Bipartisan Support Only With Co-Op

Face the Nation: Senators Grassley and Conrad Both Agree Public Option Won't Pass Senate

(CBS)  Senator Charles Grassley, the leading Republican in the Senate Finance Committee, said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi should reconsider requiring a public option in health care legislation if she seeks any Republican support in Congress on "Face the Nation" Sunday.

Grassley, R-Iowa, again touted the benefits of a health care cooperative which would arguably provide competition for large insurance companies without running them into the ground, as some legislators argue, a public option would.

"If you have a public option and you eventually get to only one option then there is no choices," he said.

Senator Kent Conrad, a North Dakota Democrat, has been on the record saying that if there is a public option in health care legislation it cannot pass the Senate.

"It is very clear that in the United States Senate the public option does not have the votes," Conrad said Bluntly. "If we have to get to sixty votes we cannot get there with the public option."

Special Section: Latest News on Health Care Reform

The membership controlled co-op alternative is "the only proposal that has bipartisan support and therefore going to get 60 votes," he argued.

Moderator Bob Schieffer asked about the possibility of a reconciliation - which would allow the Senate bypass the requirement of 60 votes.

Conrad said that while it was an option, "it does not work very well" and the strategy was designed for deficit reduction.

"It never contemplated substantive legislation," he said. "What you are left with is Swiss cheese for legislation."

Grassley lamented that while President Obama has said to him she wants bipartisan support for his health care proposal, "you get conflicting signals out of the White House."

He said Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and President Obama have fallen on opposite sides on whether a public option was necessary.

Appearing later on "Face the Nation", former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean said the public option remained the best way to bring viable health care alternatives to Americans, adding the the co-ops would just be "political compromise".

Schieffer also asked Grassley why he alluded to the health care legislation including a clause which would "pull the plug on Grandma" during a town hall meeting in Iowa last week.

The senator said he was responding to a constituent’s question.

"The specific language I used was language that the president had used in Portsmouth," Grassley said.

He said his constituents are concerned that the issue of end of life counseling is being connected with a government run option.

"You are scaring a lot of people," he said. "I know that the Pelosi bill doesn’t intend to do that but that is where it leads people to."

Finally, Grassley admitted that end of life counseling options "will not do that."

He quickly asserted that "doctors giving you some advice at the end of life" comes with an $8 billion dollar price tag.

Neither senator would offer Schieffer a number on how much health care legislation costs could be pared down.

[mxyptlk]

Bob, I wish you would have pushed Sen. Grassley more on his town hall comments. Though I have to say his response was somewhat incoherent. But when he said his constituents were scared of the end-of-life counseling provision, I wish you had asked him why he didn't use the town hall to educate his constituents on the truth, and why he didn't tell them that a similar provision is already covered by Medicare and that in fact he voted for it.

[jokr8790]

We have to gear up now to elect Democrats who believe in single payer universal health care. Rethuglicans who are up for election must be replaced to give President Obama a solid majority in both houses. That is the only way we will get a strong workable public option. Rethuglians have one primary goal now and that is to stop any meaningful reform of the health care system and leave it the way it is. That way the fact cat CEO's of the health care industry can continue to get their bloated corporate bonuses and the rethuglians can continue to get "campaign contributions."

[swin5]

I remember the day a man was shot here in Pittsburgh. The ambulance drove right past the government-run VA hospital and took the injured man to the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Who needs government run health care?

[chonder2]

Kiss my Grassley! He's just another Healthcare Corporate Meatpuppet sent out by his masters to...LIE, LIE OFTEN, LIE BIG!!

[cool1207]

nothing to do with republic or dems parties, the truth about health care is the government gave tax deduction for health care for employees. Results is the people who has no job have no advantage and government help. the right thing to do is open up the tax deduction for all people, that doesn't matter they have job or not. Government created problem and now they try to fix.

[trapbreaking]

MORE DISAPPROVE THAN APPROVE OF OBAMA ON HEALTHCARE

Forty-nine percent of Americans currently say they disapprove of President Barack Obama's handling of healthcare policy, while 43% say they approve, similar to views expressed in mid-July.

.Gallup

Don't like Gallup? Here is Rasmussen:

SUPPORT FOR CONGRESSIONAL HEALTH CARE REFORM FALLS TO NEW LOW

Health Care Reform plan proposed by President Obama and congressional Democrats has fallen to a new low as just 42% of U.S. voters now favor the plan. That?s down five points from two weeks ago and down eight points from six weeks ago.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that opposition to the plan has increased to 53%, up nine points since late June.

Another one:

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

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. 

.
Yet Another one, this one from NBC out today:

A plurality believes Obamas health plan would worsen the quality of health care, a result that is virtually unchanged from last months NBC/Wall Street Journal poll. What is more, only four in 10 approve of the presidents handling of the issue, which also is unchanged from July.

And a majority 54 percent is more concerned that the government will go too far in reforming the nations health care system, while 41 percent is more worried that the reform will not do enough to lower costs and cover the uninsured.

[endurorob]

The country still does not know what Mr Obama is advocating. Much of the time, apparently, neither does he.


Of course he doesn't know what he is advocating. There is no final bill and what there is he probably has not read. All he knows is he wants to tell everyone he wants a bi partisan bill but Pelosi tells him we need a public option which not only will not get bi partisan suppport it will not get the full support of the dem party.

[trapbreaking]

Time to sever healthcare constraints

By Clive Crook
Barack Obama?s presidency is in trouble. Support among centrist and swing voters continues to leak away, his signature domestic initiative is in jeopardy and the prevailing theme of US political commentary is shifting from hope and expectation to explaining what went wrong. Mr Obama?s cool is being tested in a way that few predicted ? not by force of circumstance, but by the results of his own political bungling.

The paradox is that the White House has tripped up over healthcare reform ? an initiative that the country both wants and needs, and which was at the centre of Mr Obama?s stunningly successful election campaign. For this, the administration has no one to blame but itself. Its own mistakes have brought it to this perilous point.

It is not too late to correct these errors, wrest a substantial and much-needed reform from the mess of current difficulties and emerge with approval ratings fully restored. But for all its brainpower, this White House is a slow learner, and one wonders.

The selling of healthcare reform has been marked from the start by indecision, both on substance and on tactics, and by an extraordinary lack of clarity. The country still does not know what Mr Obama is advocating. Much of the time, apparently, neither does he.

Since the congressional recess began this month, Mr Obama has been on the road to sell a plan that does not yet actually exist. Rival bills are in the works and the final result will quite likely resemble none of them. Meanwhile, the president states and restates fundamentally incompatible goals ? universal coverage, higher quality, lower costs ? as if mere commitment to those aims should be enough to satisfy sceptics. He says he wants a bipartisan solution, then defaults to left-liberal talking-points about the scheming of Republicans, the tyranny of special interests and the wickedness of insurance companies. It is a complete shambles.

The recent confusion over the ?public option? ? a government-run insurance scheme to be offered alongside private insurance ? encapsulates the problem.

The left of the Democratic party says reform is not worth having without the public option. Why? Because they see a government-run alternative as the thin end of a wedge that will move the system towards public insurance for all ? something most Americans do not want

[salmoc44]

CP301 August 23, 2009 4:05 PM EDT
"I mean, you as usual can't get your facts straight. The republicans were in charge of the government from 2003 to 2006. Where'd you get the idea they controlled it for 8 years? Did you forget the democrats had the senate until 2003 and that the democrats had both houses in 2007-2008"

After the 2000 election, the Senate was divided evenly between the parties, with Republicans retaining the right to organize the Senate due to the election of Dick Cheney as Vice President and ex officio presiding officer of the Senate. The Senate shifted to control by the Democrats (though they technically were the plurality party as they were one short of a majority) after GOP senator Jim Jeffords changed party registration to "Independent" in June 2001, but later returned to Republican control after the November 2002 elections.

Overall, the Republicans had de facto control of Congress for nearly 6 years between 2000 and 2006. Remember, Zell Miller was a Democrat in name only and was a reliable Bush boy until 2005 as well. After all, he supported the irresponsible Bush tax cuts, the Iraq War, and was essentially a Republican on social issues as well. He even supported the reelection of the failure, George Bush Jr., in the 2004 election and was a keynote speaker at the Republican convention that year. He can't be counted seriously as a Democrat when you look at his stance on positions.

Republicans essentially had control of Congress from 2000 to 2006.

[chonder2]

Orin Hatchback on Meet The Press-- "Our Healthcare Industry Masters have issued 1 major decree, they said, Meatpuppets! LIE,LIE ALL THE TIME AND LIE BIG"!!

[jbchitown]

Another boon doggle! Co-op is another name for public plan. Trust me once our money grubbing government gets there hands our our money they will feed to monster until the control everything.

If you want to reform the administration of health care benefits then there are ways to make this happen.

1) Catostrophic Care/Coverage - This is tough to say but impose a very small tax that everyone pays much like Social Security but much smaller and this coverage kicks in once insurance limits are met or if someone can not afford care. This will protect everyones fear of losing their life savings or homes. There is such a small percentage that would utilize this benefit that the cost would be nominal if everyone contributes

2) Tort Reform - If you want to get everyone on board limit law suits and fine lawyers and their firm for filing frivilous law suits. This will force real change, the change you Obamacrats voted for!

3) Urgent care clinics - Provide incentives for hospitals or private doctors to put urgent care clinics out side every hospital. The purpose would be to triage patients for appropriate care. This would go both ways and eliminate all of the extra test associated with admission into a hosptial ER.

4) Drug benefits - In 1990 congress with participation of the big bad drug companies put into law a bill called OBRA90. This bill put in place a law that requires drug companies to provide FREE medication to any patient as long as they have their doctor write a simple letter and complete a simple request form. Yes, thats right those big bad, mean spirited, profit hungry drug companies actually have a program to help the poor/needy. The problem is Congress doesn't want you to know about it. Check it out for yourself.

Four simple changes, no overhaul, no 1.5 trillion dollar expense,just common sense. Then again I am assuming our leaders and media have any sense.

[nottellin1]

by BC Kelly August 23, 2009 6:53 PM EDT
Sen. Grassley, in the full video interview you say ...

"I let my constituents set the agenda"

Sorry Sir, but with that statement, I've just lost a lot of respect for you.

This particular situation is the time for Leadership - not to follow the Rabble or the Mob.

Wait, what? Our leaders our supposed to listen to us, not don what they think is best. You may rememeber a historical event called the Revolutionary War where my ancestors secured our right to representation. Get a clue!




"91% of the American people feel healthcare needs reform".

This is my favorite quote. I think both Reps & Dems can agree that reform is needed. We have to be careful not to let our pols pass reform just for reforms sake. Seems to me that is exactly what Obama and the Dems want is any bill so that they can claim a victory. The Obama presidency scares the sh out of me. Comments about how we need to screw the rich as if all are guilty of extreme greed instead of some bad apples. Even better is the desire to support the lazy and illegal as if that is what America is about. Contributing to those less fortunate is a wonderful thing but not of much moral value if it is manditory. The 'give me' mentality in th US right now is truly frightening.

[ErnestNM]

Posted by: Alyson | Aug 23, 2009 8:20:09 PM
Thanks. I keep trying to convince myself that the GOP isn't quite as nutty and the fringe isn't quite as widespread as it seems.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

My problem is that I keep trying to convince myself that the GOP has some rational people in it?or at least some people with a heart. I keep failing.

The fringe (far-right wing) isn?t wide spread. However, it knows that ?the squeaky wheel typically gets the grease?.

[wyzguy11]

The "partisans" on this issue are ridiculous!! Come on Senator Grassley denounce the "astroturfing" being done by groups like "Americans for Prosperity" and Senator Conrad should denounce former Senator Tom Daschle!!

We are the wealthiest nation on the planet. All Americans should have healthcare. We can pay for it by "taxing" unnecessary procedures like breast implants, face lifts, and liposuction and use that money to pay for necessary treatment like child immunizations.

Joan Rivers could pay to immunize a small West Virginian town for cripes sake....lol.

[trapbreaking]

by ubrew12 - I've become convinced that if a tree falls in the forest it makes no sound

If a man shouts in the forest and there is no woman around to hear it, is he still wrong?

.

[trapbreaking]

Social Security is broke and democrats want to throw socialized medicine into the pot.

Social Security Payments to Shrink for First Time in a Generation

The trustees who oversee Social Security are projecting there won't be a cost of living adjustment (COLA) for the next two years. Worse, medical premiums which come out of Social Security to rise.

[trapbreaking]

The exodus has begun

Lieberman Suggests Putting Off Parts of Health Care Reform Until After Recession

Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman, an independent senator counted on by Democrats in the health care debate, says there's "no reason" Congress has to completely overhaul health care while there's still a recession.

AP

[alanrobisch]

Its fascinating most of the posts I have seen here are an attack on republicans while they have nothing to do with the plans being drawn up and the dems could pass any bill they chose. Small problem they can't agree on a plan and they can't figurre out how to fund it without further increasing a debt we have now that may eventually make it impossible to borrow money to pay for debts already incurred. More than double the number of people consider reducing the deficit more important thatn health care reform yet the president and dem congress are intent on passing a budget busting healthcare reform bill.

this is the ticket to both political defeat and bankruptcy

[AK-47_Justice]

by alanrobisch
"Its fascinating most of the posts I have seen here are an attack on republicans while they have nothing to do with the plans being drawn up"
*****************************************


NO, what's totally fascinating here is the republican'ts fixation on the LIES and DISTORTIONS of the foxnewsus propagandus, since you have it completely WRONG as usual.

While there are several proposed bills in the House, the "Gang of Six," (3 GOP & 3 Dem Senators despite the 60/40 Dem advantage) in the Senate Finance Committee under Baucus have been working on a bi-partisan health reform bill for weeks.

Since it takes both houses of congress to pass any legislation, how can YOU honesty spew the LIES YOU did, but I imagine it just wasn't mentioned on the foxnewsus propagandus while they were so busy attacking President Obama and everything he says and does.

YOU republican'ts are the clueless attackers, hoping for America to fail.


Senate?s ?Gang of Six? key to healthcare reform

Finance Committee chairman Baucus tries for bipartisanship.

http://features.csmonitor.com/politics/2009/08/08/senates-gang-of-six-key/to/healthcare/reform/

[Salaam_Shalom]

Adam Smith's "invisible hand" is the Republican's version of the death panel. Not enough money for treatment? You die.

[ubrew12]

I've become convinced that if a tree falls in the forest it makes no sound, and that if a poor kid dies of the 'invisible hand' neither does he. Thats the advantage of the 'invisible hand', its also inaudible.

[heresmy2cent]

SCREW THE REPUBLICANS. THEY ARE NO LONGER IN CHARGE. ANY FOOL CAN SEE THEY ARE IN THE POCKETS OF THE HEALTH INSURANCE PROVIDERS.

WAKE UP, AMERICA, LET MR. OBAMA DO HIS JOB AND KEEP HIS PROMISE TO PROVIDE HEALTH INSURANCE TO ALL AMERICANS.

OUR SYSTEM OF PROVIDING HEALTH COVERAGE TO THE JUST THE BOTTOM FEEDERS AND THE PRIVILEGED NEEDS TO BE CHANGED--NOW!

[HansHansHansHans]

It looks to me as if it is not any more about health insurance reform but to force the American President out of office. What will happen if this is right and the American People will realize that coup?