Pelosi To White House: We’re Standing Firm Behind Public Option
Nancy Pelosi just blasted out this statement signaling that House Dems are standing firm behind the public option, despite the White House’s apparent softening of support for it over the weekend:
“As the President stated in March, ‘The thinking on the public option has been that it gives consumers more choices and it helps keep the private sector honest, because there’s some competition out there.’
“We agree with the President that a public option will keep insurance companies honest and increase competition.
“There is strong support in the House for a public option. In the House, all three of our bills contain a public option as does the bill from the Senate HELP Committee.
“A public option is the best option to lower costs, improve the quality of health care, ensure choice and expand coverage.
“The public option brings real reform to lower costs over the 10 year period of the bill.”
The statement does stop short of explicitly commiting to keeping the public option in the bill in the long run, but Pelosi’s use of Obama’s own language is suggestive, and even mildly confrontational.
As bad as the White House’s comments this weekend look to House progressives, in a sense this gives them an opportunity. House liberals, who perpetually complain that the Blue Dogs’ concerns are doted over by the White House and leadership, have a chance to do as the Blue Dogs do: Lay down their marker and refuse to budge.
******************************************
Update: Chris Bowers argues that standing firm, and bucking the White House and elite Dems if necessary, is the House progressives’ only long-term hope.
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Stop short? Hey that’s my move. I love Seinfeld.
I don’t think this is helpful coverage. You should go back to smearing Obamacare opponents as ignorant gun nuts (maybe work in something with the word “cling”). It is always good to call 60% of the country (and a higher percentage of likely voters) bad names.
Well the good thing about this is that we are no longer talking about “death panels” but instead talking about the virtures of the “public option” or “co-ops”. Also, this is bringing out the “ANGRY LEFT” who need to be fighting for the public option.
Thank you, Madam Speaker. Now let’s get this done.
God love you Nancy. Keep the pressure on.
The House will not pass a bill that doesn’t have public option in it and I predict we’re going to have it.
“It is always good to call 60% of the country (and a higher percentage of likely voters) bad names.”
You poor benighted creature – you believe that? Dude.
Of the just under 110 million Americans who voted last November, 70 million of us voted in favor of health care reform.
That’s a very clear majority. You in the minority will just have to suffer with better coverage for less money.
Good for Pelosi. With 70% or so of the country in favor of a public option you’d think it would be a more popular position. Some of our representatives must be more concerned about the 100% of insurance executives who are opposed to it.
“You in the minority will just have to suffer with better coverage for less money.”
Please, Gawd, I hope so!
@tena: But seriously – do you really believe that? How’s that gonna happen? Magic pixie dust?
“Magic pixie dust?”
Yep. My inside sources tell me that Obama actually knows where it’s kept.
He did promise me unicorns and rainbows…
There are two options here. Either they pass health care reform with a public option and over time liberals progressives and persuadables in the middle help to push Dems in Congress and Pres Obama’s approval ratings back up. Or they pass health care reform without a public option, alienating liberals and progressives who are already upset about the policies on the war in Afghanistan and DADT and accountability on torture and so he loses the left wing of the base and now you have both the right wing AND the left wing of the country bashing Dems in Congress and the President which will move people in the middle against them. There will be a blood bath in Congress next year behind it because you won’t have leftys fired up to help campaign for Democrats in midterm elections where we don’t historically come out to vote anyway AND you will probably have some brutal primaries of Blue Dogs and those Senators who held up progress.
Thats really what the political landscape looks like. No public option and you can expect a GOP landslide next year just because people on the left will be disillusioned with Democrats.
“and now you have both the right wing AND the left wing of the country bashing Dems in Congress and the President which will move people in the middle against them. T”
sg, I love you honey, but if you can’t see that the left bashes Obama now unmercifully…
The problem on the left is the same as it ever was – Americans think they are all in the middle and our politicians play to that.
How the mighty have fallen. Me crocodile tears are flowing, like Niagara Falls, for the decline into D list celebrity status, of poor wee Tom.
“Mon Aug 17, 6:35 AM PDT
Former Republican Majority Leader Tom DeLay will join 15 celebrities from the worlds of entertainment and sports in kicking up their heels on the new season of “Dancing With the Stars.”
It’s Hammer Time.
Watch the amazing Delay dance his way into your hearts, with his performance of the K Street Shuffle.
I’ve talked to lots of people who said they were moderates or even conservative who, if you ask them specific questions on policy, like liberal policies. They just don’t like the idea of being liberal.
I realize that’s anecdotal, but it seems to me that’s one of the ways the media went wrong – they started parsing the center and telling Americans that mostly we were middle of the road.
Tena
The left “bashes” Obama right now for the most part to try to hector him into doing the right thing like on DADT or releasing the torture photos. But that bashing will quickly turn into another animal if there is no public option. Most liberals and progressives, even those who are the loudest complainers would still say right now that they would vote for President Obama in 4 years. I don’t know that that will be the case after this is all said and done.
@sg: How about option 3? They don’t pass healthcare reform because it can’t get past the Senate. The bogeymen are Reid and centrist Dem Senators and obstructionist Republicans and the eeeevil insurance industry. Progressives buy it and continue to support the Dems after Reid is made the sacrificial lamb. Watered down legislation passes with bipartisan support.
A Democratic congressman recently stated that President Obama told him that he was willing to do what it takes to get Health Insurance Reform, even if it cost him reelection, The President told him that the issue was too important to not get it reformed now.
Keep in mind, that while it is being called Health Care Reform, it actually should be called Health Insurance Reform. If that proper name for it, was more widely in use, I think it would have broader appeal than the Health Care Reform label that is being widely use.
So, the question is: does President Obama mean that he is willing to go to the mat, to get the public option, or does he mean that he is willing to abandon his base, in order to sign a bill without a public option. If he does the latter, he will be a one term President for certain, because he will lose a huge amount of liberal supporters, at the same time he will look like he was easy to roll, by the opposition.
sbj
You are smoking some kush if you think some kind of bill isn’t getting passed this year. Its real all just academic at this point and it comes down to how it will look.
Benighted as I may be, my take is at least consistent with external reality insofar as the Democrats and Obama are in full retreat on the public option/government takeover. People voted for Obama because they were lied to and told he wasn’t a far left radical. Their eyes are open now.
I bet if president Obama agrees to resign the day after the healthcare bill is signed with everything that the people want, then these radical anti-health reform nut cases will suddenly change their position!
Meaning that they would rather see American suffer, than see President Obama have a perceived win.
This was a ploy to get the left involved in the debate. Watch the polls will jump up for those who want a public option
I say they get it passed easily without the public option then draft a bill with a public option and pass it with reconciliation.
Since having the public option included in the insurance pool brings down costs by about $150 billion per CBO, the Byrd Rule will not apply.
Only when we have the option of public health care will there be equality in services provided. After watching the 60 Minutes report on how things work in France, what can one say but “Via La France!” We probably can’t go that far since the private insurers who set our caps, say whether we can get certain treatments, whose non-medical staff judges treatment not be need, but by profit are all in a twitter about losing their huge profit margins.
We need a public option to cover people who want it (please do not deny me MY right to good health care) or simply do not qualify under any other program.
Nancy, YOU GO GIRL! Behind you all the way. I’m for a Democrat “Do It Yourself” program.
LOL Yeah a far left radical who is now possibly about to drop even a luke warm attempt at real and lasting change in our health care system. Change which the overwhelming majority of Americans support. The jokes write themselves, seriously.
Thank you Nancy, We need to continue the fight for the best healthcare reform bil we can get. And it includes a public option.
I will support Obama to the bitter end. Public Option or Not. He is the best President we have ever had. The far left needs to stop being greedy and impatient and the far right need to stop being ignorant, racist, angry, hateful , etc. If he losses both sides, he will have a majority in the middle. eith way he will win. Word to the wise: Do not underestimate this President. He is very smart. He knows Chess. In two years, you will all be saying, “damn, I didn’t think he could do it.” Later losers
Hugo the Clown,
.
The only things that President Obama has gone back on have been his pledges to (i) get rid of DOMA and DADT, (ii) investigate the Bush crimes against humanity and American citizens, (iii) deal with the unconstitutional search and seizure issues, (iv) close Gitmo, (v) end our occupation in Iraq, all of which clowns like you and your leader Limbaugh the drug addict want to continue and progressives want done.
.
Reality is that President Obama is a moderate/centrist who talked about the public option time and time and time again during the campaign, and that you are a radical rightwinger who takes his marching orders from drug addicts and white supremecists.
“. But that bashing will quickly turn into another animal if there is no public option. ”
I agree it will increase.
Obamabot – I don’t know if you’re a joke, but the fact is that I agree with you. I’ve never seen a president yet work so hard to actually help the country, not himself. I’ve never one try so hard to keep his promises – and it’s damned hard to do because unles you’re George W, you have to go through Congress.
I’ve lived through administrations since Eisenhower and Obama is the best president I’ve seen yet.
I remain cautiously optimistic about the public option. Positive ads are outnumbering negative ads, and you just didn’t see that in 1993. Then it was “Harold and Louise” every commercial break.
I am not comforted by her remarks. We have seen this kind of thing before with Speaker Pelosi; she will growl a little but always gives up in the end. Same with Reid…
Tena
Obamabot was definitely a troll. No sincere person would adopt that kind of a nickname to post.
@SG: “You are smoking some kush.”
I wish! I had to quit but I was really enjoying the delivery service that came to my door after I got that nifty prescription. I used to be able to check out pics online, make a phone call, and get delivery. Those were the salad days…
“if you think some kind of bill isn’t getting passed this year.”
I certainly DID think some sort of bill would have to pass, if only to save the admin. But when Nancy says that the House will hold firm, and when the votes just aren’t there in the Senate… what does that leave you with?
sbj
What it leaves me with is something similar to the scenario Gov Dean put forth this morning. You get the Sen Finance bill out of committee, reconcile it with the HELP bill and then put the public option in during reconciliation between House and Senate and you have your health care reform bill.
My prediction is that just as soon as the Finance committee bill is voted out of committee you will hear President Obama say what he specifically wants in the billand what he doesn’t. You can just about bank on it.
sgwhite – that’s what I figured and I didn’t care.
“After watching the 60 Minutes report on how things work in France, what can one say but “Via La France!””
No kidding. I’ve been to Europe – I’d love to live that well. People who dis Europe haven’t been there. Europeans live well indeed. In fact, actual life really means something in Europe – besides working yourself to death, which is the American model. I recall when the Japanese adapted that model and damn near did kill off their population with it. They retooled their thinking.
@sg: “You get the Sen Finance bill out of committee, reconcile it with the HELP bill and then put the public option in during reconciliation between House and Senate and you have your health care reform bill.”
Oh, I’ve got that part. Heck, Ezra’s been saying that for months now.
But the Senate STILL has to vote for the reconciled bill, right? I don’t think 50 votes are there for a reconciled bill that includes the public option.
Madam Pelosi has surpassed her socialistic and dimwitted remaerks previously made to confuse the democrats and other poor souls who roam endlessly hoping to make some sense of the democrats war on prosperity.
@sbj
Oh really? What is your whip count in the Senate then? What 11 Democrats will vote against a public option?
Actually let me amend that. Which 11 Democrats will allow themselves to go down in history as the people who derailed health care reform at a time when we had huge majorities in both houses of Congress and the presidency
That puts it in a bit more perspective for you.
When Sarah Palin pickedup on the “Death Panels” that was going to kill our grannies, Big lie, that was created and spread by Rupert Murdoch, The Queen of Rumorsmania, it scared the hell out of Sarah.
I know why it did; do you?
Well they picked another American practicing democracy in action in Arizona: two automatic weapons where Obama was holding a town hall.
Y’all won’t be happy until you’ve managed to kill him, will ya? You just are itching for a civil war cause that’s about what you will get, I suspect.
I think a great deal of Nancy Pelosi’s disapproval is rooted in old-fashioned sexism and its most virulent form, misogyny. I’m glad she’s not taking it lying down. And no on e can really speak to the Congress’s intent better than she can. Her opinion matters and I’m relieved to hear it. I believe her, a lot more than vague innuendo and endless speculation. The Public Option has never been dead.
Speaker Pelosi for President in 2012!
“So, the question is: does President Obama mean that he is willing to go to the mat, to get the public option, or does he mean that he is willing to abandon his base, in order to sign a bill without a public option.”
I’m betting on the former. This is personal to him, what his mother went through with her insurance
company when she was fighting for her life is something
you can’t forgive or forget. I think he has given health care reform more thought over the years than any other issue. He knows single-payer doesn’t have a chance and that a public option is the next best thing.
He’s made it very clear what he wants in the bill and is giving the committees a chance to come up with something that meet his goals or perhaps something he has not thought about. I seriously doubt that that will happen and IMO he will not sign a bill without a strong public option and he will get a Health Care/ Insurance Reform bill passed with a strong public option.
My view is that if we don’t have a public option, then how can we control cost. If covering preexisting conditions is mandatory and people can’t lose their insurance changing jobs, how will the government be able to control private insurance companies who will redo the actuarial calculations to cover these obligations and inevitably raise premiums to cover these exigencies
Woopsie – I was wrong.
There were 3 Americans practicing democracy in action at Obama’s town hall today.
I’m getting really sick to my stomach-
well done Mrs. Pelosi… !! you tell them
i am with you and Howard Dean
President needs to listen…
NHS without public option is not worth the paper it is written in…
it has been successful in the UK regardless of what others may tell u
Just saw this tweet from Jim Demint:
“About to go on FoxNews Cavuto to discuss healthcare and how co-ops are a public option by another name.”
You can be darned certain that if the public option is officially replaced by co-ops, that will become the next evidence of government tyranny. If co-ops are then replaced by a trigger, that will then become a deal breaker for the GOP. They aren’t going to sign on to anything that isn’t “deregulate the insurance industry and give more tax cuts to rich people”. While I prefer and want a public option, I’d actually be OK with it being replaced by co-ops and/or a trigger if that’s what is needed to get enough Dems in the Senate on board with the rest of the package intact. (I’m looking at you Conrad/Bayh/Baucus/Nelson/Landrieu) But if the intent is to get GOP votes…well, except for maybe – a big maybe – getting the ladies of Maine on board, it’s a freaking pipe dream.
I also just read a post by digby re: some comments Dean Baker made re: individual mandates. His point was that if you drop the public option, you have to drop the mandate as well because it’s basically political suicide to force people to buy insurance they don’t want or think they don’t need from a private insurer who is already raking in profits hand over fist. I think that’s pretty spot-on. I haven’t heard much about the mandate but I don’t think you can do it without offering some alternative to private insurers.
Go, Pelosi, go!
@sg: I have no whip count and certainly I am not sure but I think the following are at least likely targets: Conrad, Murray, Nelson, Landrieu, Stabenow, Cantwell, McCaskill, Webb, Baucus, Pryor, Klobuchar, Tester, Lincoln, Dorgan, Bayh, Begich, Johnson.
When did Nancy grow a pair? Good for her. Pressure is what is needed to make sure the public option is included in the final bill.
“Man ‘Chris’ Had AR-15 And Pistol … Police Confirm One Man With Rifle, Two Others With Pistols … CNN’s Ed Henry: Second Man Shouting About ‘Socialism’ Also Had Assault Rifle … More”
http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/
Look at what the right has done. This has got to be stopped; this is insanity to the nth degree. My god, what kind of America are they talking about when they say they want their country back?
Healthcare reform is compared to military base closures. The latter necessary action, with political and financial implications, stems from the country’s changing challenges and advances in military technology. Solving only one aspect like only the uninsured is a band-aid to treat the symptom. It is time to over-haul the healthcare system, to make it cost-effective and not a drag on the economy. Few leading politicians and news-media elect to demagogue medical care and hijack the debate.
Those on the front-line of medical-care should reclaim the issue; and stand-up to demagogues of reform. Comprehensive healthcare should empower physicians and medical science to be the driving force of the system.
Current cost-drivers are health-insurance, pharmaceutical, bio-tech, and bio-engineering companies, each led by corporate management and boards interested in their bottom-line; hospital and nursing home administrators; the medico-legal system, healthcare economists and consultants. Many physicians also point to patients directing their own treatment options that are not indicated, and families reluctant to provide basic-care and support to their sick relatives. All these contribute to the current steep and unsustainable cost-curve.
None of these are addressed in the current debate, which is adding to the fragmentation. Complex formulary of insurance and funding makes the system more cumbersome and inefficient, adding further irrationalities and alien motivations within the system. And the goal of good patient care is lost in the shuffle.
I actually think that enough of those 17 Senators sbj listed would be either scared enough or bought off enough (or both) to sink a bill that includes a public option. As much as I hate to say it, I think Conrad may be right when he says the votes aren’t there. I don’t think the votes were never there as he contends, but I don’t think they are there now. And I also think it’s too late to get ‘em back.
However, I’d be interested to know how many of the 17 folks sbj listed are up for re-election in 2010 or 2012. I think you can automatically write off the folks up in 2010 and maybe even those up in 2012. Folks up after that would probably vote “yea” on a bill with a public option – plenty of time for tempers to simmer down and for reform to show some concrete, positive results.
@og: “if you drop the public option, you have to drop the mandate as well because it’s basically political suicide to force people to buy insurance they don’t want.”
That’s why Obama was opposed to the individual mandate during the campaign.
I believe the Obama administration deliberately sabotaged health care reform, universal health care, or whatever flavor it has today. The minute they said that taxpayers would have to pay for this system, the favorability numbers went down. Everyone knows that this is not the time to raise taxes on anyone. I am so disappointed that they have given up the fight so quickly. I believe time should be spent finding some national(govenment run) public option. If Obama signs a bill that slaps the insuance companies hands, He and tons of other Dems will not get my vote again. Lets get ready to vote for Palin in 2012. At least she has balls.
“I’d actually be OK with it being replaced by co-ops and/or a trigger if that’s what is needed to get enough Dems in the Senate on board with the rest of the package intact.”
It ain’t over yet – no matter what the media says. And if Wall Street is trading heavily on the idea that public option is dead, that’s just Wall Street having another premature ejaculation – which it has a problem with.
Webb Klobes Stabenow Cantwell Dorgan McCaskilland probably Baucus as it happens are off that list sbj.
Remember this, Dems only need 50 votes because with a tie the VP breaks the tie.
GOOD FOR PELOSI.THIS IS WHAT WE VOTED FOR.THE DEMOCRATS NEED TO GET ON THE SAME PAGE.REBUTE THE SCARE TACTICS OR THIS WILL BE IRAQ ALL OVER AGAIN.THE HELL WITH THE RIGHT.WE WON THE ELECTION!!
# John son | August 17th, 2009 at 04:38 pm
Madam Pelosi has surpassed her socialistic and dimwitted remaerks previously made to confuse the democrats and other poor souls who roam endlessly hoping to make some sense of the democrats war on prosperity.
…………………………
The Democrats are the ones who have always made the nation prosperous and strong. The Republicans are always creating recessions, depressions, and despair in the land.
From Hoover to Bush, your Republicans have always been the ones that have destroyed prosperity, and Democrats have always had to come along and clean up your messes.
The same applies to National Defense. Roosevelt defeated two empires, at the same time, from his wheelchair, while Reagan ran away from Beirut, and wagged the dog in Grenada. (I am surprised that you guys have not demanded a monument on the national mall, to the heroes of Grenada), and Shrub could not even cope with a band of rag tag losers in Iraq, even though he had seven years to get it done. Far longer than it took for Roosevelt to whip two Empires.
We have the greatest fighting forces in the world, and Bush made them look pathetic in Iraq. A war that should not have been started, squandered the lives of many of our best young troops, and then you guys refused to take care of the wounded, after their bodies were broken in Bush’s crazy Iraq occupation.
Get out of the way, you shower of chicken hawk War Mongering robber barons. Stand aside, and let the Democrats restore the country, like we have always had to do, after your long line of incompetents have driven it into the ditch, over and over
Wait your turn. We always get the working class votes, after you have destroyed their chances of making a living. After we restore the job markets for them, they then go back to getting all bent out of shape about skin color, sexual orientation, and trying to prevent women from having any say in their own reproductive rights. Step aside until we get them back that stage, like we always have in the past, and they will go back to voting for your eternally destructive regimes.
The working class can never stand Democratic prosperty,always get too big for their britches, and rush back into their abusive relationship with Republicans.
@sg: So you’ll admit that it’s close as I said? Do you think the Senate will allow its bill to go into conference without some guarantees from Pelosi that some provisions are protected?
Tena-I am not a troll as someone else here thought of me. I am a tried and true liberal who happens to have some conservative beliefs as well. With that being the case, I know how to seperate my view points and see things objectivly. I am 1000% behing Obama and what he does because I know he is working for the greater good. I also happen to be from Chicago so I may be biased;-) But, I agree with Liberals and I agree with conservatives at time when they actually have ideas and I still call myself a liberal. The moderate title is a bit much as that would mean I would have to hold more conservative view than I already do and that ain’t happenin.
I don’t know who Polosis thinks she is representing, but it’s sure not the interests of the health of the American people. She started all this diatribe about the public option being off the table. Polosi does not make law. She is truly mis-guided and in my opinion should resign her office. She is over her head and out of touch with the will of the people.
Donald | August 17th, 2009 at 04:13 pm Yeah, we radical anti-health reform nut cases. I mean, why would we want to support things that would actually help, like tort reform and dismantling the insurance monopolies (even though they DO NOT make windfall profits or profits hands over fist, give me a break). And, for those who think that the government is going to help drive down costs, hmm. Have you heard the latest on the cost of Medicare and Medicaid vs. private insurance? But, hey, keep drinking that kool aide.
“The Democrats are the ones who have always made the nation prosperous and strong. The Republicans are always creating recessions, depressions, and despair in the land.”
Those Clinton years were hell, no? Eight straight years of peace and prosperity and A HUGE BUDGET SURPLUS IN THE TREASURY. Not one Repug has ever done that – they invariably leave office in the middle of a recession they caused.
It’s about time someone stood up for the people! Leadership is what we need – this is what the American people want and an organized few lying, loud-mouth, gun-toting, profit-grabbing, lack-of-critical-thinking skills, fear mongers can’t stop us. They should have learned that last election!
“e tort reform ”
I want an explanation from some proponent of tort reform for why doctors are a special class who merit a special level of government protection no other class gets – protection from reponsibility for their errors.
Tort reform is an insurance industry dodge. They are the ones who have bitched about tort reform because they have to pay when their insureds kill or maim people.
To sgwhiteinfla and will: I agree with you both. Don’t worry. President Obama knows what he’s doing. He’s not going to leave his base stranded when he knows there will be no Repub support of anything he does anyway! Let’s just trust and pour out our support for whatever the outcome, which, I’ll bet will be in our, his supporters’ favor!
Bless you, Cassandra.
Obama did say he is willing to be a one-term president over health care reform. Do you guys think he made this remark knowing that he may have to compromise to the point that much of the progressive wing would bail on him?
It is the right and just thing to do. Don’t give up the ship.
http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/08/rnc-think-the-gop-will-support-co-ops-think-again.php?ref=fpb
Mouse meet trap? Maybe this waffling on the public option was bait to prove to the Senate that they’re not going to get GOP support anyway, so why bother?
sbj
Actually no I don’t think it will be close and here is why, ConservaDems can talk a big game about voting against legislation but when you are talking about something of this much historical importance at a time when we have a filibuster proof majority in the Senate just about all of them will vote for the bill because they know if they don’t their names will live on in infamy forever and they might as well switch parties immediately. Evan Bayh can try to burnish is conservative cred all he wants, he would never vote against a final health care reform bill.
There is no health insurance reform without the public option. You go girl! Show ‘em how it gets done!
They aren’t going to sign on to anything that isn’t “deregulate the insurance industry and give more tax cuts to rich people”.
Bingo!
We, the American People, support the House Majority Speaker Pelosi and her well-stated statement with respect to the PUBLIC OPTION. THE PUBLIC OPTION IS ESSENTIAL! Progressive Democrats and all Democrats should NOT blink!!! The cause is right and the right of All the American People to quality and affordable healthcare is on the line.
I do not favor health care reform without a plublic option. The insurance companies, are afraid of the public option. Here’s why! Supposed WalMart, whose owner is very astute and coy, decides that he will take all his emplyees, and his part time associates to the public plan, and then the unions, decide to do the same. Well then the for profit insurance plans will have to make their plans affordable. Imagine, they wouldn’t be able to pay their executives $xxxx millions a year in salaries. How terrible. That’s the problem. No health reform without th public option, to hel_ to the insurance companies and the pharmas. Give me liberty or give me death.
Those Clinton years were hell, no? Eight straight years of peace and prosperity and A HUGE BUDGET SURPLUS IN THE TREASURY. Not one Repug has ever done that – they invariably leave office in the middle of a recession they caused.
In all honesty I have to point out that most of that prosperity occurred not only while Clinton was in office, but also while a Republican Congress was doing all it could to make his life difficult, including not approving of spending he wanted to do. While Clinton was in office the federal government shrank in size. I simply can’t believe that was something Clinton on his own would have done or even contemplated, certainly not with a Democratic majority in Congress.
The insurance companies, are afraid of the public option.
Because that would be actual competition instead of the fakery they comfortably live with now.
Notice Pelosi doesn’t define what is meant by “Public Option” exactly. It could be a watered down version that would be ineffective in pressuring health insurance industry to control costs
Simply make the “Public Option” plan an arm of the existing Medicare structure, separate but using the same model, restricted to people without health insurance: the unemployed, the under employed (part timers), and those employed full time whose employers do not offer health insurance plans.
“Tena-I am not a troll as someone else here thought of me”
I don’t generally consider myself holding any conservative views – not by today’s definition of conservative. But I’m a realist. I’m not ideologically driven and I don’t much trust people who are, of any stripe.
“Simply make the “Public Option” plan an arm of the existing Medicare structure, separate but using the same model, restricted to people without health insurance: the unemployed, the under employed (part timers), and those employed full time whose employers do not offer health insurance plans.”
It’s been suggested that all we really have to do is remove the “65 years old” requirement from Medicare and make it universal.
I am willing to agree that health care reform is needed in this country. The problem for me is the method in which it is trying to be done. There are many problems with the proposed bills that keep me from supporting it.
1. Too many congressmen and senators have not even read the bill. Congressman Rangel openly stated he was not going to read it.
2. The huge rush to pass it while the bill is incomplete. What might be added to it once its approved behind our backs.
3. The arrogance of Obama telling us that he knows what is best for us like we are children who do not know how to think.
4. Pelosi and Reid resorting to calling Americans who exercise their rights to freedom of speech as Nazis, UnAmerican, etc….
5. The White House asking Americans to spy on and report friends, family, co-workers for anyone who dares to disagree with the proposed healthcare bill.
6. The refusal of the white house to state openly how the bill will be paid for, not just projections. (This white house has proven over and over they can not make true projections.
7. Obama promised in his campaign that his administration would be completely transparent. (He hides his birth and education records. He will not release details on the cash for clunkers program. Many of his top officals have avoided paying taxes.) ANY MAN WHO LIES CAN NOT BE TRUSTED
8. They send out emails to try to tell us the facts. (Do they honestly thing that just because they “claim” it that makes it fact. They obviously have an agenda to get the bill passed so that alone causes doubts to the “facts”.
9. The fact that they have not even considered any other options for health care reform.
(a) Lets look at tort reform.
(b) Placing limits on how much can be charged for services.
(c) Getting rid of waste and fraud in different organizations.
10. Obama stated that billions of dollars could be saved from medicare by controlling waste and fraud. Then why not take action on waste and fraud now without the bill having to pass?
11. The fact that the healthcare bill allows the government and healthcare providers direct access to our bank accounts.
12. The government is the ones who have caused Social Security and medicare to be on the verge of collapse. The federal govt has been taking funds from these organizations since the early 1960’s and has taken place EVERY year since then til the present. The government owes these 2 agencies 2.4 trillion dollars and the amount is growing by 180 billion dollars a year.
13. If the government can not manage the VA and medicare how can we expect them to manage health care for all.
14.
Personally I think that Nancy Pelosi is unamerican and should have been aborted at birth. I for one will never support anything that she is in favor of.
“(He hides his birth and education records.”
Dude =- give it up – you revealed yourself right there – you are a birther.
Excellent points Ajax Gloryhole. I guess maybe we’ve all been lied too. The only promise he is keeping to the left is to “spread the wealth around.”
O and now you say the Speaker should have been aborted. I take it from that that you are pro-choice?
I think the health care stocks going up today on what they consider the death of the public option speaks volumes.
The insurance companies will continue to make obscene profits if the public option is nixed and the people of this country will continue to be 37th in the world when it comes to health care.
Yes! Nancy Pelosi, she’s the REAL pitbull. While Sarah Palin complains and out-and-out-LIES, Pelosi doesn’t flinch!
Thank God there are a few Democrats representing the legitimate need of the American people and who have the gumption to stand up to Town Hall bullies and blowhards orchestrated by the insurance companies and the right wing media. The White House is too timid on this public option issue and needs to get a spine transplant, quick. They need to let go of any idea about compromise and making nice with the Republicans and corporations. They are not the ones who put Barack Obama in the White House, we were and health care for all was one of our primary issues. Single payer is the solution to our helath care ills, but an assertive public option can help. Go House Dems!!!
# Steve O | August 17th, 2009 at 06:33 pm
Personally I think that Nancy Pelosi is unamerican and should have been aborted at birth. I for one will never support anything that she is in favor of.
………………………..
It is very clear that you are a complete moron. Your “aborted at birth” contradiction makes it abundantly clear that you have the IQ of an Anvil.
Get your hands off that keyboard. You are not even ready to have the training wheels removed from you Etch A Sketch panel.
Thank you, Madame Speaker! Let’s keep the public option in the bill so that after the votes are counted, everyone can see exactly which Democrats abandoned their president and their constituents. The Blue Dogs and their ilk are fighting hard to prevent us from seeing how they rolled over and played dead for the insurance lobby.
sgwhite, msmolly and anyone else who is jumping up and down and threatening to never vote for Obama again if you don’t get all you want in the health bill – are you serious? Do you really think the Repugs taking over again would improve things.
*sigh*
“I think the health care stocks going up today on what they consider the death of the public option speaks volumes.”
Sorry to bust your bubble, but Wall Street has a problem with premature ejaculations.
Stick by your guns Nancy, No Public option, No re-election. Blue Dogs are so done now as far as Im concerned.
thank you Nancy. fight for it. The public is on your side and glad to know you are on ours.
Liam, you’re brilliant. lol your response to childish Hugo and Steve o.
Healthcare reform without a public option is worthless.
@abj You can cross Klobuchar off your list. There’s no way she’s going to vote against a final bill with a public option. Minnesota wants reform. And Bachmann has been making the Republicans who aren’t crazy feel rather stupid for being associated with her. Siding with her would be fatal for any future aspirations Klobuchar might have. It will never happen.
We need a public options with death panels for all republicans. Eradicate the vermin !!! BTW, keep your government hands off my military.
CAPITALISM — FREEDOM TO COMPETE FOR EXCESSIVE WEALTH
Capitalism being the reverse of equality, surely our for profit healthcare system is the greatest tool for keeping a people vulnerable, insecure, fearful and in submission to authority the world has ever known.
We voted for change and we need the public option for real choice in the marketplace. The fact that private health insurance companies are devoting over a million dollars a day to lobby against it should make it obvious to all that they are opposed to real competition because they know how it would truly reform health care by leveling the playing field and giving consumers a real choice.
If Obama pushes or advocate any bill without a public option, then he is not different from any other politician. More over I will work as hard against him in 2012, as I worked for him 2008. That is a vow!
I believe we should all write to out legislators to put a single payer option before the voters. I am not sure if this is possible and if it is what percentage of votes in the legislature is necessary to put it on the ballot.
I know states do it but frankly have never seen a bill by the Feds. I think if it went before the people it would get approved. This could be done while congress pursued other options.
Way to go Nancy and Howard Dean. We need a public option
Way to go Nancy! I voted for change not appeasement.If the President caves on the public option like he did on the single payer plan, then its over one term Obama and democrats are again cast into the wilderness
This is why I supported Hillary in the primary. I was afraid Obama would not fight hard enough–that he would seek consensus with people who are not interested compromise. Hillary knew going in that there is no talking to wing-nuts. You just need to run right over them.
I’m really sad that I appear to be right about him.
The first thing he should have done, before health care, was public financing of campaigns. Until that’s done, business controls our elections.
Pelosi, HOLD THE LINE! I have all but given up on this President. I am counting on you for this.
True reform means a public option. Private insurance companies are the ones rationing healthcare. Do the individuals who oppose a government run healthcare program realize that their private insurance companies do not cover all services? Especially preventative care. Have they ever done a thorough analysis of their policy? Maybe if they did they would see the words “Lifetime Maximum” somewhere on their policy. What does this mean? It means once you cost the insurance company too much money, they no longer will insure you! This is rationing! You may think that a $250,000 or million dollar lifetime maximum is alot of money and you’ll never use all that. Maybe you should talk to the parents of an infant or young child who gets a cancer diagnosis or other serious medical condition. Maybe these individuals would understand their fears more that their child no longer has medical coverage for reasons beyond their control. I would never wish this circumstance on anybody, but I just wanted to give another perspective. Two or three major hospital stays could literally cap you out or price you out of a good healthcare plan. Also, there will be plenty of doctors around to take care of everybody because once the uninsured get coverage,they will no longer have to use the emergency room for all their care. What you would probably see is that hospitals would no longer have to staff emergency rooms with as many doctors and nurses and they would just be shifted into actually practicing preventative medicine. Wow what a concept! This administration needs to take a tougher stance on the public option. Healthcare shouldn’t be driven by profit margins and shareholder returns.
STEVE O IS A “F”ING TYPICAL UNEDUCATED RIGHT WING MORON.READ A BOOK A HOLE
pass the public option, pelosi and patriots of the lower chamber. worry not about what the senate does. then jam it down their throats in reconciliation and make them like it as they squeal.
Hurrah for our Nancy!!
Tort reform is another “red herring”. California and Texas have enacted very restrictive tort reform. And guess what? Neither health insurance premiums nor malpractice insurance premiums went down. And Newsweek published a story that showed one town in Texas had unusually high costs because doctors ordered lots of tests and x-rays. The doctors did this to make more money (they owned the labs) and NOT to practice defensive medicine. Malpractice costs are less than 1 Percent of health care costs.
Tort reform is a good talking point to prevent talking about REAL reform.
What this country needs and should have is single payer health insurance. The so called Public Option is a barely acceptable fall back position. Anything less and one has to ask who actually won the national election in 2008 – The People or Corporate Lobbyists?
Imagine the victory party the insurance execs will have if “reform” passes with no public option and a mandate forcing all Americans to buy private insurance.
I agree with Tena that the Dems will lose the midterms in a big way if they don’t get a spine and pass a bill with at least a public option. Chasing Republicans for a “bipartisan” bill is a pipe dream.
BRAVO TO NANCY P.—SHE IS ABSOLUTELY TRUE TO THE DEMO BASE, AND TO THE
ONLY REAL VIEW OF THIS NATION’S HEALTH MESS–WE MUST HAVE A PUBLIC OPTION, OR WE AT A LOVELY TEA PARTY WITH THE PHARMACEUTIC GIANTS TALKING
CONVENTIONALLY FOR ANOTHER SIXTY YEARS–AT 72 I FEEL A BIT “TEMPORARILY CHALLENGED” J.MC CORMICK
I strongly support Pelosi. A great lady, always on the side of the real people. She is an American icon!
Pelosi shows common sense. Thank you.
The PUBLIC OPTION IS THE ONLY WAY TO KEEP THE COST OF HEALTHCARE DOWN! AND TO AVOID THE OUTRAGEOUS PROFIT MADE BY THE DRUG AND HEALTHCARE COMPANIES! (425% increase in profit from 2000 – 2007!!!!!!!!!)
Lest have ONE POOL for the UNITED STATES: THE PUBLIC OPTION!
Several pools weaken the bargaining power and create a mess: it is what the private companies want
THANK YOU PELOSI!
OBAMA, YOU HAVE LOST YOUR COMPASS! You were elected by the progressive wing of the American People. Forget about the Republicans. STOP APPEASING AND LOOK WEAK!!!
Now the Prez thinks the Public Option is just a “sliver” of HC Reform. That is not the amount of Dog Food I am going to have to eat just to pay my Premiums if he abandons the Public Option because of the Astro Turf protests. Stand Up Mr. President.
True reform is Single Payer. The Public Option is a seed that might be grown into something. The option’s been hobbled, but, we need something to work with. Tikkun has a depressing analysis of the public option — but I still support it.
Let me get this straight so that I understand:
1. We will control the compensation of doctors which will further thin the ranks of an already aging profession. Less people will go through arduous and expensive medical school because their financial outlook will be limited (or bleak).
2. We will add 50 million new people into the healthcare system.
3. The per capita visits of Americans will increase by 50% (as they have in Canada) because the care is now free and even the healthy will want what’s free.
4. The government will perfectly manage 17% of the U.S. economy.
5. It will be paid for by taxing a few millionaires and from “savings” in the current system.
6. We will all live happily ever after.
Kool-Aid anyone??
Hint: fraud in government insurance programs runs at 5-6% but it’s about .5% in private healthcare. Why?.. because someone is watching the cash register. the government just prints more money.
You go girl!
Some one has a backbone in DC. Thank you Pelosi. I feel like the fight for the public option is similar to fighting for evolution over creationism, etc. We have reason, facts, and the utter failure of the current system on our side. Obama, STAND UP!!
A medicare for all/single payer system would work. The public option is a compromise between right and left. The president does not need to compromise the compromise. We have already made the compromise. The right wingers will not go for any compromise, that should be obvious by now. There can be no madates for individual coverage without a public option. Tell people that they have to buy insurance from companies that they despise and add to their corrupt profits? That won’t work for me. I don’t want a single penny of my money going to profiteers whose only interest in healthcare is how much money they can bleed from sick people.
Thank you Nancy for standing up for those of us who actually did vote for the president and other democrats based on their campaign promises and the democratic platform. I have had it with people saying one thing when they want my vote and then worrying more about the people whose votes they didn’t get when they are in office!
Why don’t we expand Medicaid for the people who can’t afford healthcare? We can pay for it from all of the savings they can achieve from current government programs(like Obama said) and excess stimulus funds that are not needed (because we are in recovery).
Let the people who hate insurance companies buy health plans from not for profit healthcare companies like Kaiser. And…
GO AWAY AND LEAVE THE REST OF US ALONE.
As an American citizen resident in France I receive my excellent, timely,and inexpensive health care courtesy of the French government. My yearly payment is based on my international income, so, yes, the richeryou are the more you pay, but by any standards it’s a bargain–roughly1/6 of the cost of my US insurance when I left in 2006. A doctor’s visit couldn’t be simpler. After paying the doctor a standard 22 eurofee you receive a stamped bill which you submit to the national health service. Several weeks later 18 euros turns up in your bank account. Medications are markedly less expensive than in the US and you receive your rebate on them as well. If you have a chronic or
acute illness you receive a 100% rebate and receive more care (not
less, folks!). Bump up policies to cover the difference for the rest of
us are available and very affordable. There are two doctors in my local office—no receptionist, no staff of thousands to research and fill out insurance forms. Medical Centers operate much the same way,
on a larger scale. Health care is not rationed. The French wouldn’t stand for it.
France is not a “perfect” country, but in this respect it gets it just
right. I’ve never, so far, been a large consumer of health care–thanks to luck and good genes–but I’m happy to live in a country
where good health care is considered a basic right. I long for this
for my homeland. Oh, please, you Dems I’ve long supported, step up
to the plate.
obamabot, You just keep drinking that kool aid.Sooner or later ,you will get your fill. What the hell are your demobots in congress waiting for. They have No ba%%.They don`t need the republican votes. This will be all the chicken sh%% demobots end to survival
Y’know, what many people don’t know is that if you are under 65 and you become disabled then you fall into a hellish medical insurance hole where you can get and pay for CROBA for 18 ,omths..and its not cheap, by any means….then you have 6 months where you’re not really insurable by anyone and their is NO PUBLIC OPTION for you. So if you get sick and its even more serious than your original disability then you are going to die. This include diabetes who need insulin. This includes folks who have hart conditions that require drug coverage. This includes everyone who become disabled.
Think about THAT when you talk with your representative. It most definately could be YOU. But not your representative…They have some of the best health coverage in the world!
Thank for your preciouse time in coming up with this post. Can you provide more information on this topic? I’ve already subscribed to your post via Google News Reader to let me read them as soon as possible.
I don