Top Democrats Stand Firm on Public Option

Washington Post: Lawmakers Predict Health Care Bill Could Lose Several Votes Without It

(Washingtonpost.com)  This story was written by By Anne E. Kornblut and Perry Bacon Jr..

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Several leading Democrats voiced concern Monday about an apparent White House shift on health-care reform, objecting to signals from senior administration officials that they would abandon the idea of a government-run insurance plan if it lacked the backing to pass Congress.

In the Senate, where negotiations are now focused, John D. Rockefeller IV (W.Va.) said that a public option, as the plan has become known, is "a must." Sen. Russell Feingold (Wis.) said that "without a public option, I don't see how we will bring real change to a system that has made good health care a privilege for those who can afford it."

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (Calif.) said that the plan will be included in whatever bill is voted on in the House. "There is strong support in the House for a public option," she said, though she did not demand that the administration express support for the idea.

One Democrat predicted that without the provision, the bill could lose as many as 100 votes in the chamber.

President Obama had pushed a nonprofit, government-sponsored insurance plan as an alternative to existing insurance companies, saying that a public program would compete with the industry and help reduce costs. Over the weekend, he minimized the importance of a public option, saying at an event in Colorado on Saturday that it was "just one sliver" of his overall effort to reduce health-care costs and expand coverage.

More coverage of Health Care Reform

Two of his top advisers on Sunday reiterated that he is open to alternatives to a government plan, setting off a wave of reports about a White House shift and frustrating senior advisers.

White House press secretary Robert Gibbs, speaking to reporters returning to Washington from Phoenix, said Obama has not shifted his position, suggesting that the president's support for a public option had never been absolute. "The goals are choice and competition. His preference is a public option. If there are other ideas, he's happy to look at them," Gibbs said. White House officials repeatedly denied that there was any new positioning on the provision, accusing the media of fabricating developments.

Three House committees and one Senate panel have passed versions of health-care legislation that contain a public option.

White House officials sought to reassure Democratic groups and activists that they did not intend to rule out the public option, a position they are able to maintain, for now, because no final version of the bill exists. White House Deputy Chief of Staff Jim Messina told some groups involved in the effort that the administration's positions have not changed.

Democrats close to the White House said there is increasing pessimism about getting two Republicans who have been at the center of Senate Finance Committee negotiations - Charles E. Grassley (Iowa) and Mike Enzi (Wyo.) - to back the compromise measure that is expected to emerge from that panel. Those Democrats noted that dropping the public option may be necessary simply to win the votes of conservative Democrats such as Sen. Ben Nelson (Neb.), who has been wary of the provision.

John Sweeney, president of the AFL-CIO, said the union will continue pressing House and Senate negotiators to keep a public plan. "The only way to force real competition on the insurance companies is a strong public plan option," he said.

Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.), a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, said Obama could lose up to 100 Democratic votes in the House by abandoning the option.

"I know the trade the administration made is they have gotten two or three senators, but they have lost dozens of House members," Weiner said.
Democracy for America, a grass-roots group started by former Vermont governor and 2004 presidential candidate Howard Dean and now run by his brother Jim, sent an e-mail to its supporters declaring "a healthcare bill without a public option is D.O.A. in the House. Period." Leaders of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, a group of the most liberal House members, threatened to oppose the bill if it does not include a public option.

Read more coverage on the public option at CBSNews.com's Political Hotsheet:

Congressmen Stand up For Public Option

Dean: Public Option "Linked" to Reform


Conservative Democrats in the House and Senate have been vague about whether they will support such an option, and the office of Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (Nev.) made a statement Monday that largely echoed the White House language.

Reid "supports a public option in part because of the necessity to keep insurance companies in check," said spokesman Jim Manley. "However, he recognizes there are different proposals on the table that could accomplish that goal."

[signseeker1717]

CBS, go ahead and delete my posts - the posts I was responding to are all gone, and mine are now out of context. Thanks.

[mikevetman]

They dems have ruined California, New York, Chicago. theydid such a good job there, the machine wants to see how far they can go before getting shut down. Rush rush rush, hurry hurry hurry, we need it now. While they are spending other peoples hard warned money and our kids money and their kids money they have to rush it along because they will hopefully not be in office in a year.

Term limits might end some if this insanity. Public service is dead in Washington. It is self preservation and corruption.

[ianlou]

I'm from the Detroit area, I call my comunity a far flung eastern suburb of Chicago. Chicago ruined? Detroit is ruined. Chicago is what all American cities should strive to be. I'm guessing you have never spent any time in the tallest city in the world.

[ianlou]

I keep hearing Republicans scream that Obama is trying to change our lives with social experiments:

Let examine some of the resent Republican social experiments and results:

GOP Experiment:
Lets Off-shore American Manufacturing Jobs to Increase Corporate Profits and cut Product costs to consumers.

Result:
Massive unemployment, cut wages, fewer product bought, corporate earnings down.

GOP Experiment:
Lets go to war with Iraq, we?ll fabricate the reasons and cram democracy down their thoughts until they realize our wisdom and thank us till kingdom-come.

Result: Where?s the Love and why are we still there and what did we get for 4000 American lives and a trillion dollars?

GOP Experiment:
Lets remove all regulation on corporate America and watch wealth and happiness shower all Americans through the magic of unfettered capitalism.

Result: Last years collapse of the banking, investment and insurance industry with Bernie Madoff as its poster boy. Energy scams like Enron and Kenny Boy Lay. Mortgage scams that created foreclosure rates not seen since the depression. The worst economic meltdown in 80 years.


Spare me with your ?Obama will ruin our lives? bit. The GOP already have.

[ianlou]

by DontBlameMeIVotedMccain August 18, 2009 9:43 AM EDT
I have an open mind to just not open enough to consider Obama any where near to a conservative....

If you voted for Bush because you thought he was a conservative, you and millions like you got duped.

Fiscal Responsibility, Less Government, protection of Constitutional Law, Protection of Individual's rights? Obama is as conservative as Dubya was without trying to be.

[endurorob]

onesword August 18, 2009 1:46 PM EDT
Listening and reading all the comments about health care reform. I do not see what harm in trying it out. Take it for a test drive.


This is a social program, you cannot just take it for a test drive. Like any other social program we have in this country they never end they just keep getting bigger. Once you start giving the man his daily fish it is difficult to take it back.

[onesword]

What if it was regulated and mandated by the individual state to which you live with the backing of federal gov't? Will that work? We have alot of states who programs that are being cut. Where is all the money going? We have a country full of criminals that are living on easy street and didn't have to lift a finger.

[onesword]

Listening and reading all the comments about health care reform. I do not see what harm in trying it out. Take it for a test drive. This is one of those situations where if you start the process all the kinks can be taken away and changes needed can take place. At the moment everyone that is privately insured through their employer are giving the insurance companies their private information. I do not see anything different if you apply for the gov't sponsored program.
People asking where is the money going to come from? Where is the money coming from now when the uninsured shows up at the emergency room? I am covered with my employer as well but in my opinion, the cost is still too high. Especially, when you have to pay co-pays for variety of services. Once or twice a year I may use my health insurance coverage. Where is the extra money I paid into it going? Why are people putting so much gloom and doom into this issue. If I did not use all the money I put into it year after year. I don't mind it being used to help someone else. Instead the money piling up into someone's bank account. The reform may also help our college graduates in the healthcare field to excel in their fields. Who knows what may happen if you do not try. Nothing beats a failure, than someone who tries.

[endurorob]

stn_sage August 18, 2009 12:22 PM EDT

It makes sense that they need to compete against a govt-sponsored health insurance program, OR they need to immediately be HIGHLY
regulated, OR, finally---NATIONALIZED!



Why don't you just go to the nearest rooftop and yell "I am a socialist and hate everything Amaerica stands for."

[rightbehind]

I was reading a post about if public health care goes through about massive layoffs in the health care industry. It was funny because if that happens all those former employees could get together and offer, "in home" health care at a much cheaper rate than the providers we have today. They don't have to drag the buildings along. Imagine that! Public health care now!!

[hclinton2012]

KILL THE WHOLE REFORM BILL! I don't trust any DumbOcrap, they leave language in the bill to add, amended or alter any bill, and they will add the "public Option" later when no one is watching?

[endurorob]

mary-miami August 18, 2009 12:16 PM EDT
Tell me, how would you right-wingers give everyone healthcare?


And there it is in nutshell. In case anyone missed it the operative word in that question is "give". The lefties would rather give a man a fish rather than teach him how to fish and there are more than enough out there willing to accept that given fish everyday. Once again you "Give a man a fish" crowd have no idea the damage you do.

[hclinton2012]

The Democrats never listen to those who vote them in office and still get re-elected? The Republicans that don't listen to the people who voted for them are put out of office in the next election?

Nancy Pelosi lost one election back in 1998, but she got the election outcome thrown out and claimed victory and the committee that verifies the election results in her district confirm her victory?

[hologram5]

Reply to some comments: I have been working since I was 15. I am now 43. So, now I do NOT have health insurance, I have an open mind but HAVE READ the reform bill and DO NOT like all the extra pork in it so I am AGAINST it. If they could come up with something that doesn't shove big gov down my throat then I would be ok with it. They are talking about having agents come to MY house to vaccinate my kids? Are you kidding me? You first, take the shot in front of me and I'll think about it. Don't tell me how to raise my kids when you cannot even keep your own followers inline. TAKE A HIKE!

[endurorob]

rightbehind August 18, 2009 12:06 PM EDT


Nope! The news I was watching said republicans. Basically the majority of the public doesn't trust them with anything. Might end up with credit default swaps or something. As for the remaining republicans you are right about most of those that live in the south may survive but doubtful. As for the cash for clunkers last I seen of that was voters looking for hammers to become federal glass breakers. Stimulus cash. Got new pavement on my street and it sure is nice to drive on. Like Glass!!



Don't know where you get your incorrect info from but Americans now trust repubs over dems on almost all issues now and in the past couple fo weeks the dems have lost the trust battle in health care.

[endurorob]

rightbehind August 18, 2009 11:41 AM EDT


Good question, Why do the masses have to pay for all those little airports they don't use?



Ask Obama. His stimulus is spending millions of dollars on these useless airports.

[endurorob]

rightbehind August 18, 2009 11:59 AM EDT
The past elections say otherwise. Actually republicans have had a really bad run since their IT Guru died. The same one they were questioning about the 6000 votes for bush in a district with less than 1000 registered voters in Ohio. Rumor has it he flew into a flag pole. Last act of justice or last act of defiance I don't know. Look it up. Do a search for, "republican IT Guru dies in plane crash". Shortly after his death republicans were being thrown out of office as fast as the election process would allow.



I really doubt his death had much to do with the losses by the repubs. More likely it was the war. The dems radical agenda will change that. You need to win independents to win the elections and with this agenda they are pushing independents away.

[TheMasses2016]

Why do the masses have to pay for all those little airports they don't use?
------------------------

I didn't pay for anything.

Get your facts straight.

[trapbreaking]

54% SAY PASSING NO HEALTHCARE REFORM BETTER THAN PASSING CONGRESSIONAL PLAN

Saturday, August 15, 2009

Thirty-five percent (35%) of American voters say passage of the bill currently working its way through Congress would be better than not passing any health care reform legislation this year. However, a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that most voters (54%) say no health care reform passed by Congress this year would be the better option.

[trapbreaking]

Canadian Health Officials: Our Universal Health Care Is Sick, Private Insurance Should Be Welcomed 

Monday, August 17, 2009 

Dr. Anne Doig, the incoming president of the Canadian Medical Association, said her country?s health care system is sick and imploding, the Canadian Press reported, We know there must be change, Doig said in a recent interview. We are all running flat out, we are all just trying to stay ahead of the immediate day-to-day demands.

Canadas universal health care system is not giving patients optimal care, Doig added. When her colleagues from across the country gather at the CMA conference in Saskatoon Sunday, they will discuss changes that need to be made, she said.
We all agree the system is imploding, we all agree that things are more precarious than perhaps Canadians realize, she said.

One of the major complaints about the Canadian health care system is waiting times, whether for a specialist, major elective surgery, such as hip replacement, imaging procedures such as MRI or Cystoscopy, or specialized treatments, such as radiation for breast cancer. Studies by the Commonwealth Fund found that 57% of Canadians reported waiting 4 weeks or more to see a specialist; 24% of Canadians waited 4 hours or more in the emergency room.

An article in the Canadian Medical Association Journal stated, Saskatchewan is under fire for having the longest waiting time in the country for a diagnostic MRIa whopping 22 months.

According to the Fraser Institute, treatment time from initial referral by a GP through consultation with a specialist to final treatment, across all specialties and all procedures (emergency, non-urgent, and elective), averaged 17.7 weeks.

[endurorob]

rightbehind August 18, 2009 11:49 AM EDT



You keep blaming the repubs for this bill not being passed whenthe dems have a supermajority and could pass it any time the want. The problem is that moderate and consefvative dems don't want to pass it because they know they will be subject to the wrath of their constituents if they do.

[endurorob]

rightbehind August 18, 2009 11:36 AM EDT
What planet do you live on?? Republicans are being thrown out of office as fast as the election process will allow. They have 18 more senate seats on the ballot this next coming round with less than a 30% approval rating. My guess is they will be lucky to hold 8 of those seats. LOL!! But you are correct, the public option is the perfect litmus test of all of Congress! Bring on the Vote!!


That approval rating is for all congress not just republicans and the latest polls show more people will vote for their incumbent republican that democrat. And when people think about the fact that their dem incumbent voted on that ridiculous stimulus without seeing it and voted on the cash for clunkers against their wishes they will likely be votes out.

[rightbehind]

That approval rating is for all congress not just republicans and the latest polls show more people will vote for their incumbent republican that democrat. And when people think about the fact that their dem incumbent voted on that ridiculous stimulus without seeing it and voted on the cash for clunkers against their wishes they will likely be votes out.


Nope! The news I was watching said republicans. Basically the majority of the public doesn't trust them with anything. Might end up with credit default swaps or something. As for the remaining republicans you are right about most of those that live in the south may survive but doubtful. As for the cash for clunkers last I seen of that was voters looking for hammers to become federal glass breakers. Stimulus cash. Got new pavement on my street and it sure is nice to drive on. Like Glass!!