Premier California state blog Calitics joined the Firedoglake whip of the House of Representatives today, exhorting their readers and members to contact California’s congressional delegation to ask for a promise to vote against any health care package that excludes a public option.

In a post summarizing progressive efforts to corral Dianne Feinstein on behalf of a public plan, David Dayen writes:

Health care reform is the make-or-break issue of this year, and Dianne Feinstein needs to hear from every one of her constituents about it.

(In addition, Firedoglake is whipping the public option in the House, with the goal of finding 40 Democrats who will commit to opposing any bill that DOESN’T have a strong public option contained in it. Presuming that all Republicans will vote against any health care reform, this would have the effect of changing the incentives in Congress, currently tilted toward what the most conservative elements of the Democratic coalition would accept, and move them instead toward what the liberal base of the coalition will demand in exchange for their vote. There are lots of California Democratic House members on their list, so head over and get to the phones!)

Use the FDL Whip Count Tool right here!