Snowe’s Office Hedges On Her Support For Public Option
Did Senator Olympia Snowe really declare unequivocal support for the public health care option the other day, as some folks have reported? Her office just clarified her position to me, and it’s clear that she didn’t.
Health care reformers were excited after The New Republic reported that Snowe had declared support for the public option at a Maine rally over the weekend. TNR said a statement from Snowe had been read aloud that, according to people there, said:
I believe that the reforms we are creating will result in more competitive, affordable and innovative options for Mainers, yet we can all agree that we must not leave universal access to chance. That is why I also support a public plan which must be available from day one.
Yesterday Brian Butler asked whether these were really Snowe’s words. He was right to do so. Snowe’s office sends over a hard copy of the full statement from Snowe that was read aloud at that rally. Here’s what it actually said:
Yet we can all agree that we must not leave universal access to chance. That is why I also support a public plan which must be available from day one — in any state where private plans fail to ensure guaranteed affordable coverage.
Snowe spokesperson Julia Wanzco further clarified her position, emailing me this:
Throughout the entire health care debate, Senator Snowe has emphasized that we must first reform health insurance, and if plans then fail to offer affordable coverage, a public plan should then be offered from day one. Senator Snowe’s position remains the same on this issue.
That’s not a shift on her part towards unequivocal support for the public option.
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Way to go Greg. Knocking down TNR. I love this site! Though I do wish Snowe would shift.
Again, Dems don’t need her vote to pass a public plan – just to break a filibuster. If she finds a public plan in any form tolerable (which this seems to indicate), then there is the possibility that she won’t filibuster health care reform on the basis of a public plan.
That’s all Dems on the hill need. She can keep Reps from filibustering the bill, then vote against final passage. I’d be fine with that.
Her office isn’t saying whether she’ll vote with Dems on the procedural vote. So it’s premature to assume she won’t go with the filibuster, I’d say.
I sometimes think I have two of most disgraceful Senators in the nation here in Arizona, but they are at least upfront about how much they hate the common man.
I wonder if it would be worse to have a Senator who hates Americans perhaps a little less than a Jon Kyl, but is way more dissembling and devious about it?
@Greg
I agree with that, I wouldn’t say it’s a done deal. But she’s one of the few that hasn’t totally closed the door. The fact that she’s at least not totally against the entire premise of a public run health care plan means she might be open to at least help move past cloture.
Note, I’ve only said “the possibility” is there.
Maybe if there’s a “trigger in name only,” she’ll go along with it. It seems like lawmakers just want to fight really hard for the end result to pay lip service to their demands just so they can show their constituents they made an effort. This is why I think a good deal of the Blue Dogs will be comfortable with simple assurances and this panel that will review Medicare costs.
So a panel reviews Medicare costs. Nothing changes. The costs will still rise as the costs associated with virtually any government entitlement program always rise and they generally outstrip inflation in doing so. Name a government program that contains costs and anyone can name a hundred others that do not.
How long do you think someone named Snowe will filibuster in the heat of DC in August?
Obama can cancel their vacation altogether if he needs to.