Will Target Dems Square Off Against Senators on Government Healthcare Takeover?

FYI, a version of the release below went out to the following districts: John Carney (DE-AL); Alan Grayson (FL-08); Suzanne Kosmas (FL-24); Earl Pomeroy (ND-AL); and Vic Snyder (AR-02).

Washington- Suzanne Kosmas now finds herself squarely at odds not only with the American public, but also with one of her own state’s senior Democrats after Senator Bill Nelson voted against the so-called ‘public option’ and a government healthcare takeover in a Senate Finance Committee markup this afternoon. With Nelson’s help, the public option amendment was defeated soundly by an 8-15 roll call vote. With all signs pointing to Kosmas supporting the Democrats’ government-run healthcare plan in the face of sinking popularity and exorbitant costs, it now appears that Kosmas will have to square off with her state’s senior senator if she still wants to put the screws to Florida taxpayers and senior citizens.

“The committee on Tuesday afternoon voted, 15 to 8, to reject an amendment proposed by Senator John D. Rockefeller IV, Democrat of West Virginia, to add a public option called the Community Choice Health Plan, an outcome that underscored the lack of support for a government plan among many Democrats. 

“Mr. Baucus voted no, as did Senators Thomas R. Carper of Delaware, Kent Conrad of North Dakota, Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas, and Bill Nelson of Florida, joining all 10 Republicans in opposition.” (David M. Herszenhorn, “Senate Panel Rejects a ‘Public Option’ in Health Plan,” New York Times, 9/29/09)

“After bogus claims that the government-run option is politically popular, a number of Democrats, including Senator Bill Nelson helped defeat the measure by a landslide,” said NRCC Communications Director Ken Spain. “The question now remains: Where does Suzanne Kosmas stand on government-run healthcare? The voters of her district deserve to know if she is at odds with Florida’s senior senator.”

Now that one of her state’s leading Democrats and public opinion have turned against the public option, will Suzanne Kosmas follow suit or will she continue to march in lock-step with her radical party leaders?

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