So reports TPMDC's Christina Bellantoni: President Obama will meet with Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) in the Oval Office this evening at 5:15, as voters are casting ballots in Virginia, New Jersey, and New York, presumably to talk about health care. Lincoln is one of the Senate's cluster of centrist Democrats, who are thus far still considered swing votes on health reform, though Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's (D-NV) plan for a compromise public option--one that lets states opt out of the program--seems to be gaining momentum (Sen. Ben Nelson of Nebraska, who is perhaps the toughest sell the public option besides Joe Lieberman, indicated in an interview with MSNBC on Friday that he thought Reid's opt-out plan could pass).
Lincoln is also one of two centrist Democrats up for reelection in 2010, along with Sen. Evan Bayh (IN), who has also met with the president. Polls commissioned by a progressive campaign group, the Progressive Campaign Change Committee, show both Lincoln and Bayh facing a drop in support if they vote against a public option.
What would President Lincoln like to see in the bill? Less coverage? More giveaways to the insurance industry? A delay in enactment? It's all so exciting!
As a volunteer for the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, a national group with over 1,100 supoort groups nationwide. Sen Blanche Lincoln still has not responded to our request for her statement on the rumor State Senator Dr. Gene Shelby may be contesting her seat. As well as a commitment to decide yes or no on the public option on healthcare reform. If President Obama is unable to show her the benefits to a Arkansas State Hospital with 40 to 80 beds. People with mood disorders are practically uninsurable with pre-existing conditions due to the cost. A public option is only a benchmark to prevent looting from insurance companies. Even the pharma industry supports a public option. Without 1,100 strong support groups and their family memebers, a no vote from Sen Lincoln would be a good opportunity to introduce extended unemployment benefits in Arkansas for herself. Sen Baucus has already reversed himself on this and is leaving Sen Lincoln out to dry. With the meth amphetmine problem in Montana he knows this is vital. Arkansas deserves it's meth problem to have a solution as well.