for anyone but insurance and pharmaceutical companies. Franken never addressed the give away to pharmaceuticals by prohibiting the re-importation of drugs into this country; nor did he address Sen. Ben Nelson’s amendment which harms poor women in need of an abortion. This bill directly conflicts with Roe v. Wade because poor women are denied safe access to abortions. Rich women will always have a choice and means for safe abortions. Private insurance even pays for it, notice no Senator is trying to deny or interfere with private insurance.
In the end, I am disappointed in Franken, I must ask: WWWD? What would Wellstone have done? He would stand for the people, especially women and the poor. He would have taken a stand against corporation giveaways. Senator Franken, you sir, are no Paul Wellstone.
