Via TPM, we learn that only 22 of the 28 Democratic governors now holding office were willing to sign a letter to Congressional leaders asking them to sign a health care reform bill this year. Can you guess which governor of a central Midwestern state is among the holdouts? Hint: The state is bordered by* Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska, and the governor’s initials are JN.
It was a pretty mild letter too. As TPM reports:
The letter, circulated by Reid’s office and the Democratic Governors Association late Friday, is by no stretch of the imagination controversial.
“The status quo is no longer an option and we support getting health reform done this year,” the letter reads, making no mention of the public option or anything else that might rattle politicians.
Maybe there is some reason that justifies the absence of Nixon’s signature on this letter so I will withhold judgment for the time-being – although my first reaction is to ask what is it with these so-called Democrats in Missouri? The only time they seem to remember what the party stands for is when they are composing the fund-raising letters they send out to the party faithful.
* correction
I saw this, too. It is disturbing.
We Democrats believe government can improve our lives. At some point, we can’t be afraid to say that!
I make regular donations to the Democratic Party in Missouri. As of now my donations are on hold until we hear some reasonable explanation.
Healthcare reform is basic to being a democratic politician. To hold out at this point in the debate is either overly timid or overly conservative. In either case I am reluctant to continue supporting Gov Nixon.
but I was also disturbed to note that Nixon spoke at Arrow Rock in September of last year–on the campaign trail–about having the DNR rein in CAFOs near historic sites and state parks. But he has not put pressure on Chris Koster to drop the appeal about buffer zones.