Optimizing McCain--Free and Easy Widgets!

Obama Raps WydenCare; Merkley Cmte Bill Gets Great CBO Score
Two interesting and potentially game-changing happenings went down yesterday, both of which would seem to be positives for the drive to see a full and robust public option (FRPO) included in any health care reform bill that passes Congress. Plus I've got news of a demonstration in Portland that goes even beyond that, and continues to press for action on a single-payer plan. First, the President made front page news in The Oregonian this morning, by commenting at some length on the health care bill being carried by Senator Ron Wyden. Obama was as usual polite and mostly gl

Merkley Answers FRPO Questions Wyden Won't, On KGW
Oregon does have one Senator who's willing to come out and stake his claim for a full and robust public option (FRPO)--junior Senator Jeff Merkley. In this video recorded today at Pioneer Square outside KGW's new studios there, Merkley affirms his support for a public option, one that competes directly with private insurance and cuts costs using Medicare-style bargaining rules with providers. He also takes time to parry some of the built-in skepticism of his interviewer, who seems awfully concerned for the health of private insurers (as opposed to say, the insured or those who would like to be). Watch the video, below:

Wyden Stonewalls on Public Option Questions
Two weeks ago today, we joined with Dr. Howard Dean in asking Oregonians to stand with him and petition their Senators for a full and robust public option (which I call FRPO for short). Oregon is one of the key states in building support for a FRPO, given Senator Ron Wyden's reticence to fully back a FRPO that would directly compete against his own health care bill, which does not include one. A couple of days later Health Care for America Now began running ads asking constituents in a number of states contact their representatives asking for a FRPO as well. Wyden

Homeless Update: HUD Shows Empty Pockets, Sit-Lie Hangs On?
Two stories that likely deserve their own post, but as we've covered both here before, and both are updates connected to the ongoing homeless struggle in Portland, we'll combine them. (Also in common is the strong coverage of the issue by the Street Roots newspaper and blog.)Freshest first: we've received our answer to the campaign seeking emergency funding for hundreds of Oregonian low-income renters currently using Section 8 vouchers to stay in their homes--but who aren't scheduled to do so for much longer, due to overextended assistance budgets that threaten to alm

This Week's KPOJ/Spanning the State Limerick Challenge
(Play along with the "Lost Limerick" at p3.)