Posted by
Defend America on Tuesday, October 27, 2009 4:48:35 PM
The
House Dem leadership has conducted its preliminary whip count and has
tallied up less than 200 likely Yes votes in support of a health care
reform bill with a robust public option, well short of the 218 needed
for passage, according to an internal whip count document I’ve obtained.
The document — compiled by the office of House leader James Clyburn
— was distributed privately at a meeting between Clyburn and House
progressives today where the fate of the public option was the subject
of some contentious debate, with liberals demanding that House leaders
push harder to win over votes.
Clyburn spokesperson Kristie Greco would only say: “We currently do not have the votes for a robust public option.”