I am writing this diary because I have commented in several HCR diaries recently about what I think is a very plausible way to proceed but it does not garner much comment, let alone debate. I really would like fellow Kossacks to tell me whether they believe our efforts in the next few days should be focused as I suggest, or not, and why not.
Simply put, I believe that the merged Senate bill should include a robust national (50 state) public option with no triggers. That is what should be brought to the floor. Others are positing that, if the votes for cloture are not there when counted this Tuesday, Baucus, Dodd and Rahm will put out a bill without a strong PO – and that we should support the opt-out plan at this point, over triggers, coops and opt-in.
In the most recent diary on the topic, there is this statement:
If we don't have the cloture votes for a trigger free national public option, then opt out is an acceptable position for the Senate bill which goes to conference.
I agree, BUT I DO NOT BELIEVE that the opt-out should be in the merged bill that goes TO the floor. That is where I diverge in my support of the opt-out. Supporters of having an opt-out in the merged bill that goes to the floor believe that:
If there are not 60 committed cloture votes for a trigger free national public option, there is not a chance in Hell that Max Baucus, Harry Reid and Rahm Emanuel (among others) are going to put in a trigger free national public option.
With this I do not agree, and that is why I think EVERY single one of us needs to call Dodd and the Whitehouse for the next few days. I don't only think we SHOULD have a robust 50 state PO in the merged Senate bill, I think we can, and I think we can because it makes the most sense politically and logistically.
The problem with the two statements I quoted above is that the first quote is talking about what comes out of the Senate and goes to conference. The second quote is talking about what comes from the merged bill and on to the Senate floor. This means a recommendation is being made for something to happen at stage 1 (second quote), to make sure it is the least we have at the end of stage 2 (first quote).
So, while I agree that an opt-out may be necessary if we cannot get cloture on a robust 50 state PO, I don't think it should be advocated for the bill that goes TO the floor, only for what will come OFF the Senate floor (and to conference).
So that is where my support for the opt-out diverges: at what point we give in on having a robust natonal 50 state Public Option come out of the Senate.
I think we should be putting 100% into letting the Whitehouse know that we want the robust 50 state PO/no trigger in the merged Senate bill. And with the recent statements from both the Whitehouse and Dodd, I do not see why we would expect to get anything less.
THE MERGED SENATE BILL THEN GOES TO THE FLOOR FOR AMENDMENT!
This fact leaves the Whitehouse/Dodd/Us the opportunity to tack on an opt-out provision IF it becomes necessary. It puts us in a better bargaining position - instead of our side having to work to improve the PO on the floor, others will have to work against what is in the bill. Finally, putting this out with a strong PO and letting the Party of NO have at it for several days, further displaying their idiocy and cold steel in the place of where hearts usually are, gives us time and momentum to win over those cloture votes.
While I am with others that the opt-out is better than other alternatives if we need one to get the PO out of the Senate to conference, I cannot understand in the least why anyone would advocate for an opt-out in the merged bill to go to the floor instead of as a last resort once the merged bill is on the floor.
If you agree and would like to help push to see a strong 50 state Public Option with no trigger in the Senate's merged bill that goes to the floor, please contact the Whitehouse and Senator Dodd as often as you can this week and tell them exactly that!
WHITEHOUSE:
E-mail
Phone: 202-456-1111 TTY/TDD 202-456-6213
SENATOR DODD:
DC: (202) 224-2823
Hartford: (860) 258-6940/(800) 334-5341 —CT only
I left Max's contact info off, I think concentrating efforts on Dodd and the Whitehouse has the most potential. I just don't see at this point that Baucus is going to advocate for a PO regardless of how many calls or letters he gets, BUT if you are a constituent, I think he will at least take note of your opinion, so here is a link to his contact page: http://baucus.senate.gov/...
If anyone has suggestions for others that we should contact because of their potential to help see that a robust 50 state PO is in the merged Senate bill, please let me know in the comments and I will add them here.