After discussing yesterday that Sen. Baucus’ committee was considering removing abortion coverage from their proposed health care reform bill, Senate Majority Leader Sen. Harry Reid made it very clear that Baucus should stop trying to give away the farm for a few Republican votes.  According to Roll Call, http://www.rollcall.com/issues/55_3/news/36562-1.html, Reid told Baucus that they would lose 10-15 Democratic votes if he allowed the Republicans to remove the abortion coverage from the upcoming health care reform bill.  I have been one of Sen. Reid’s toughest critics so I have to take the time here to give him his due.  What Baucus was doing was trying to get a few Republicans to cooperate for a change and actually vote for a Democratic proposal.  It sounds good if you are not caving in to the Religious Right Wing in the process.  The Roll Call article linked above also informs us that the Dems are also not happy with Baucus’ idea to tax health care benefits in order to help pay for the health care reform.  Once again, if the Democrats in the Senate follow through on what Reid started here, this legislation may be the most important individual piece of legislation in a generation.  This strong stance by Reid is even more important after we heard the mixed signals from the White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel as to Obama’s support of a public option.

The Democrats do not need the Republicans if they do not want to give the American public what they want.  What the public wants is a true public option that guarantees coverage for all and guarantees that Women won’t be left behind without abortion coverage.  Kudos Senator Reid, but don’t stop now.  Keep the heat on the Republicans and keep the lobbyists out of the mix and the American Public will be the winners.  The Republicans will lie, cheat and steal to try to stop the public option as this Think Progress article proves http://wonkroom.thinkprogress.org/2009/06/11/rove-public-plan/, when Think Progress debunked the public option lies being spread by our old “Friend” Karl Rove.  It is time to cover all Americans.  Don’t delay and don’t sell out the public option or coverage for women.   Now, that wasn’t too tough, was it?