Public option: Senate contact list (updated)
Probably yes (5)
Sen Robert Byrd (D WV) 202-224-3954 http://byrd.senate.gov
(sick)
Sen Mark Warner (D VA) 202-224-2023 http://warner.senate.gov
Sen Thomas Carper (D DE) 202-224-2441 http://carper.senate.gov
Sen Jon Tester D MT 202-224-2644 http://tester.senate.gov
Sen Ron Wyden (D OR) 202-224-5244 http://wyden.senate.gov (yes)
Yes, but already counted:
Herb Kohl (D WI) 202-224-5653
http://kohl.senate.gov (yes)Amy Klobuchar (D MN) 202-224-3244 http://klobuchar.senate.gov (yes)Tim Johnson (D SD) 202-224-5842 http://johnson.senate.gov (yes)
Sen Dianne Feinstein (D CA) 202-224-3841 http://feinstein.senate.gov (yes)Sen Michael Bennet D CO 202-224-5852 http://bennet.senate.gov (yes)
Harry Reid (D NV) 202-224-3542 http://reid.senate.gov/
Not sure (10)
Sen Blanche Lincoln D AR 202-224-4843 http://lincoln.senate.gov
Sen Max Baucus D MT 202-224-2651 http://baucus.senate.gov
Sen Bill Nelson D FL 202-224-5274
http://billnelson.senate.gov
Sen E. Ben Nelson (D NE) 202-224-6551 http://bennelson.senate.gov
Sen Kent Conrad (D ND) 202-224-2043 http://conrad.senate.gov
Sen Evan Bayh (D IN) 202-224-5623 http://bayh.senate.gov
Sen Mark Pryor D AR 202-224-2353 http://pryor.senate.gov
Sen Mark Begich D AK 202-224-3004 http://begich.senate.gov
Johnny Isakson (R GA) 202-224-3643 http://isakson.senate.gov
Olympia Snowe (R - ME) 202-224-5344 http://snowe.senate.gov
No (3)
Mary Landrieu (D LA) 202-224-5824
http://landrieu.senate.gov (no)
Susan
Collins (R ME) 202-224-2523 http://collins.senate.gov (no)
Joe Lieberman (I CT) 202-224-4041
http://lieberman.senate.gov (no)
Updated: 8/29/2009
We start, according to Howard Dean's "Where Congress Stands" tool with
Let me know if there are any updates or errors. I'll cross off people who commit. I include the "no" votes in the hope that we can at least pressure them to vote for cloture.
Zipcodes: 99506 Anchorage AK, 20151 Fairfax VA, 33128 Miami FL, 04576 Southport ME, 72201 Little Rock AR, 59601 Helena MT, 46201 Indianapolis IN, 70112 New Orleans LA, 68901 Hastings NE, 06101 Hartford CT, 58282 Walhalla ND, 30301 Atlanta GA, 55801 Duluth MN, 57401 Aberdeen SD, 53201 Milwaukee WI, 25813 Beaver WV
The toll free number 1.800.828.0498 or 1.866.220.0044
Keep the pressure on ...call/email daily!
August 20, 2009 3:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
So does this mean Barbara Boxer is a Sure, Yes?
August 20, 2009 4:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
According to Howard Dean's website, yes.
http://standwithdrdean.com/where_congress_stands
August 20, 2009 4:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thanks,
I just wrote to Senator Bennet again and I will fax him a few times as well. Apparently Senator Udall who was elected is supporting a public option.
Bennet was appointed to replace Salazar. DFA shows him as a no on the public option. Your list shows him as a probably yes. Things may have changed since the recess for Bennet.
I am seriously wondering about Bennet. There was an excellent candidate that ran against Salazar previously and I am going to look into whether he would consider running again next year. We need some alternatives to Bennet if he should turn out to undesirable.
August 21, 2009 3:01 AM | Reply | Permalink
The probably lists are really unknown. Whether they lean yes or no is just an estimate. So take it with a grain of salt.
I agree, a primary threat to Bennet from the left is the best medicine. It's done wonders for Pennsylvania with Spector who is now very reliable.
August 21, 2009 9:17 AM | Reply | Permalink
Senator Bennet of Colorado can be moved to the definitely "yes" category. He has been out campaigning for the public option at town hall meetings.
In his own words: "I also believe providing patients with a public insurance option -- that increases competition and drives down prices -- would help to achieve these goals."
Read his blog post/watch town hall video at Huffington Post dated August 10:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sen-michael-bennet/health-care-is-a-moral-ob_b_256147.html
August 21, 2009 9:36 AM | Reply | Permalink
cool!
August 21, 2009 10:18 AM | Reply | Permalink
I still think Bennett and Wyden(Oregon)are playing a game and are not REALLY for the public option. They support the Healthy Americans Act which is not the public option. People need to contact these two folks who are on the fence (until today?) and make sure they need to get behind a strong public option. Wyden's on the fence attitude has lost him my vote. They need to be for it and convincing others in Congress to get the job done. Wyden's big contributors are the health insurance industry, of course.
August 27, 2009 7:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
Re Ron Wyden, after further checking, he was in Medford Oregon today still pushing his Healthy Americans Act which would require the uninsured to buy health insurance FROM PRIVATE INSURERS. He can dance around it and make it sound like he's for the public option ("healthcare for all, no preconditions, can't be dropped, etc") but he's not. Also, Bennett and Wyden's websites are still pushing HAA, not the public option.
August 27, 2009 8:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
Off-topic but need to spread the word:
Poll: Most doctors support public option
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=112818960
September 15, 2009 11:54 AM | Reply | Permalink
Both my senators are in the public option camp but I called them anyway to voice my support for the public option. Same for my rep.
August 21, 2009 12:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
good idea, thanks
August 21, 2009 2:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
Bravo.
August 21, 2009 2:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
I just called Baucus. Said i was strongly in favor of the public option. Wasn't rude about it. The girl was nice.
August 21, 2009 4:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
This is great Froggy and fits right in with OGD's longer list:
http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/blogs/oldengoldendecoy/2009/08/health-care-bill-what-your-representative-should-be-telling-you.php
Good Stuff
August 28, 2009 2:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
I was under the strong impression that my Senator Klobuchar was a definite yes.
August 28, 2009 2:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
You're right.
August 28, 2009 3:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
I don't understand how your reposted this 'with' the comments from the last time you posted it? Didn't know it was possible to do something like that. So my comment above is rather old and yes Bennet and Udall are both in the 'yes' category I am proud to say for CO.
Thanks for reposting.
August 28, 2009 3:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thanks for this...very helpful! I will share with the masses!
August 28, 2009 4:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
Dean's list says Rep. King of Iowa is "don't know" for public option. He's come out against it and there's never been any doubt about that. Most recent statements here:
http://siouxcityjournal.com/articles/2009/08/28/news/local/1e05e2ed29dde6ac8625761f007a35ea.txt
August 28, 2009 4:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
I saw in passing a TV comercial with Alaskas Sen Mark Begich (D)name boldly printed at the end cridits.
It was a late night women at the diningroom table trying to make ends meet sort of sencerio. The vioce over was about paying for more taxes...
I will give him a call and perhaps a piece of my mind.
I would not count on him for a yes vote.
M. Paul
August 28, 2009 5:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
Good to know. I wasn't all that confident that anyone from Alaska would vote the right way.
August 28, 2009 6:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
He has 6 years til next election. No reason he should wimp out on this. He needs to feel some heat from us
August 28, 2009 6:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
I suspect that of all the undecided names on the list, the most important is Olympia Snowe (R, Maine). She could conceivably add one Republican vote for a public option or something resembling it (including an option "triggered' by failure to control costs). Even more important, a Republican vote would provide cover for some fence-sitting Democrats, who could vote in favor for what would now be seen as a "bipartisan" bill.
I'm guessing the Republican leadership sees it the same way, and so she will be subjected to strong pressures from both sides.
August 28, 2009 10:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
I hope so.
It looks like we'll need at least one Republican to vote for cloture.
It's much easier, in fact, I think we'll easily have 50 votes for "yes".
For cloture, we'll need two of these four:
Olympia Snowe (R - ME)
Mary Landrieu (D LA)
Susan Collins (R ME)
Joe Lieberman (I CT)
If Kennedy's seat is filled, we'll probably only need one of those four. I'm guessing Landrieu could be enticed to break a filibuster somehow.
August 29, 2009 9:38 AM | Reply | Permalink
NYT has a story about Olympia Snoew who might be a clincher. She's likely to water down the bill. So if we can get Landrieu and a Kennedy-replacement, we'd be better off. And just having the option of Landrieu would be better for negotiating with Snowe.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/29/health/policy/29snowe.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss&pagewanted=print
August 29, 2009 10:05 AM | Reply | Permalink
Senator Bill Nelson (D-Florida) is only in favor of exchanges.
I would not put him in the "Yes" column or even the maybe column although we are working him hard.
August 29, 2009 12:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
Pardon me for not having a copy of the US Constitution in my back pocket, but how to we force the bill out of the Senate Finance Committee if the Committee is not in favor of letting the bill onto the Senate floor for a vote?
September 1, 2009 12:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thanks very, very much for this post. Keep us updated, please.
September 14, 2009 9:53 PM | Reply | Permalink