Snowe: Public Option Blocks Consensus

(CBS)  Moderate Republican Senator Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) said a public option in the health care bill is "universally opposed by all Republicans in the Senate" and called it "a roadblock to building the kind of consensus that we need to move forward," on "Face the Nation" Sunday.

"[T]herefore, there's no way to pass a plan that includes the public option," she told host Bob Schieffer.

She said that the president "should be more specific" on where he stands on the public option, and called David Axelrod's assertion earlier on the program that he would "not be willing" to accept a proposal without it "unfortunate."

She said flexibility on the public option could lead to compromise in the Senate on other issues, but lamented that the president has made the debate "unpredictable."

Snowe was the first to recommend the possibility of the trigger option which would set a deadline for insurance companies to provide affordable coverage, though she admitted, "It's not on the table" in the Senate Finance Committee. "And it won't be."

"We'll be using the co-op as an option at this point, as the means for injecting competition in the process," she said.

The Senator may find herself in a situation where she is the only Republican who votes for the committee's proposal. Schieffer asked whether she would be comfortable being the only one in her party to vote in favor.

"I'll do what's right based on what is the right policy," she replied, "but I think it is important to build support. And that's what I'm looking for."

In the Senate, "we debate the issues, we don't debate political philosophies," she said, adding that "I view time as our ally, not as an enemy, so we can build that support."

She definitively said that at this point a plan which included a public option could not pass the Senate.

Finally, Schieffer asked the long-time Senator what she thought about the disruptions from Congressman Joe Wilson (R-S.C.), among others, at the president's speech Wednesday night.

"It was an unfortunate and disgraceful incident that occurred in the House of Representatives. I've served 16 years here and I've never witnessed that," she said. "It brings disrespect to the institutions and to elected officials."

[dibbs977]

Don't you get it???---A public option is the only way that we can "get a handle on" health care costs. Without it, we have no way to influence the spiraling costs of health care. I am a moderate democrat but a fiscal conservative. I am also an RN with over 45 years of experience. The public option is key.

[steeepe]

Ignore the GOP. They have nothing to contribute and only want to destroy Obama and reform. Democrats always cave, and I don't know why. They seem to be afraid of the GOP. Bipartisanship is nice if possible, but don't let that principle sabotage real reform.

[woeisme1]

This healthcare debate is not about Democrats nor Republicans. It's about Americans. Americans who for too long either have been the victum of one medical test that bankrupts them or who are afraid that in the future that one medical test will ruin them; it's about Americans who have paid for years into a policy that only denies them certain care when they need it; it's about Americans who all too often are dropped altogether because they simply got ill. It's about the poor and the middle class who don't even have that "luxury". The rich need not worry. The rich have resources. The rich own the insurance companies.

This reform is a moral reform. It is the right thing to do. There is not one thing I have seen argued by the republicans that is not a lie. Much of their arguments opposed to reform, if not outright lies, are based on hypotheticals. You just hear so much about their seeming ability to predict the future; the irony being they did'nt do so well at that in 2008 although they were sure then that they would win. In fact, they lost horribly. Do you really want to listen to their prophecies?

The threats at town hall meetings; the threats on this board; their delight in bullying Americans, their mis-information campaign; their party's leaders blatant lying and manipulation of the American people all point to a political party that IS out of touch with itself and the American people.

But I want to remind you who are for reform or you who are not sure yet to remember that these people on these boards are far from representative of most Americans. They are an extremist sub-culture in our nation and in no way do they speak for the majority of Americans as they like to claim they do. They are the same people that stormed town hall meetings yelling and screaming, wearing guns, threatening insurrection against our government, threatening all Americans that there will be blood on the streets. Will you be one of those people bleeding? Is this the party you really want to side with? Given their mis-information campaign, is this the party you really want to trust to give you accurate information on anything?

Michelle Bachman, Republican Senator, stood on national TV calling for all republicans to "slit their wrists"! I mean just how bizarre can these people get? Bachman claims that reform will ruin our country forever....FOREVER!...she screamed into the microphone. Last week there was an article on this site wherein republicans made the claim that if healthcare reform passes, the democrats will deny all republicans any coverage and they claimed that that was in a bill!! Another absurd lie to be sure! And the lies are just endless.

Whatever the republican extremists motivation is does'nt really matter. I know what it is and many of you do too. But what does matter is that it is chrystal clear the republicans are not seeing this issue from a moral obligatory perspective at all. They see it totally as a political issue, a partisan issue and not a moral obligation to their own fellow citizens. Is this the party that we EVER want in power in this country.

Listen. We all remember too well the past 8 years. America proved, in November 2008, that a country was sick and tired of the republican ideology. I know that if you all think about it and it only will take a minute before you realize that NO, this is not a political party that is out for America's best interests.

Of course once they read this, the insults will be thrown at me just like the republican extremists throw them at you each day. (bullying) But this just affirms what we are saying about them.

[endurorob_4]

caliguy55 September 14, 2009 11:45 AM EDT
It's a crying shame that President Barack Obama is putting so much time and effort into making America a better place to live, while his opponents (racist or not) are putting so much time and effort into seeing him fail. I cannot understand all these people (and I know they are truly a small minority), who seem to have so much invested in negative politics. Instead of offering viable alternatives or, perhaps, better alternatives to President Obama's plans, these people do nothing but sit around like birds of prey waiting to swoop down on every opportunity to make sure nothing good is done for our country. Certainly, these people can't be stupid enough (maybe they are) to believe that negativism will give them some kind of political gain in the future. Knowing that people like this always lose in the end gives me some hope for the future. And, I believe that the 2010 elections will once again result in a beating for those so ignorant that they hope our President fails at every effort to improve our lives.


Why do you people keep saying that there have been no alternatives offered by the repubs. There have been many offered but the libs just blow it. By the way nice way sneeking in the race card.

[caliguy55]

It's a crying shame that President Barack Obama is putting so much time and effort into making America a better place to live, while his opponents (racist or not) are putting so much time and effort into seeing him fail. I cannot understand all these people (and I know they are truly a small minority), who seem to have so much invested in negative politics. Instead of offering viable alternatives or, perhaps, better alternatives to President Obama's plans, these people do nothing but sit around like birds of prey waiting to swoop down on every opportunity to make sure nothing good is done for our country. Certainly, these people can't be stupid enough (maybe they are) to believe that negativism will give them some kind of political gain in the future. Knowing that people like this always lose in the end gives me some hope for the future. And, I believe that the 2010 elections will once again result in a beating for those so ignorant that they hope our President fails at every effort to improve our lives.

[jxknowles]

I do not have a strong opinion on the public option. I have seen the arguments on both sides and neither holds a lot of water. To think every Republican will vote 'NO' on healthcare reform is troubling for the future of the party. To think Democrats will vote 'NO' because of one part of the legislation is mind-boggling.

[faceofus]

We all know that reform of health care is needed. I would respectfully like to ask why the not-for-profit coops suggested to meet the needs of the uninsure is not acceptable to you who are so adament about a public option?

[kagiso3741]

All you folks are so old school .. The Democratic and Republican congress persons are pretty much all sold to special interests .. corrupt to the core for the MOST part .. though a few are honest .. Stop thinking in terms of I hate right .. I hate left .. I hate Dems .. I hate Repbulicans ... Instead unite for America and do what is right .. not what your party leaders demand .. because if you follow them .. they are lying to you and only telling you what you want to hear .. Follow the issues and pressure your goverment based on the ISSUES .. rather than just lazily agreeing to whatever YOUR party says is the truth .. you can bet it isnt ..

[heresmy2cent]

Screw the republicans. And screw this mummy Olympia Snowe. They are useless as teats on a bull.

Get health care reform passed without these corrupt puppets controlled by the healthcare industry.

WE NEED AFFORDABLE HEALTHCARE COVERAGE FOR ALL AMERICANS NOW!

[wheresmycountry]

Yeah, but the GOP needs to realize, they're a marginalized minority. Obama can compromise with moderates in the Democratic majority and get this through. Either that, or he can take Bush's lead, ignore congress, and ram it through without their input. Shoot, Bush seized king-like powers with the Patriot Act, and he handed those powers to Obama.