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October 27, 2009 3:52 PM

Judd Gregg: Senate Dems Can Do What They Want on Health Care

Posted by Michelle Levi


Sen. Judd Gregg (R-N.H.) said if Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Republican Leader Mitch McConnell would cooperate to have an honest debate on health care plans, Reid might get the sixty votes he needs for a floor vote on “Washington Unplugged” Tuesday.

Gregg told moderator Bob Schieffer, just who will support Reid remains unseen but he is “absolutely sure” health care reform will be passed this year. “The president has put his entire presidency on the line on this issue and the Democratic Party which has a supermajority in both houses has the ability to do what it wants. "

Gregg argued that the so called public option, included in Reid’s health care plan announced yesterday , “fundamentally undermines the quality of health care” Americans would receive and “chills innovation” -- using the example of “rationed” health insurance in England.

“People will inevitably lose their private insurance…it is very hard to compete with the government,” he said.

The Republican senator praised his colleague Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) who proposed an alternative ammendment which allows individuals to opt out of their company’s insurance plans and pick their own private insurer.

As a co-signer of the Wyden bill, Gregg said, “there are ways to do this in a bi-partisan manner but the public plan is not one of the ways to do it. That would be destructive.”

Later in the program, Wyden argued that his “Healthy Americans Act” provides choice for consumers. “It is not going to be political security for members of the United States Senate to tether people to force them to stay with stuff they don’t like.”

Watch the full program above which also includes interviews with Bill Cosby and Jerry Seinfeld.

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




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Judd Gregg ,
Ron Wyden
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Washington Unplugged
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by stn_sage October 27, 2009 11:18 PM EDT
Oh, really?! Just like that, huh?
C'mon! The GOP has taken a policy commitment AGAINST a public health care plan, but they'd turn around and support it...what, if approached, NICELY?! WHAT?

Are we really supposed to believe that?! Geez!
Between Pelosi and Gregg, it IS apparent that members of BOTH parties think the typical American is an outright idiot!!
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by piBen11 October 27, 2009 5:57 PM EDT
For goodness sake, Republicans and some Conservative Democrats who often argue that the "public plan" will eventually dominate the insurance markets if enacted are missing the point. What economic principle supports this "domineering theory?" Is the Public Post Office dominating the package courier markets over UPS and FedEX? Of course not. In fact, the general understanding is that both UPS and FedEX are performing far better than the Public Post Office financially. Indeed, the Post Office vs UPS and FedEx example may not paint a fair picture of the insurance markets the "public option" created agent will play in. But, a strong case can be made about their close similarity. In the case of the Post Office *** UPS & FedEX, the playing field is not leveled. For example, the Post Office can not raise the price of a stamp without prior approval by the Government, while both UPS & FedEx can raise their prices at will. But one very important thing the Post Office does exclusively is to present a cheaper alternative to Consumers. A lot of people often makes the mistake of thinking that the services provided by the Post Office are inferior relative to those of UPS & FedEX. However, what these people fail to figure into the equation is that the services UPS/FedEX provide are far more expensive for the average customers. In fact, in most cases, the arrival times of packages from the various Couriers are approximately the same if not shorter for the "post office." In any case, the presence of the Post Office in this markets completes the package Courier markets. That implies that the presence of the Post Office in these markets makes it more efficient than without it. This is exactly what the institution to be created by the "public plan" will do for the Health Insurance markets if passed.

After all, the "public plan" is only a vehicle to creating an effective alternative to the existing Insurance Companies. It is only an option, which by definition, is an offering or a contract that gives one the ability but not the obligation to participate in a venture if eventually one deems it unnecessary. Undoubtedly, what the current Insurance Companies are most fearful of is the potential effects of the presence of an abled-competitor like a large Non-Profit Insurer resulting from this "public option" plan. Temporarily or otherwise, the "Plan" will impact the behaviors of the Insurance Companies. Right now, these Companies have market power, which they use to raise prices and disenroll paying Customers at will. As a consequence of the "Plan," these Companies will think twice before engaging in strong-arm behaviors. So, it wil be foolish for any Senator or Congressman or for that matter, any intelligent Citizen to oppose the inclusion of the "public option." It's surely a good thing to have.

On the other hand, what is so wrong with one Company amongst many in a market dominating the rest so long as it is produced out of a well regulated competitive environment?
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