This is a hopeful sign - Chuck Schumer says if Republicans want to bring health reform up for a vote in the Senate, Democrats will force a number of votes on provisions the American people support.

“Mitch McConnell has the right to offer an amendment,” Schumer said of the Senate Minority Leader, who has vowed to force a vote on the repeal. “If he does, if the Republicans offer an amendment on the floor, then we will require them to vote on the individual protections in the bill that are very popular, and that even some of the new Republican House Members have said they support.

“Are Republicans going to vote ‘no’ on a provision to maintain the donut hole benefits so that seniors pay less for prescription drugs? Are they going to vote against the ability of 21- to 26-year-olds to stay on their parents’ health care? Are they going to vote to repeal … the free check-ups that seniors on Medicare get which save billions of dollars in prevention?”

That’s what I’m talking about. The Democrats can’t just play dead on this. Many of the provisions in the health reform law are wildly popular; Democrats can’t let Republicans pretend those provisions don’t exist. They need to do exactly what Schumer is saying — force the Republicans to acknowledge the full impact of what they’re voting for.

Of course, I can’t ignore that this feels very much like last year, when I was searching for good news that Senate Dems would stand up for the public option. I’m glad Schumer said that, but I’ve been disappointed before. Ultimately, I’ll believe it when I see it.

[Via Political Wire]