Roland Burris recently said: "I will not vote for any reform legislation that fails to include a strong public option. I believe we cannot get meaningful reform without the real competition, lower costs, and accountability that a public option can provide."

But he is now on the verge of supporting a health care bill dictated by Joe Lieberman and Ben Nelson. It has no public option and requires millions of Americans to buy insurance from private corporations -- even if it is too expensive. It is a huge giveaway to giant corporations and an expansion of corporate power.

Our next grassroots steps will likely entail pressuring progressive senators to say they will block any final bill (after the House-Senate negotiations) unless it has a public option. But before we add Burris to the list of those who need pressure, we want the opinion of our Illinois members.

1) The public option is currently not in the Senate bill because Sen. Joe Lieberman threatened to block this bill from moving forward. 

2) The PCCC and Democracy for America released recent polling that made big news nationally. It showed:

• Voters want the public option: 59% to 31%.  
• Mandates without a public option: 33% to 56%. A voter revolt against the current Senate plan.
• Democratic voters support primary challengers to members of Congress who vote for a bill without a public option: 84% to 8%.
• If a public option does not pass Congress, 33% of Democrats will be less likely to turn out to vote in the 2010 general election, while 22% of Republicans will be more likely.
• Voters say Obama didn't fight Lieberman hard enough: 63% to 29%. (Democrats: 87%)
• 81% of Democrats want Joe Lieberman stripped of his powerful committee chairmanship.