February 24, 2010

Statement on Bennet Letter Urging Use of Budget Reconciliation to Pass a Public Health Insurance Option

Washington, D.C. - Jennifer Hoelzer, Communications Director for U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), issued the following statement today in response to requests that Senator Wyden sign Senator Michael Bennet's (D-CO) letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) urging use of budget reconciliation to pass a public health insurance option:

"Over the last few days, many Oregonians have been calling our offices asking Senator Wyden to sign Senator Bennet's letter urging the use of budget reconciliation to pass a public health insurance option. Callers should know that Senator Wyden appreciates the time that each and every one of them has taken to call his office. He not only continues to support the public option - which he twice voted for in the Senate Finance Committee - he continues to think reconciliation should remain on the table if it proves necessary to guarantee that every American has quality, affordable health insurance. Senator Wyden has, however, held off on signing the Bennet letter because - as is now known - the President invited him to attend tomorrow's bipartisan health care summit and he intends to first join the President in a good faith effort to see if a bipartisan solution is possible."

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