Can One GOP Sen. Make a Difference on Health Care?

By: Stephanie Condon
Topics: Health Care

(AP)

The White House is reportedly giving special attention to the preferences of moderate Republican Sen. Olympia Snowe on the issue of health care, but it is unclear whether liberal members of Congress would be willing to accept her proposals.

As President Obama revs up his involvement in the health care debate, his administration is reportedly engaged in discussions with Snowe about her preference for a "trigger" option in health care reform. Under the "trigger" strategy, a government-sponsored health insurance plan, or "public option," would be "triggered" if the private health insurance industry did not meet certain accessability and affordability standards by a certain time.

In another sign the White House is trying to woo the support of Snow and possibly her moderate Republican colleague Sen. Susan Collins, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius will be in the state of Maine today to participate in a roundtable discussion about health care sponsored by the AARP and the Maine Women's Lobby. While there, she will release a report on the importance of health insurance reform for older women, according to reports.

CBS News' Chief Political Consultant, the Atlantic's Marc Ambinder, wrote Wednesday that the White House is spreading word of its discussions with Snowe so it can gauge how liberal House Democrats react to the idea of abandoning an immediate public option in favor of the "trigger."

Today on Washington Unplugged, Ambinder suggested that it could be a challenge to get House liberals to accept a trigger plan, since so many congressmen have already cemented their position on core health care reform issues like the public option.

"It's hard to see minds change," he said.

Still, Ambinder wrote Wednesday, "Obama's aides have believed that the 50-odd progressives in the House who are demanding a public option will get their jollies if they can pass a bill out of the House, and that they will be too afraid to oppose a bill that makes it out of a subsequent conference committee -- a bill that President Obama would specifically endorse."

Leaders in the House so far sound skeptical of the compromise. An aide to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told CBS News that they are not sure whether the president will endorse a trigger proposal, but Pelosi -- who firmly backs the public option -- will not.

Additionally, Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.), the Progressive Caucus leader on health care issues who is typically an ally of Mr. Obama, insisted today that she will only support a bill that enacts an immediate public option, the Hill newspaper reported.

"I will support nothing short of a robust public health insurance plan upon implementation, no triggers," she reportedly said.

Democratic Caucus Vice Chairman Xavier Becerra also reportedly insisted today that a strong public option is necessary to bring down the cost of insurance and improve access. Still, he said that House Democrats must now follow the president's lead, the Hill reported.

"We had a chance, over these last eight months, to try to shape a good bill for America," Becerra said. "Now I believe the president is going to weigh in, and tell us, 'This is now how we get this across the finish line.' And that's so very important."

More coverage of Health Care Reform

Stephanie Condon
Stephanie Condon is a political reporter for CBSNews.com.
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by Stop_the_crying September 4, 2009 11:54 AM EDT: NO NO NO NO trigger. Horse pucky. The only way to get thier attention is to do the pubic option. They can dance arround weather the trigger was pulled or not. Just do it.; Reply to this comment


by aldon61 September 4, 2009 9:24 AM EDT: Snow and Collins are both the type of republicans I identify with as the "old" republican party. Today, I am a RINO because of the extremism of the majority of the party. Good luck to senator Snow.; Reply to this comment


by jsd330 September 3, 2009 8:08 PM EDT: msha256 I'm not sticking up for Bush, but the problems at the VA have been there under Dems and Repubs both for at least 40 years that I know of. And it's at the bottom of this presidents list of things to get changed,Veterans are not important to politicians except for photo opertunities, As long as the VA budget remains under the DOD nothing will ever change.; Reply to this comment


by chuck-52 September 3, 2009 6:08 PM EDT: There is something surrealistic here.... focusing on health care while the economy is in the tank and the national debt is a horror movie ready to be filmed.
Lets use an old phrase coined by a famous democrat.
"It's the economy stupid."; Reply to this comment

by hologram5 September 3, 2009 3:30 PM EDT

Hey by stn_sage September 3, 2009 3:25 PM EDT:
If you are against that then come up with something better? Can you? It isn't easy but at least "THEY" are making an effort to clean things up. I take it you are happy with the cost of health care skyrocketing out of control? Give me a break...

Reply to this comment


by stn_sage September 3, 2009 10:47 PM EDT: hologram5:

I'd disagree with you on your assertion that it isn't easy to come up with solutions to the health care problem or anyone of these others!

I think relatively fair decisions could be made fairly quickly---IF---and it's a BIG if---politicians would STOP taking monies (campaign contributions) from business entities, and start doing their jobs representing the PUBLIC, and NOT corporate America!

We're supposed to be a government of, by, and for the people, but you'd NEVER know it! The system has been 'turned on it's head', it represents corporate America, now; the public is an afterthought at election time!

When Congress invests me with full authority to devise the solution, and agrees to carry it out, I'll be only so happy to do it, until then I EXPECT THEM TO EARN THEIR OVERPAID SALARIES AND DO THEIR JOBS!

And, look forward to voting them out of office next year! Cheers! :)


by misha256 September 4, 2009 8:30 AM EDT: by stn_sage September 3, 2009 10:47 PM EDT
...
And, look forward to voting them out of office next year! Cheers! :)

-----

Weren't these same predictions Karl Rove made 3 years ago and a year ago?

by stn_sage September 3, 2009 3:25 PM EDT

This member of the public will borrow the GOP mantra when responding to the question of whether or not I would support a 'trigger' option as part of the new health care bill:

NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO!

Any question about that answer?!

There are TOO MANY problems associated with a trigger mechanism! Such as at what level does it kick in, who decides, how much, for how long, what's the appeal process, on...and on...and on...

It's just ANOTHER tactic that will result in 'torpedoing' a comprehensive, health care bill with a public option! It is NOT acceptable!

Reply to this comment


by User_00000000002945496845 September 3, 2009 6:27 PM EDT: Ha ha! I thought the Limbaughricans said that they had health insurance reform all shut down.


by stn_sage September 3, 2009 10:30 PM EDT: speakinup23:
To an extent it already is, mister! Ever hear of Medicare or Medicaid?

What is killing health care is the usurious insurance rates being charged by the insurance companies. Who want huge guaranteed profits each year, but do everything they can to prevent paying out on a claim.
THEY, have taken it upon themselves to become de facto doctors in dictating what treatment a patient can and CANNOT have according to whether or not, THEY want to COVER the cost of that treatment!

One of a couple things has to happen: either the government sponsors government backed insurance (public option) OR the insurance industry
gets HIGHLY REGULATED, or if necessary, NATIONALIZED! But, the gouging or excessive charging of the public by the insurance industry HAS TO STOP!

No sector of the business community has an entitlement to destroy the economic health of the nation, either! And, it's past time that Congress recognize this, stop taking contributions from the insurance industries, and get our economic house in order!