Obama Restates Support For Public Plan In Meeting With Progressives

A group of progressive members of the House of Representatives met with the President on Tuesday to discuss economic and health care matters. The message that they conveyed from their meeting is that the White House supports efforts for a public plan for insurance coverage when it comes to health care reform.

One of those members, speaking to the Huffington Post after the affair, summarized it like this: "The President told us we have his backing on a public plan." The obstacle, the member added, will come in Congress, where cobbling together the votes needed to pass a health care package with a public plan could be problematic.

Needless to say, progressive health care reform advocates will be heartened to hear that Obama restated his support for a public option for insurance coverage. While the private insurance industry views this as a gateway toward universalized health care, progressives and many Democrats see it as the most affective way to bring costs under control in the near term.

More to come...

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Comments

[SmallFarm]

I prefer to have non-profit­..I'm tired of the greed.

[orianna]

No kidding? Can it be true? We stop paying bloated insurance premiums to record company profits and instead pay nothing but the true cost of health care... will it cost less? No profit to the middle man..... hmmm.... If you ask the GOP, absolutely NOT! It falls within their logic of trickle down economics, give to the rich and they'll give a trickle to you!

[TryToBeFlexible]

Single payer! Single payer! Single payer!

To heck with the criminal corrupt health insurance companies. Let them join the bread line with everyone else.

[transparent]

For profit insurance companies who make money on denying coverage and manipulating the industry should not stand between me and my health----period. When a doctor tells me I need a certain prescription, and some corporate employee who hasn't even examined me decides that i don't!!! Something is wrong with this picture---

Health insurance companies should be designated as non-profit agencies.

And corporations should not be considered people--the underlying problem to many of our economic woes.

[KaptainKen]

It is important to keep in mind that "only" about 45 million in the U.S. are not covered by health insurance of any kind. As big as this number is, it means that fully 85 percent of the people are covered.

We don't have to start from scratch here. All we have to do is expand existing programs to include the un-covered 15 percent. Surely the VA program, Medicare, Medicaid, local, state and federal employee programs, employer based programs and individually paid programs can be expanded to absorb the remaining 15 percent.

Federal subsidies to cover premium payments and co-pays for low income people will be needed. This, of course, translates to higher taxes. But not a lot higher; after all, poor people are not sick all of the time ... many currently covered people go for years steadily paying premiums with no claims other than an occasional check-up, flu shot or other routine procedure.

[westreal]

Only problem with for profit programs that you're suggesting is that hospitals can refuse treatment. Just because you pay for health care doesn't mean you get health care. The only way to guarantee treatment (for cancer, mental health, heart disease) is via single payer. You have a problem, you go in, you get treated. No arguing with your provider over experimental or pre-existing conditions.

[SmallFarm]

check check....a­nd you will be refused!!

[westreal]

I WANT UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE. Period

I want to be able to walk into a hospital and get my bad knee, which I've had for years fixed, or gotten a life threatening issue addressed BEFORE it was so bad that they would accept me at an emergency room. Or even now, have someone look at my eyes, which are seeping some type of sticky fluid that covers the retinas. Every tax paying American should receive Universal health care. Millions of Americans are experiencing health issues but wouldn't be able to afford to see a doctor even under Pres. Obama's plan.

For shame America. For shame

[rain33]

whatever is said in the meeting, i hope that it's good news for single payer and hopes that everyone has healthcare­.taxpayers are paying congressmen and senators for healthcare so why can all americans get same healthcare as politicans­?.it's time for folks to wake up and stop listening to right-wing nuts and think about their health instead.

[BarackstarObama]

I would say public option more than plan, but either way, President Obama knows it is the key to his health care agenda.

[postman606]

Dr. flossopy, who I believe is an over paid dentist, bilking the current system, asked for a link. This is a poll of doctors regarding their opinion on our current system vs UHC. 63% of these doctors believe that UHC delivers more quality care.

http://www.pnhp.org/facts/single_payer_resources.php

[flossophy]

Wait a sec... you're going to trust a poll given by PNHP?

Physicians for a National Health Program... "is a single issue organization advocating a universal, comprehensive single-payer national health program. PNHP has more than 16,000 members and chapters across the United States."

nice try. This is like the NRA showing a poll that says 63% of their members like red meat.

postman606­... you're gonna have to be more discerning with the information you absorb.

[Carolab]

As I keep saying, CONGRESS is the problem -- AND the private ownership of our money supply, which CONGRESS has the power to change.

PRESSURE CONGRESS FOR THESE CHANGES. They are supposed to be YOUR representatives.

I wrote to mine, Betty McCollum, about credit card reform and what I got in a letter today was "be assured I will consider these bills (H 627 and H 1608) carefully and keep your views in mind should either bill come to the House floor for a vote". Nothing about how she PERSONALLY feels or where she STANDS except to state the obvious that "unfair practices of some credit card companies have contributed to increased household debt; this is making it more difficult for families who are trying to make ends meet".

I say we should have a website that EXPOSES Congressmen and women where we can get real in-depth reporting on each of them and report back when we get non-answers like these.

[Carolab]

On the other hand, here's a little tidbit about my Congresswoman on the topic of health care reform where she is actually demonstrating some strength:

A Club for Growth member nominated McCollum for daring to suggest health care is a right:

I’d like to nominate Rep. Betty McCollum of Minnesota’s 4th District. Fortunately she’s not my Congressman, but last week she introduced H.J. Res. 4, which proposes a Constitutional Amendment decreeing health care is a Constitutional right. It’s clear that McCollum doesn’t understand economic liberty. Nothing can be considered a “right” when obtaining that right strips the rights from someone else. The text of her resolution can be found here.

http://minnesotaindependent.com/25095/comrade-betty-mccollum-in-running-for-club-for-growth-big-gov-prize

We need to ALSO make sure that idio-ts like the Club for Growth don't get their way for putting pressure on when our Congresspeople DO publicly take the RIGHT stand.

[KQuark]

Carolab and Philip Taylor you really need to get a room because you are obvious soul mates.

[flossophy]

Carolab is sane... she/he wants to get rid of W00drow Wilson's devastating brainchild, the Fed. A worthwhile endeavor.

However, Philip is completely off the deep end. He's an angry cut n paste missive posting machine.

[PhilipTaylor]

D1SGRACED, F0RMER SPE_KER N_WT G1NGRICH IS FOR THE R1CH C0RPORATE ELITES: C0AL, 01L, HEA1TH CARE, and M1LITARY

1. N_wt is trying to refocus Healthcare on trivialized Electronic Checks, to keep focus off Insurance Reform and Health Care Reform and to hide his health agenda of Build More Hospitals, Training More doctors, and Pay lower wages to w0rkers.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBGcIm15Nrw&feature=pyv&ad=2605209504&kw=newt%20gingrich&gclid=CKePh4mR3ZkCFRYiagodThdIXg

2. Newt's "contract" is with K Street right-wing lobbyists who reward/corrupt Congress.

3. Gingrich has New flashy slogan, "American Solutions for Winning the Future," pretends to help America while using lobbyists to campaign Congress for Greater Oil and Coal Profits.

4. 14 Bush pioneers contributed over $4 million and 8 McCain supporters adding $1 million in oil money.

5. GOP majority built "K" street LOBBYING so they can profit after Congress, and write America's legislation.

6. Newt the Orwellian name maker, "American Solutions for Winning the Future" great name for taking Resources from America to give it to BIG CORPS to produce polluting earth-killing fuel.

[petef59]

It would be nice,even civil, if future citizens bodies and medical concerns were not considered a profit prduction center for health insurance stocks and executives.

[Teas]

I am uninsured and just recently had to bite the bullit and go see a doctor. The office call ALONE was 136.50!!!!­!!! Shameful!!

[coffeeusa]

All this talk about health care-I am wondering, how many doctors have been asked what they think the solution is-I do not think that Congress does perform surgeries. For some reason, I am just a little skeptical about Congress deciding about health care until we hear form all the people who work in the field. Maybe Congress should invite have a board of doctors, nurses, technicians and support staff to try and come up with some solutuions.
Look at education. The teacher's union, administrators, CEO's and politicians run it now.
I think we should look at the countries where the education system is tops. Hmmm-just a thought. I am betting that the teachers have more of a role in decisions.

[FrozenNorthObserver]

uh huh, and also said he would everything his power to fight against FISA, then voted for it and increased the powers of it once elected, said he would do everything in his power to stop the bonuses and did the oppositte, and said he would prosecute the cri mes of Bus hCo where he found them and then has refused to look for any. Reminds me of Lucy and the football.

"The President told us we have his backing on a public plan."

[DJ23]

truth stretcher

[FrozenNorthObserver]

how so? He DID vote for FISA. He DID push for bon uses and he IS try blo ck investi gations
Denying reality doesn't change it. Ask Bu sh.