A Brief Conversation With Kent Conrad’s Office
“The only way this works is for the House to pass the Senate bill and then, depending on what the package is, the reconciliation provision that moves first through the House and then comes here,” said Sen. Kent Conrad (D-ND). “That’s the only way that works.”
I pointed out that House leadership has repeatedly said they won’t take a flier on a reconciliation package–that they will only pass the Senate bill after the smaller side-car reconciliation bill has been all wrapped up.
“Fine, then it’s dead,” Conrad said.
interview with Kent Conrad, 2/24/2010
Ring… riiiiiiing
“Hello, office of Senator Kent Conrad.”
“Hi, my name is Brendan Skwire. I ordinarily don’t call senators outside my state, but i was just reading Senator Conrad’s ‘Fine then it’s dead’ comment about health care reform, and I wanted to explain why I’m calling from Pennsylvania, and ask you to pass on a message to the Senator.
“I live in southwest Philadelphia, which is one of the poorest areas in the city. Most of my neighbors are low income, elderly African Americans who simply don’t have access to quality health care. Like the rest of the states, Pennsylvania is facing a budget crisis, and we’re getting cuts all over the place. People in my neighborhood NEED health care reform.
“I’d also like to add that I have family in Canada, and have personal experience with their single-payer system, which is what we really need here in the US. And so a public option was really a compromise down from the ideal health care reform.
“So when I hear Senator Conrad say ‘fine it’s dead’ with regard to health care, i think about all the people in my neighborhood who need exactly what he says they can’t have. And so I’d like you to pass along a short message to the Senator. can you do that?”
“Sure!”
“It’s only two words. Are you ready?
“FUCK. YOU.”
-uncomfortable silence-
“Thank you for your call, sir.” -click-
with democrats like Kent Conrad, who needs republicans?
