Party Line? Snowe Way!

Today, the Senate Finance Committee finally held a roll-call vote on the Baucus Plan for Health Care Reform.

As expected, the GOP members of the committee voted against the measure -- that is except for Maine Senator Olympia Snowe. Snowe is known for bucking her Party's dictates, with only 58.4% of her votes being with her Party. (This independence should come as no surprise as 40% of Maine's voters are registered as Independents and only fellow Maine Sen. Susan Collins has a lower party unity score of 58.1%.)

With Snowe voting with the Democrats, the final vote was 14 to 9, passing the measure. Although she does note that there are aspects of the Bill which she does not like, she does risk retribution from her own party for not following its dictates -- specifically a potential threat which could cost her important committee memberships.

So if she doesn't like the Bill as it stands and can risk political retribution, why vote "Yes" on the Bill?

Because she actually listens to her constituents in Maine and seeks reforms which will benefit all Americans:

When finding out that Senator Snowe's vote would move the Bill out of committee with all-important bi-partisan support, he called the Senator "extraordinarily diligent" in her work on this effort.

We think Senator Snowe makes some good points while justifying her vote today -- and no matter how you fall on the spectrum of political ideology, we should take comfort that there are still legislators who are willing to defy their handlers and vote their conscience. Even if it is just for today.

Public Option: Down, But Not Out

Today, the Senate Finance Committee debated two amendments regarding the Public Option. One sponsored by Sen. Rockefeller of West Virginia failed 8-15; the other, sponsored by Sen. Schumer of New York also failed 10-13.

Obviously these votes are disappointing to the millions of Americans who not only wanted a strong public option, but also would have benefited from such an amendment. It is especially troubling to see that Democrats would defy their Party and vote against the amendments.

Among those Democrats voting "No" on either one or both of the amendments included: Sen. Baucus (MT); Sen. Conrad (ND); Sen. Lincoln (AR); Sen. Carper (DE) and Sen. Nelson (FL). All 10 Republicans on the Senate Finance Committee voted no on both amendments.

The Democratic Party of New Mexico fully supports a robust public option, passing a resolution to this effect during September 12th's State Central Committee meeting. We still support a public option as the best method to insure the some 468,000 New Mexicans without proper health coverage.

We are happy to note, that unlike the Democrats voting against a public option, Senator Jeff Bingaman voted in favor of both amendments today. We're proud of our senior Senator, and we'll remember that when the vote mattered, he voted for the interests of New Mexicans.

In the meantime, while the status of the public option is unknown, New Mexicans and Americans across this country must not relent.

Now more than ever, we must keep the pressure on our elected leaders to stress the need and importance for a public option.

We suggest that you use whatever means that you can to reach out and make your voices heard.