February 25, 2010 4:53 PM

GOP Rep. Bill Cassidy: "Cost Containment" Key to Health Care Reform

By
Spencer Magloff
Topics
Washington Unplugged
On "Washington Unplugged" Thursday, Rep. Bill Cassidy, R-La ., told Bob Shieffer that "Republicans were more sensitive to interest of cost" concerning health care reform than Democrats, and that the American people want "cost containment."

His comments came during the lunch break of President Obama's health care summit that has proved long, passionate, and at times contentious. Cassidy was part of House Republican leader John Boehner's 17-member "Truth Squad" designed to rebut Democratic claims during the summit.

Cassidy, a doctor, adamantly expressed his distaste for higher premiums he believes will come from the proposed Senate health care legislation.

"Sure, when the president says cost will go up 10-13 percent, but that's because you have a richer package, Republicans will reply and say wait a second, the very fact that it goes up 10-15 percent means that people won't be able to afford it."

The issue of premium increases was a key point of contention during the first part of the summit.

Shieffer also asked Cassidy about the back-and-forth between Mr. Obama and McCain over the transparency of the 2,400 page health care bill.

During the summit, McCain accused the Democrats of backroom deals in creating the health care bill, reneging on Mr. Obama's promises during the 2008 campaign. Mr. Obama replied by telling McCain "We're not campaigning anymore, the election ' s over."

"I'm reminded of that every day," McCain replied. (Read more on the exchange.>)

Cassidy said that McCain's comments were justified. "The American people wanted to be involved during the process," he said. "This has not been."

Watch just the interview with Cassidy above, or watch the whole special edition of "Washington Unplugged" below, which also includes CBS News' Mark Knoller, Politico's Mike Allen, the Washington Post's editorial writer Marc Thiessen and White House spokeswoman Linda Douglass.




"Washington Unplugged" appears live on CBSNews.com each weekday at 12:30 p.m. ET. Click here to check out previous episodes.

More Coverage of the Health Care Summit:

Live Blog: Hotsheet Tracked the Whole Summit Point by Counterpoint
Marc Ambinder: The Summit was a Tie -- And That's Good News for GOP
Reaction and Analysis on Washington Unplugged
Fact Check: The Health Care Summit
Obama Urges Republicans to Do Some "Soul Searching"
Obama: Americans Aren't "Sultans" Who Can Afford Great Health Coverage
Few Women at Health Care Summit
Obama to McCain: "The Election's Over"
All Hotsheet Coverage

Add a Comment
by nmamich May 11, 2010 8:26 PM EDT
The economics of this "health reform" make perfect sense, if you remember that the #1 killer in the US is healthcare mistreatment.

If you encourage 35 million more poor people to overuse the current health care system, it is a fact they will die at an earlier age. Incorrect & conflicting drugs, lethal septic infections from hospital visits, and unintended side effects will help do in this particular demographic.

That means less social security paid out. The budget will balance with fewer freeloaders. The Democrats are geniuses!!!

My hat is off to them!
Reply to this comment
by noloyalisti February 25, 2010 6:57 PM EST
Let's just do universal single payer. That will save money, improve quality and cover everyone. All at the same time. Get profit out of the equation, it is immoral to withhold health care from your fellow humans.
Reply to this comment
by myopinionpal February 25, 2010 6:31 PM EST
Cut all members of congress pay to about $38.000, and cut out their public option taxpayer funded insurance so that they have to live like ordinary americans. Why should republicans care about helping anyone when they are well taken care of by the american people.
Reply to this comment
by sjc_1 February 25, 2010 6:21 PM EST
The Republican way of "controlling costs" is don't get sick, but if you do, die quickly.
Reply to this comment
by ribbie014 February 25, 2010 5:57 PM EST
The Republican't version of engaging the public is shouting down legitimate questions and criticism of their lack of alternatives at Democratic town halls and holding their own Town Halls with carefully screened audiences. Whenever they have to function in an open environment, they have nothing. It's tough when someone is calling you out on your lies. Death panels-right.
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