House Leaders Duel Over Health Care

By: Jill Jackson
Topics: Health Care

(AP)

Top House Leadership drew lines in the sand on health care reform today as President Obama traveled to Green Bay, Wisconsin, for his own health care town hall meeting.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi made clear in her weekly press conference that the centerpiece of House Democrat's plan to reform health care is a public option. When asked if the speaker would support a proposal gaining momentum in the Senate to create a non-profit insurance entity instead of a government plan Pelosi said "not instead of a public option, no."

The insistence on a government health insurance option means any hope for Republicans and Democrats to finally work together on an issue of great importance to the country is waning rapidly.

In his own weekly media availability, House Minority Leader John Boehner said he's "opposed to a government option. Period." Boehner said a government-run healthcare plan would make going to the doctor like going to the DMV.

Republicans in both the House and Senate oppose a government option on the grounds that it would drive out private insurers. Republican have made their case for months that any time the government competes with business, government, with its endless resources and ability to change the rules, wins.

Pelosi said that the public plan should be a real competitor with the private sector and not have an unfair advantage. "When you say the words public option," Pelosi said, "you have to say right next to it level playing field."

Three House Democratic Chairmen are working on a health care reform bill together and hope to have a full draft in the next couple weeks. The issue that will likely get even thornier than what the public option looks like is how it will all be paid for.

Jill Jackson is a CBS News Capitol Hill producer.

Read More On Health Care Today

Health Care Reform Enters Critical Phase - CBSNews.com Examines The Status Of The Health Care Debate In Washington

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Jill Jackson
Jill Jackson is a CBS News senior political producer.
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by inesje88 June 15, 2009 1:33 AM EDT: We hide behind a fortress of denial if we think our elected officials who are bribed by corporations(take for an example Max Baucus and the large sums he received form the health care industry), are acting in the behalf of the average American. many of theose officials have been in DC for decades and not only are out of touch with main street, but believe they are the intitled ones, able to not represent those who elected them but take donations from the corporations they were sworn to oversee. They have become accustomed to the gravy train, even if it runs over the average American as it chugs along.

The present system is broken. To put more cash into it (premiums by employees and employers), is just as crazy as having The Federal Reserve print money for the US treasury out of nothing &employing the concept of usury on pretend loans. If we continue the present for profit health care system, it is estimated in 15-20 years that 100% of an average workers salary will be used to pay his monthly health insurance premium(not deductable, not co-pay).

We have been held hostage to the health care elite too long in this country. Right now, most Americans do not have choice of their doctors. The for profit health insurance companies dictate that. The health care industry spent over $35 million in lobbyist in just the first quarter of this year to fight true reform"Single Payer". They donated money to the people you and I elected to represent us to keep their domination alive. This money comes from premiums we pay for health care. Denials to consumers follow and doctors must hire a large staff to chase the insurance money. Our elected officials talk about human rights while thousands die yearly from lack of adequate health care and 60% of the bankruptcies in the USA are due to medical probelms,even with health insurance.

Now that many US citizens are loosing their jobs and health care they are turning to the military for jobs. How many jobs would be created with a single payer health care system? Millions. If this were to happen, how would we have recruit for citizens to fight for and then occupy, our ever expanding empire?

Corporations have no soul and I fear that many of our elected officials are the souless suits up on the hill. We have left the next generation with a huge debt by allowing Bernacke to run the prining presses 24/7. We owe it to the next generation to truly fixi health care (and not just putting a bandage on it), and inact Single Payer Health Care, everyone in, nobody out.; Reply to this comment


by Solarrays247 June 11, 2009 8:14 PM EDT: Amazing con job from our liberal socialist messiah! "You can keep your current plan and doctor"...yeah right, until your plan is forced out of business trying to compete with a welfare plan. Then, due to high taxes to pay for Obama-care, you will be forced to join the socialist plan. America, how many times are you going to be conned before you wake up?
Posted by TryTakingMyMoney at 5:01 PM : Jun 11, 2009

Oh, I think we have already been conned big time! Take a look at the following data, if you will:

Here's a rundown of all the money that the people who are blocking real reform in health care have received from the health care industry.

Arlen Specter (R-D- PA- $4,026,933)
Max Baucus (DLC- MT- $2,833,731)
Mitch McConnell (R-KY- $2,758,468)

And when you just go right to Big Insurance, the non-presidential candidates who got the biggest legalized bribes were the 7 senators who have been tasked with the job of killing single-payer:

Ben Nelson (DLC-NE- $1,196,799)
Max Baucus (DLC- MT- $1,184,113)
Joe Lieberman (DLC- CT- $1,036,302)
Arlen Specter (R-D- PA- $1,035,530)
Chuck Schumer (D-NY- $981,400)
Mitch McConnell (R-KY- $929,207)
Chuck Grassley (R-IA- $884,724)

Number of Americans without health insurance:

2000 = 42.6 million

2009 = 82 million; Reply to this comment


by TryTakingMyMoney June 11, 2009 8:01 PM EDT: Amazing con job from our liberal socialist messiah! "You can keep your current plan and doctor"...yeah right, until your plan is forced out of business trying to compete with a welfare plan. Then, due to high taxes to pay for Obama-care, you will be forced to join the socialist plan. America, how many times are you going to be conned before you wake up?; Reply to this comment


by Solarrays247 June 11, 2009 7:44 PM EDT: Furthermore, doctors have to consult with the government before certain proceedures are done and the patients are not the consideration for Washington's decisions.
Posted by joule18 at 12:18 PM : Jun 11, 2009

And furthermore, my doctors have to consult with my health insurance before most procedures are done, and try to prove to me that the patient's welfare is foremost in the minds of most health insurance company CEO's! LOL

Please do yourself a favor and do some research. It is not that difficult to uncover the real facts. You are going to have to view the big picture, actually.; Reply to this comment


by Solarrays247 June 11, 2009 7:41 PM EDT: Too many people think that they health care they have now will last forever and don't seem to realize that their providers would drop them in a heart beat tomorrow if it would save a nickel.
Posted by SugrDaddy at 12:19 PM : Jun 11, 2009

Not if you pay your premiums on time or didn't lie on the application..
Posted by whymayiask at 12:25 PM : Jun 11, 2009

Your statement is untrue, whymayiask!! Try googling regarding lawsuits against health insurance companies dropping clients, and then being sued as a result. I guarantee that you will uncover some pretty sickening scenarios!

The facts are out there for anyone who is willing to do your own research, or you can continue to parrot the talking heads!; Reply to this comment


by rhs648 June 11, 2009 7:04 PM EDT: Ban for-profit health care altogether.
Posted by nofoolling

That is not the American way. Capitalism is the American way and has worked better than other systems. Talk to those living in socialist countries. Britain's unemployment runs around 10% in the best of times.; Reply to this comment


by scottyusa June 11, 2009 6:54 PM EDT: This is beginning to smell like another government takeover this time healthcare. We should have another czar soon. Pelosi hasn't got an active brain cell in her body.; Reply to this comment


by babooph June 11, 2009 6:16 PM EDT: Public plan is DEAD -no lobbyists for the politicians & propagandists-massive healthcare rip off to continue-MULTI million $ salaries for its execs protected by lobbyists-one more nail in the coffin of the middle class.; Reply to this comment


by nofoolling June 11, 2009 5:36 PM EDT: Republicans in both the House and Senate oppose a government option on the grounds that it would drive out private insurers. Republican have made their case for months that any time the government competes with business, government, with its endless resources and ability to change the rules, wins.

So in the opinion of the Reps, its better to let parasitic insurance companies profit outrageously at the expense of those in misery.

Ban for-profit health care altogether.; Reply to this comment


by nikosk11 June 11, 2009 4:58 PM EDT: Does that make sense to you? I know exactly what I am talking about.
Posted by whymayiask at 12:23 PM : Jun 11, 2009

You wish.; Reply to this comment