Members of the United States Senate stand for re-election every six years. Only one-third face re-election every two years. Out of the 33 senators who went through a rigorous campaign and heard from their constituents on a daily basis, eight are freshman Democrats. (Five more are freshman, but were appointed and did not campaign.)

Most freshman Democrats in the Senate including Sen. Al Franken (D-Minnesota), are for a "public option." (Photo: Aaron Landry / flickr)

    The perspective of these freshman senators is valuable since they recently were out campaigning in their states and thus have a fresh perspective on what their constituents want. I would urge all senators to listen to what they are saying about the public option.

    In an interview with The Minnesota Post, Sen. Al Franken (D-Minnesota) said about the prospects for passing the public option, "I think that it is touch and go, I really do. But I am going to fight for it. I am going to speak out on its behalf, lobby my other colleagues, and use all the tools I have learned in my first five weeks being in the Senate."

    Sen. Mark Udall (D-Colorado) has even called on his constituents to call their members of Congress and ask them to support a public option.

"Please contact your members of Congress today. Urge them to pass health care reform, including a public option, today!" - Mark Udall

    Sen. Tom Udall (D-New Mexico) is a strong supporter of the public option as well and made the following remarks on the floor of the Senate:

    Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Oregon) is on the record, He voted for a public option as a member of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee. He also expressed his support in a column he wrote for the Oregonian on September 22. "The other major mechanism for increasing competition is the creation of a strong community health plan - or public option. Consumers would still be able to pick from among private insurers if they want, but the community plan would give them another choice to improve service and drive down costs. "

    Sen. Kay Hagan (D-North Carolina) also serves on the HELP committee and voted for the bill which includes a public option. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-New Hampshire) also expressed support for a public option, although she also expresses willingness to compromise on the issue. In a statement to Truthout, Shaheen said, "For health care reform to work better for middle class families and small businesses, we need more competition in the health insurance market. I believe the public option is the best way to do this, but it is not the only way. Between now and when a final bill comes to the floor of the Senate, I will work with my colleagues to find ways to add the competition we need so that costs are stabilized and the system works more efficiently."

    Colleen Murray, Senator Shaheen's communications director, told Truthout that during the campaign "People in New Hampshire frequently shared their frustration with the Senator about how unaffordable health care is (for consumers and small business owners)."

    One freshman senator opposes a public option, but would vote for a bill with a public option in it. A spokesman for Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) told Brian Beutler of Talking Points Memo that, "Warner would vote for a health care bill with a public option. It's not a make or break thing - he wants to see a health reform bill that contains costs, and if it includes a public option ... he would vote for it."

    One freshman senator, Mark Begich (D-Alaska), is not on the record and his staff has indicated to Truthout that he would not come out in support or against a public option until he saw how it would be paid for in the final bill.

    Appointed Senators

    The five newly appointed senators are all on board for the public option with Sen. Roland Burris (D-Illinois), even threatening to not support a bill that does not include a public option. Sen. Paul Kirk (D-Massachusetts), the newest appointee, is carrying the torch of Ted Kennedy.

    Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-New York) wrote a column for Huffington Post in which she said, "I believe that a robust not-for-profit public option must be a part of the health care reform package Congress passes this year. I feel that opening up a Medicare For All type system to everyone would lower costs and increase efficiency by injecting some much needed competition into the market."

    Vice President Biden's replacement in a statement to Truthout said, "A public option - where the consumer has the opportunity to keep their current insurance or choose the public option, if no competitor is available - gives Americans a greater range of choices, makes the health care market more competitive, and keeps insurance companies honest."

    Michael Bennett (D-Colorado ) has issued the following statement, "There is no reason why people shouldn't have as many options as possible to choose from, including a public option. A public option should be just that, an option, one of a number of choices - public, private and non profit - that families and small business can choose from."

    Every senator, especially those up for re-election, should heed the call of these senators who just went through hard-fought elections. Some of these senators come from traditionally red states, many from purple states, so the Blue Dogs should follow their lead. Senators Pryor, Lincoln, Lieberman, Landrieu, Bayh and Nelson (Nebraska), you, more than any other senators are standing in the way of real change. The other Blue Dogs, like Senator Warner and Senator Hagen, are putting the country first. At least commit to Senator Warner's position and pledge to not vote against a bill with a public option. If you can't do that, pledge to not support a filibuster, and vote your conscience when the bill goes up for a final vote.

    Let the majority rule in the Senate.

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