Okay, so with a House vote on the horizon (maybe next week), it looks like Speaker Pelosi has the votes for reform with some form of a solid public option, but, according to Mike Allen at Politico, the speaker is coming up short of being able to pass a Medicare Part E public option. Allen also says that the president wants a trigger, which is just stupid. Don't buy it.
TPM is reporting that the Politico story might not be accurate:
Politico's story this morning suggests Pelosi doesn't have the votes, but our sources insist the leadership isn't yet at that stage.
Presidential adviser Valerie Jarrett jabbed at the Politico story while appearing on MSNBC's Morning Joe today, saying of the reporter who penned the piece, "I don't know whether Mike Allen can actually count votes or not."
Shocker! The Politico is spreading far-fetched rumors. At the very most, the whip count is uncertain with 12-15 votes that need to be gathered from a large group of undecided members, according to Chris Bowers. The list with phone numbers here -- call now!
One way or another it's becoming very clear that healthcare reform will contain a public insurance plan. This is all very good news. Now we watch and wait to see what form the insurance plan will take.
UPDATE: These are apparently the lawmakers we need. Call, call, call!
Gabrielle Giffords (AZ-8): 202-225-2542, 520-459-3115, 520-881-3588
Dennis Cardoza (CA-18): 202-225-6131; 209-383-4455, 209-527-1914
Joe Donnelly (IN-2): 202-225-3915, 574-288-2780
Kurt Schrader (OR-05): 202-225-5711, 503-588-9100
Lincoln Davis (TN-04): 202-225-6831, 931-490-8699, 931-473-7251
Glenn Nye (VA-2): 202-225-4215 757-326-6201
Jim Costa (CA-20): 202-225-3341, 661-869-1620, 559-495-1620
Rick Boucher (VA-9): 202-225-3861, 276-628-1145