American Missive

ATLANTA – Harry Reid got the 60 votes needed to bring “health care reform” to the floor of the Senate for debate.  But the unequivocating announcements yesterday by Blanche Lincoln (D, Arkansas) and Mary Landrieu (D, Louisiana) that they would not support a bill with a public option may well have signaled death for Barack Obama’s top domestic priority.  They said their votes were only to bring the bill up for debate and they will be demanding that amendments be made to remove the public option from the bill. This makes passage seem impossible, given liberal senators are likewise stating they will not vote for a bill without a public option.

The yawning chasm between the left and right wings of the Democratic caucus over the public option might prove too wide to bridge.   Because of these disputes, there is no certainty that Harry Reid will be able to muster the 60 votes necessary to end debate over this bill and pass it into law.

Hurray for these courageous Democrats for putting country over party, and for possibly stopping a bill with a public option that would surely be disaster for our health care and economy.