Sen. Lincoln Reverses Position on the Public Option (good news)

Roll Call ^

[TroutGuy]

Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.), still facing the prospect of a tough re-election in 2010, has reversed her position on the public insurance option, saying Tuesday she will oppose the measure as a part of health care reform after previously expressing support for the policy, the Arkansas News reported.

Lincoln’s vote on a health care reform bill could be key as the Senate Democratic leadership looks to build a coalition of 60 Senators to pass legislation without using reconciliation. Reconciliation is a budgetary tool that would allow Democrats to clear a bill with just 51 votes.

“For some in my caucus, when they talk about a public option, they’re talking about another entitlement program, and we can’t afford that right now as a nation,” Lincoln said in a speech to the Elder Law Task Force at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. “I’m not going to vote for a bill that’s not deficit-neutral, and I’m not going to vote for a bill that doesn’t do something about curbing the cost in the out years, because it would be pointless. ... I would not support a solely government-funded public option. We can’t afford that.”

[TroutGuy]

This shows what a little constituent pressure will do- Lincoln backed off of an op-ed she wrote before Arkansans put her feet to the fire.

[TomGuy]

Will flipflop for votes.

[She’s up for reelection in 2010. She seems to be modifying several of her positions.]

[MissesBush]

That’s all well and fine. But will she REFUSE TO SUPPORT CLOTURE on a health care bill that has the public option? That’s the real test. She can say she’d vote against a public option all day long—Dems will allow a few Dems in difficult states to do that. The key is if she’ll go along with a filibuster to prevent a vote. Because if she votes FOR cloture, it’s as good as a vote for allowing a public option bill to pass. You folks in Arkansas need to lean on her HARD to not allow cloture.