That's what the Courage Campaign, Credo Mobile and Democracy for America are asking today. We are teaming up to urge Senator Feinstein to come out with a definitive statement in support of the public option.

The response you get on Senator Feinstein's position on the public option varies, depending on what staffer you get on the phone. Not true of Senator Boxer (from her campaign's blog) who isn't afraid to be clear about her support for the public option:

She laid out where she thinks these complex negotiations will lead and why it’s so important: “I do think we’ll have a public interest option at the end of the day because we have to contain the costs.” And “what is the best way to keep down the cost? I think it’s competition and I think a public interest plan will do just that.” Which is exactly why Boxer has long been a cosponsor of Sherrod Brown’s Senate resolution declaring that “any efforts to reform our Nation’s health care system should include as an option the establishment of a federally-backed insurance pool to create options for American consumers.”

With the Senate about to return from the August recess, it is crucial that Senator Feinstein take a firm stance on the public option and work to get it passed.

There are some rumors that she will be issuing a statement about the public option tomorrow. The best way to ensure that it happens is to keep the pressure up on Senator Feinstein. So sign the letter. Check the flip for the full email we sent out to our members today.

"This is the cause of my life -- new hope that we will break the old gridlock and guarantee that every American -- north, south, east, west, young, old -- will have decent, quality health care as a fundamental right and not a privilege." - Senator Ted Kennedy, speaking at the DNC convention, one year to the day before he passed away.

Dear Courage Campaign member --

With the passing of Senator Ted Kennedy, America has lost a legendary leader for social justice and equality.

As many people have expressed, the most significant tribute to Sen. Kennedy's life will be the passage of universal health care reform, including a strong public option.

As he battled brain cancer over the last year of his life, Sen. Kennedy passionately argued that every American should have access to the same health care coverage available to members of the U.S. Senate.

That's why the "Affordable Health Choices Act" -- sponsored by Sen. Kennedy and passed out of the Senate's Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee he chaired -- included a strong public option.

Now we need Sen. Dianne Feinstein to carry on the legacy of Sen. Kennedy and make a strong public statement for the public option. Click here now to sign a letter to Sen. Feinstein from the Courage Campaign, Democracy for America and CREDO Mobile and let her know that it's time to go public on the public option:

http://www.couragecampaign.org/GoPublic

Sen. Feinstein is one of the key swing votes in the Senate Democratic caucus. Other moderate Senators respect her views and follow her cues. If Sen. Feinstein expressed her strong public support for the public option, it would be a turning point in the health care reform effort -- showing other Senate Democrats that the public option is a position worthy of their support.

Sen. Barbara Boxer has made a public statement expressing her support for a public option. But Sen. Feinstein has been less forthcoming in public.

When Courage Campaign and Democracy for America members called Sen. Feinstein's office last month, several of our members were told that the Senator supported a public option -- available on the first day the legislation was enacted into law.

However, Sen. Feinstein has not taken the important step of expressing her support for the public option in a public forum, including speeches. And you will not find a statement of support for the public option on her web site, as a press release or in any other format.

As the Senate prepares to reconvene after the August recess, it's not enough for the Senator to direct her staff to speak on her behalf to constituents, while sidestepping the issue in public and to the press.

Now is the time for Sen. Feinstein to make a strong public statement in favor of the public option. Please click here to sign the letter to Sen. Feinstein from members of the Courage Campaign, Democracy for America and CREDO Mobile and ask her to go public -- before it's too late:

http://www.couragecampaign.org/GoPublic

After you have signed the letter linked above, you can add your own personal note to Sen. Feinstein.

Thank you for doing your part to carry on the cause of Sen. Kennedy's life at this critical time.

Julia Rosen
Online Political Director, Courage Campaign