5 More Democrats Announce Support for Public Option Through Reconciliation

As GOP lawmakers ramp up their efforts to sink reform, more and more Democrats are voicing their support for a public option through reconciliation. Today, 5 Democratic Senators said that they would cast their vote for a public option if it is introduced during the budget reconciliation process. 24 other lawmakers have signed a letter advocating for the use of reconciliation to pass a public option.

The 5 democrats — Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Patty Murray (D-WA), Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), Ben Cardin (D-MD), and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) – released the following statements to the Progressive Change Campaign Committee (PCCC). (According to Adam Green of PCCC this now makes 30 Senators who have stated their support for a public option through reconciliation.)

DICK DURBIN (D-IL):

Durbin Communications Director Joe Shoemaker: “Sen. Durbin has long been a supporter of the public option. I don’t know whether the votes exist in the Senate right now, but if the House version of the public option came up for a vote in reconciliation Sen. Durbin would vote yes.”

PATTY MURRAY (D-WA):

“I’ve been consistently supportive of a public option so that Washington’s families and businesses have choices in their health care options and so insurance companies are finally forced to compete for the business of the American people. Nothing has changed that support. I don’t know whether the votes exist in the Senate right now, but if the public option came up for a vote as we move ahead with reform, including under reconciliation, I would vote yes.”

JEFF BINGAMAN (D-NM):

“I have long been a supporter of the public option, and I have voted for it every time it has come before the Senate. I drafted the public option provision in the HELP Committee and co-sponsored the public option amendment in the Finance Committee. If the public option came up for a vote in reconciliation I would vote yes.”

BEN CARDIN (D-MD):

Cardin spokesperson Sue Walitsky: “Senator Cardin has always been a strong supporter of the public option. As a member of the Budget Committee, he has always considered reconciliation a viable option for passing health care reform. If there is a vote in reconciliation on the House public option, Senator Cardin would vote yes.”

AMY KLOBUCHAR (D-MN):

“I support the House bill version of the public option which is based on negotiated rates, and if that came up for a vote in reconciliation I would vote yes. I do not support a public option based on Medicare rates because it exacerbates geographic disparities that already hurt Minnesota.”