More Of This Please

I don't know what has gotten into Jello Jay but I hope he keeps eating it for breakfast.

Jello Jay Comes Out Swinging

If Jay Rockefeller holds his ground against Max Baucus' Senate Finance committee health care bill we might just have to drop "jello" from his nickname:

Senator Jay Rockefeller, speaking Tuesday afternoon on a conference call co-sponsored with the Campaign for America's Future:

I have sat besides Max Baucus for 22 years on the Finance Committee. ... I'm probably one of his best friend among Democrats. But I cannot agree with him on this bill. ... There is no way in present form I will vote for it. Therefore, I will not vote for it unless it changes during the amendment process by vast amounts.

Rockefeller cited four main concerns: The lack of a public insurance option, changes to Medicaid, changes to the State Children's Health Insurance Program, and overall affordability provisions. He did caution that he reserved the right to change judgments once the final bill comes out, although it's unlikely that bill will look much different than what Baucus has already released.

Later in the call, Rockefeller suggested four to six Demorats on the Finance Committee had similar feelings, although he didn't say (and may not know) whether they feel as strongly as he does.

Now to be sure its not clear that Senator Rockefeller will actually vote against the bill in its final form. But if it does his street cred will go up many times over in my book!

Jello Jay Quote Of The Day

Say what you will about Senator Jay Rockefeller's role in helping to authorize or conceal some of the worst abuses to the constituation during the Bush administration years when it came to national security, the guy definitely seems to "get it" when it comes to the fight for health care reform currently underway.

"I think the anger against insurance companies is going to spread," Rockefeller said Thursday. "But a public plan, run by the government, will make sure doctors get paid, hospitals get paid and people get good health care.

"Today, an extra 15 percent, 20 percent or 25 percent [of health-care costs] goes to pay private insurance companies. In a public plan, you just pay for what you get. There are no marketers, no people shuffling paper, no one making television ads."

On Thursday, Rockefeller admitted he expects little bipartisan support.

"There is a very small chance any Republicans will vote for this health-care plan. They were against Medicare and Medicaid [created in the 1960s]. They voted against children's health insurance.

"We have a moral choice. This is a classic case of the good guys versus the bad guys. I know it is not political for me to say that," Rockefeller added.

"But do you want to be non-partisan and get nothing? Or do you want to be partisan and end up with a good health- care plan? That is the choice."

This is one of those moments where we need to print this out and pass it around to every single Democrat in Congress. There need not be any illusions that there is anything they can do to garner bipartisan support for true health care reform. The Republicans will never allow it to happen under Democratic rule if they have anything to say about it. Its time for the "good guys" to wake up to that reality and get er done on their own!

(h/t TPM)