WASHINGTON (CNN) - Citing a recent CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll, House Majority Whip James Clyburn said Monday that the Senate Majority Leader should use a budgetary maneuver to pass health care reform with a government-run insurance option if Democrats do not have the 60 votes necessary to break a filibuster.
According to the survey released last week, 61 percent of Americans favor a public health insurance option that would compete with private plans. Support for the public option rose six point since an earlier poll in August.
"I can't imagine that 60 percent of the United States Senate will deny 61 percent of the American people the opportunity to get what they say they want," Clyburn said Monday in an interview on CNN's Newsroom. "So I would say to Senator [Harry] Reid that 60 ought not be the crucial number. Fifty ought to be the crucial number."
Clyburn said that if there are 52 or 53 Democratic votes for some form a public health insurance in the Senate, then Senate Majority Leader Reid should use a budgetary maneuver called "reconciliation" to bypass the usual 60 vote threshold needed to get to a vote on the Senate floor.
"And I do believe that the time has come to make 50 the number," the South Carolina Democrat said. "Reconciliation has been provided for in our budget resolution. It is time for us to stop the snail's pace. Stop running out the clock. And start getting done for the American people what they tell us they would like to see done."
Clyburn's comments came on the same day that Reid is set to have an afternoon press conference in which he is expected to announce that he has finalized the Senate version of the health care reform bill.
It remains unclear whether Reid has lined up the 60 votes needed to get to a vote through the normal procedures.
From CNN Politics
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I'd like to know which survery says 61%? All credible polls show that less than 50% support it.
Sure he wants the reconciliation way out – he wants all the entitlement, lazy bums in his district/state to maintain their status quo! That is, free governmental gimmees!
Who cares about 60, the magic number ?? Health care reform NOW with a strong public option. 62% of Americans want it !!!!!!
I can't imagine a quicker way of getting Democrats tossed wholesale in 2010.
I have no idea where Clyburn got his 61% number. Rasmussen shows only 45% of voters favouring the current plan, 57% believe it will raise the cost of health care, and 53% believe the quality of care will get worse. 49% say doing nothnig at all is better than what Congress is considering; only 39% say the current plan will improve anything at all.
This is probably from the same poll that says the president's job approval rating is in the high 50's.
Happy 60th and THANK YOU for fighting for those of us who unlike the LOBBYISTS do not have a voice!
I agree, just get it done.
Wouldn't it seem more responsible to verify that the economy is out of danger first and then talk about spending $900 billion to raise the cost of health care in the US?
The truth is that the healthcare that congress is proposing to pass is opposed by 60% or more of the American people, but truth or honesty has nothing to do with government.
and I would really like to know where he is getting the 68% of the country wants a govt. ran health care bill...... Rasmussen Poll shows that the majority of the country "DOES NOT" want a govt. plan period.....
Thank you, Rep. Clyburn!
The Senate must pass real health care reform, which has to include a strong public health insurance option.
Senate Democrats should do it because it's popular.
Senate Democrats should do it because it's the morally right thing to do.
Senate Democrats should do it because it's the politically smart thing to do.
The Senate Democrats should do it because, if they don't, we'll be facing a Republican Senate come Jan 2011.
I completely agree.
Rep. Clyburn is 100% correct, the "Public Option" is too important, and Americans want it, the 60 vote needed to advance the issue means nothing to Americans in the real world.. The Public Option sets the price for insurers.
Agreed! We The People have Spoken! The Lunatic Fringe of Tea Partiers, Birthers, and plain outright Faux-Blathering NUTS do not represent this population of the uninsured! I say SCREW the Health Insurance Lobby! WE LIVEm Therefore, WE deserve good healthcare! No one's health need to an impetus for Profits of Leeching Predators!
Where do the 60% numbers come from? What question was actually asked? How you ask the question is important.
let the Republicans filibuster, and let the Ameircan People see that they would rather Block Legislation by talking about it then getting off their bums and doing something to help All Americans!
Right anyone who wants to uphold the Constitution they swore to protect should vote against federally funded health care. It is UNCONSTITUTIONAL
Spoken like a true Democrat. If you can't win with the present rules, change them. there are 60 democratic Senators, they can pass this on their own. If they need to resort to games, it's time to change 60 to 49 in the next election.
Stop thrusting your Socialistic Dummocrapitc ideas down my throat. If the Republicans had tried this you would have been screaming bloody murder. YOU need to realize that not every American believes that you need a public option. I don't want to loose my health insurance to the gimpy public controlled medical system. And, don't insult me by saying that states can opt out. You'll use your bully pulpit scammers like ACORN to convince the states that it's the only way that it can work.
We need a public option to ensure that the Frank and Jesse James Insurance Companies of American know there is now some competition. The are not interested in you health only money. And I apologize to Frank and Jesse James, they were never as big a rip off as the rotten insurance companies have been to the American People.
We need a public option to ensure that the Frank and Jesse James Insurance Companies of American know there is now some competition. The are not interested in you health only money. And I apologize to Frank and Jesse James, they were never as big a rip off as the rotten insurance companies have been to the American People. . . . . . .
The good news to this idea means that after 2010 there absolutely will not be 60 or likely 50 votes controlled by a single party. A shift and a rise of independents is on its way!
me thinks he is an idealist
the party of 'no' makes thinking like this a daily necessity
but... they would be responsible for lack of healthcare if 60 weren't how dems thought
and there might be more cross the ailes thinking
interesting
Makes sense to me. If the majority of Americans want something that a minority is standing in the way of, just go around them. It's time to break the strangle-hold that the health insurance industry has on our health and our lives!
How about letting the people Vote4.