Public Option Not Vital to Health Reform, Teamsters’ Hoffa Says

[cal04]

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=a8D03Ah4QAaU

Teamsters President James Hoffa said dropping the so-called public option wouldn’t be a “deal killer” for health-care legislation, signaling a split among leaders of unions that are a core constituency of President Barack Obama.

“We’ve got to find out what’s doable,” Hoffa, head of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, said in an interview on Bloomberg Television’s “Political Capital with Al Hunt,” which airs today. “I think it’s important to get something done this time and declare a victory.”

Hoffa’s position adds to debate among Obama supporters over how best to accomplish an overhaul of the U.S. health-care system, the president’s top domestic priority. Richard Trumka, who takes over as president of the 11 million-member AFL-CIO this month, said Sept. 1 that a government-run insurance program known as the public option is an “absolute must.”

There are no litmus tests when it comes to health-care legislation, Hoffa said. Dropping the public option is “not a deal killer,” the leader of the 1.4 million-member Teamsters union said. “The goal is to go after those 50 million people that don’t have health care.”

[rwheeler31]

1. Will this man just suthfup.

[DCKit]

2. Tell U.S. Jimmy, what is the magical, non-P.O., corporate health care plan...

that will cover the uninsured and cost current subscribers and taxpayers nothing?

Time for the I.R.S. to start looking into Mr. Hoffa's assets. I have a feeling he's just come into a large sum of money. Then again, perhaps it's just an appointment to a really peachy job at one of the big insurance corporations, once he leaves the Unions behind.

At France's rate of spending, Medicare 4 All will free up 1.14 TRILLION dollars for consumers to pump into the economy. There isn't a better plan.

[global1]

3. Just Asking - Did Someone Get To Hoffa To Say This.......nt

[Alhena]

4. They made him an offer he couldn't refuse

[Jakes Progress]

5. They offered him free health care. nt

[Sebastian Doyle]

6. Yeah, I'll bet....

"Jimmy, how would you like to see your father? We can arrange it. What size cement shoe do you wear?

[laughingliberal]

7. And just how does he intend to...

"go after the 50 million people?"