Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) decision to back down to Senate Democratic leadership and abandon his previous promise to add a public option into the health care bill made it seem the public option was dead. Now, Colorado Senate Democratic candidate Andrew Romanoff may have successfully put the public option back on the table (see David Sirota’s piece in the Huffington Post today for more). Last night he issued a statement that will put significant pressure on his primary opponent, Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO), to offer the amendment instead:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Romanoff: Where’s the ‘Public Option’ Champion?
After learning today that no member of the United States Senate would stand up for a “public option” in health care reform, U.S. Senate candidate Andrew Romanoff issued the following statement:
“As Speaker of the Colorado House of Representatives, I led the fight against insurance companies that unreasonably delay or deny their customers’ valid claims. I know first-hand the lengths that industry will go to resist reform.
“I am deeply disappointed to learn that no member of the U.S. Senate is willing to offer an amendment to restore the public option to the health care bill.
“Millions of Americans cannot afford to keep up with the soaring costs of health insurance. That is why a majority of the American people support a public option. The Congressional Budget Office has concluded that a public option will reduce the deficit.
“I call on the leadership of the U.S. Senate to allow an up-or-down vote on the public option. We should not allow the insurance industry to kill the competition the American public wants.”
Join Andrew Romanoff and sign the public option petition to Senator Michael Bennet:
You led the fight for 51 votes for a public option in the Senate — now it’s up to you to make sure it comes up for a vote at all.