22 House "centrists" offer support for a "robust" public health insurance plan!

[Better Believe It]

Band of House centrists offers support for ‘robust’ public health insurance plan
By Mike Soraghan
The Hill
07/09/09

A band of 22 New Democrat and Blue Dog lawmakers say they support a “robust” government-run health plan, boosting chances of moving healthcare reform with a public insurance plan through the House.

Democratic centrists remain the biggest obstacle to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s (D-Calif.) ability to pass a healthcare bill with a public plan, and many conservative Democrats oppose a public option as unfair to private insurers.

But the letter from the 22 New Dems and Blue Dogs indicates opposition from this group is far from universal.

“We have a broader coalition to pass this than what was assumed before,” said Rep. Lois Capps (Calif.), a New Democrat who circulated the letter supporting a public option with Rep. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.). “While we may belong to a more moderate branch, we want it known that we support the public option.”

The 20 New Democrats on the letter represent nearly one-third of the 68-member caucus. It is signed by two Blue Dogs and three members who are both New Dems and Blue Dogs.

Please read the complete article at:

http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/band-of-house-centrists-offers-support-for-robust-public-health-insurance-plan-2009-07-09.html

[annabanana]

1. Interesting diversity in House "New Democrats" group.. pity

there isn't this kind of flexibility in the Senate.

[davidpdx]

16. The Senate is going to be the problem

No matter what people try compromise on the Republicans and the DINO's are going to be against public health care. They want to label it socialism, let'em.

They need to set a deadline for negotiations to end and then ram it through if people continue to obstruct this.

[lindisfarne]

2. The real question is what are the conditions for their support. The article doesn't really address t

this. Perhaps none. But I'm cynical.

Their votes aren't really necessary. Let them decide whether to vote for or against it.

[Merlot]

3. "conservative Democrats oppose a public option as unfair to private insurers."

And not having insurance, or being under-insured is unfair to their constituents.

I just called my congress critter again (called last week too). He hasn't announced his position yet. I told them in no uncertain terms that non support of public option would mean he looses my vote.

Adam Schiff - If you're in his district, give him a call. He's usually on the good side of issues, cant understand why he's dragging his feet on this one.

[DrToast]

6. Schiff is for a public option

At least according to: http://standwithdrdean.com/where_congress_stands?chamber=House&party=D&state=CA&hc_status=&commit=Filter

[Merlot]

9. Called his office and they said that he has not announced his position yet

[DrToast]

12. What the hell? That's not cool

I haven't called him because I saw his name on Howard Dean's site and HCAN. I'm going to have to bug him now.

[Merlot]

14. Please do!

I called two weeks ago and got the "he hasn't announced his position yet" and I today and got the same answer.

Told the person taking the message to tell him that if he supports public option he needs to say so now, and if he doesn't support it he needs to explain himself. And if he doesn't support it to count on losing my vote.

I'm out of patience.

[DrToast]

20. He's going to be on the Ed Show today at 3:00 PM PST. n/t

[DrToast]

7. .

.

[Jakes Progress]

18. I call or email my senators on these things. But

it is a useless gesture. I live in Texas where cornyn and hutchison wet them selves trying to make corporations happy. We have a few progressive representatives, but big oil, pharma, insurance have a pair of fawning lap dancers from Texas to do their bidding in the senate.

[TayTay]

4. Are you sure this is what they said?

According to Politico they said:
"—A group of 22 wayward New Democrats expressed their hope that government-sponsored health coverage would piggyback on Medicare's pre-existing network, despite earlier opposition to the idea from caucus leaders.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0709/24756.html#ixzz0KovYnedP&D"

Perhaps a loyalty test on whether or not they favor a public trigger or fixing Meedicare first would be in order. After all, another source, like Fox News or Roll Call might have heard it differently. It doesn't matter how many times they say they are in favor of the public option if they once were overheard by someone without attribution saying that they favored something else.

Better get right on that and call their offices and make sure they didn't not say they would support this.

[Thrill]

5. Keep up the pressure

.

[BlooInBloo]

8. Sounds like the pressure is working. Good news!

[NYC Democrat]

10. the New Dems are never as big a problem as the blue dogs they almost always fall in line in the end.

[EC]

11. I wasn't really worried about

the house...it's the Senate I worry about.

[wroberts189]

13. Looks like the MoveOn and other ads are working. nt

[rocktivity]

15. Things sure seem to have tightened up since the House Dems got

their 60-vote concealed carry weapon!

:headbang:
rocktivity

[Jennicut]

17. Chris Murphy is my rep in CT...he is a good guy and listens to us pretty well here.

Good to see this.

[Cleita]

19. So they want to join the Republicans in giving tax payer's money to

the middlemen parasitic insurance industry, the industry that caused the health care crisis to begin with. Okay, I have a proposal. Every insurance policy from now on has to have full and comprehensive coverage including dental and vision with no deductibles and no co-pays. There can be no denying coverage because of the patients' health care histories. There can be no dropping coverage because of a patient's illness. They must pay agreed to fees set by the doctors, clinics and hospitals. The premium must be the same for everyone to be set by the government who will be paying for it. The government will only buy those insurances that are from non-profit outfits. If they agree to this, then do it. If not, then get out of the way, so that, we the people, and our government can hammer out a program that will work for us without any middlemen.

In the meantime those of us with Blue Dog and corporate whore Democratic leadership need to start looking for new candidates to run against them in the primaries.