"SCHULTZ: Why has this taken so long? And I`m excited that this vote is finally going to take place and the headcount is just about completed. But this whole stalling that the Republicans have done, and all of the badmouthing of the public option that has taken place has really stalled the process, hasn`t it?
STABENOW: Ed, this really has been stalled. And, you know, I first want to start, though, by saying, don`t forget, 40 Republicans look like they`re going to vote in lockstep, not even to debate the health care bill. Business as usual for the insurance companies seems to be what the Republicans, the majority of Republicans, are saying.But they have taken what is now -- I believe we`re going into the 37th week, and we have over 33 weeks of the 37 in which they have been filibustering, blocking, stalling. Not just health care. Four weeks on unemployment compensation to try to get an extension for families, when it could have taken one day.SCHULTZ: And I`m sure we`re going to see this when it gets to the floor, all the amendments and the stall tactics that are going to take place.STABENOW: No question. No question.SCHULTZ: Liberals in this country feel that the Democrats have made a lot of concessions to get to this point. How confident are you that a lot of the good stuff that`s been taken out is going to be amended in this final bill on the floor?STABENOW: Ed, this really is an incredible step forward for the country. What we have in front of us is a bill that will save lives and save money.It`s going to strengthen Medicare. It`s going to stop insurance abuses. And in the end, it`s going to save jobs, which, as you know, is incredibly important to me.There are things in here we`ve been trying to do for years, to create a health care bill of rights so the insurance companies can`t continue to do what they do with people who are paying in all the time and don`t get what they are paying for. Strengthening Medicare, which we know needs to happen for our seniors. That is in here, no matter what.You know I`m a strong proponent of a public option as one of the choices for people that currently don`t have insurance today.SCHULTZ: Yes.STABENOW: And that`s very important. But it`s one of a number of things. And for the first time, what is the most important thing about this debate? America is now debating, and is very close, to saying we believe every American should be able to find affordable insurance in this great country."
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