Blue Dogs Backsliding On Anti-Health Care Reform Backsliding

Rep. Jane Harman (D-Calif.) is "unwavering" in her opposition to a Blue Dog Coalition health care position issued late last week, she said Tuesday. The Blue Dogs, a caucus of conservative Democrats, issued a set of principles opposing a public health care option unless it was triggered by the failure of private insurers to meet certain goals.

Harman, in a statement, said she supports a public option without a trigger. "I will oppose any plan that does not include this option, and am unwavering in my opposition to the so-called 'Blue Dog trigger,'" said Harman.

On Monday, the Huffington Post reported that the Blue Dogs had backed the trigger even though 20 of their 51 members, including Harman, had pledged to the reform coalition Health Care for America Now! (HCAN) that they supported a public option without one. (HCAN and other reform advocates consider a trigger to be the death of the public option.) If all 20 kept to their word, the Blue Dogs wouldn't have had enough votes to back a trigger.

Harman said she's sticking by her pledge.

"I am proud to have signed the HCAN (Health Care for America Now!) pledge to seek universal coverage," she said. "I am a strong supporter of universal health coverage, which is why I support the health care reform plan being developed by President Obama, Senator [Ted] Kennedy, and Congressman [Henry] Waxman. Like them, I believe that the bill must include a public health insurance option which guarantees all Americans access to quality, affordable health care."

Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D-Calif.), a Blue Dog who also signed the pledge, told the Huffington Post she backs a public option without a trigger.

"America can't afford to wait for health care reform. While a single-payer system would be ideal, I am prepared to support other measures that also reduce costs, preserve doctor choice, and assure affordable, quality health care for all Americans," she said in a statement. "I think a public option without a trigger would be a good way to fix what's wrong with health care while preserving what works."

Rep. Jim Cooper (D-Tenn.), the vice chairman of the Blue Dog Health Care Task Force, has also since come out in favor of a public option without a trigger.

UPDATE: Add Blue Dog Reps. Mike Thompson (Calif.) and Leonard Boswell (Iowa).

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Comments

[Carolab]

Cenk Uygur: These Democrats Could Derail All Of Obamas Plans

http://culturalhealth.blogspot.com/2009/03/what-l-is-blue-dog-democrat.html

[ChelseaC]

See-- this goes to show it's not just the Republicans who block reform.
IMHO, I think Dems who block real health care reform (a public option or HR-676)
are actually WORSE than Republicans. At least with Rethugs, you know what you're getting, you know they don't care if you live or die with no health care--but a Dem to do this same dirty action is worse because they are supposed to be the champion of The People.

Throw these Demathugs out on their a**.

[impik]

Any Dem who will vote against public plan, should be kicked out of office.

[Gatorray11]

I live in the district of Blue Dog Democrat Joe Baca and will remind him of that. His heavy Latino constituency certainly needs it.

[ReelBusy]

Not just Dems....an­yone

[Badger84]

Mary Landrieu's constituents need to contact her in huge numbers and tell her they will remember her position come election time.

[medon]

Harman is too old for public office.

How about Congress give ALL Americans a health care system close to what these turkeys have voted for themselves. It’s so over the top my reps – Boxer and Feinstein, McKeon won’t even send a copy of their benefits. This is NOT even including one of the most LUXO “retirement” plans on the planet – other than perhaps Putin.

[Carolab]

Jane is 63. She's not "too old".

[Badger84]

She's not too old but is a reminder that wisdom doesn't necessarily come with age.

[damebee]

She's not too old just too Bush!

[Tulka2]

In the July 2009 issue of "Architechtual Digest" there's an article about the auction of Yves Saint Laurent's art and furniture in Paris by Christie's Auction House. It happened in February 2009. After the September 2008 bailout.

The rich showed up and spent millions. Someone bought an Eileen Gray chair (one chair) for 28.3 million dollars. That is not a typo. It's the most anyone ever spent for a chair. Paintings, art, furniture. There's no end to money. The rich were bailed out by the U.S. taxpayer and make their elected minions squeal like pigs that they will suffer, suffer, suffer, if they make three billion a year instead of five hundren million.

I am not a communist, but this is class war and the rich started it. They have bought a lot of people in government­... both parties. A few very rich people in America ended up with all the money. Claw back. Taxes.

The economy will never recover if we do not drastically reform health care and that means some form of immediate public option.

[ChelseaC]

Thank you Tulka.
Actually this health care system hits more than the poor and middle class, it hits big and small business too. It hurts business except for medical supplies companies, big pharma and the health insurance industry.
Rep Jan Schakowsky D--stated that expensive health care helped to drive the auto industry into bankruptcy. It cost more to buy the employees health insurance than the steel to manufacture the darn cars!
We all need to be concerned--business too for this health care system is breaking the backs of employers that create jobs. These republicans who spew they are pro business really mean they are pro insurance, big pharma and big oil supporters. They need to be called out on the carpet for not only turning their backs on We The People, but businesses that help make up the economy.

[Tulka2]

I agree completely. What a boon it will be to enterprise when jobs are disconnected from health care.

[EducatedObserver]

"Blue Dogs Backsliding on Anti-Health Care Reform Backsliding" .... reads your headline.

Is this a new Olympics sport for the healthcare­/veterinar­ian industry?

[ATruthBeKnown]

What's that smell ?

The "Blue Dogs" feet in the fire.

[Raster]

Health care reform without a huge public option is worthless.

[Gatorray11]

I completely agree.

[ChelseaC]

I agree too.
Putting no bill through is better than putting a BAD bill through.

[dylansfan]

Absolutely!!! The trigger is only a gimmick to give Insurance companies what they want.

[Gatorray11]

This is a signature issue on which there can be no compromise. I understand we have Blue Dog Democrats who come from conservative areas and can't always go along with us progressives.

But healthcare is a vital need need that no longer can wait. We have 47 million uninsured people in this country. When they get sick they postpone care and get sicker costing much more in the long run. Or they go to emergency rooms, driving up cost for everyone. When a car is manufactured in the U.S. it costs $1,300 more than in Canada before you start. Why? Because Canadians have a single payer system.

A public option without a trigger has to be one option. It's the choice the Republican Party wants to deny the American people. Private companies say they can't compete with government. That is precisely the point. It's cheaper because there is no profit. And don't give me the BS that is not as good. We don't fare that great when the quality of healthcare is measured. Actually we rank behind Columbia.

And don't give me all these horror stories. I grew up with public healthcare in Israel and got excellent care. If it's as bad as the Republicans claim, how come GOP lawmakers use it for themselves? And how much did we spend in the last eight years to keep Dick Cheney, AKA Tricky Dickey II, alive?

[Carolab]

Speaking of "horror stories" - Watch Howard Dean blo_w over one of them at the SEIU meeting:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJOqkr-OukY

[IhaveaDREAMwhitegirl]

The "Idea" of 'health insurance' is a quaint one, almost a mysticalGrecianMyth -like thing... something we want to believe in and can just almost grasp, yet eludes us everytime while gaspingAndGrasping and paying premiums all the while.

Lobbyists and their co-conspirators, f'ya'all on a BlueDogCarpet flying on a oneway trip to Hades. We are already living your dreams, sadly.

BlueDem a Byproduct of lobbyists that is not compostable. PlasticSlogan's ad nauseum.

[Osusuki]

The Blue Dog Coalition was invented by Congressman Gary Condit to cover the fact that he never quite figured out how to really be a democrat. They were a symptom of the triangulation strategy and so-called centrist policies of the Clinton era. They need to cease to exist as a force in our federal government. Lately, the caucus has joined the Republican party in obstructing almost every one of President Obama's policies, even when those policies are the exact opposite of the failed policies of the last administration which brought our country to ruin. Blue dogs are for Republicans who are ashamed to vote for GOP candidates anymore. At least the GOP is honest with itself about wanting the country to fail.

[rsprags]

Healthcare Reform will happen and any obstructors are committing political s u i c i d e! I'm laughing at repurgs liars and blue dog cowards.
Chrysler and FIAT Supreme Court proceed as plan
Bank Bailout - 1.7 Trillion dollar profit in interest
GM - Moving full speed ahead..buy­ers for Hummer and Saturn...B­onus able to keep 50-100 dealership due to increase GM sales...RE­PURG HATERS let's boycott GM & CHRYSLER afraid the President's plan for reorganization of this two companies will succeed.
Cairo Speech ....1 win in Lebanon, Pakistani and AFG people and elders turning on the Taliban.
Iraq on target for U.S timed troop withdraws.
Recovery Plan being accelerated to create more jobs this Summer
Wall Street humming along and recession showing signs of hope and recovery.
Democrats and President object lesson in how to lead and govern
Gitmo detainees being transitioned to other countries and placed on trial via U.S. Courts and Military Commission; note without money from the Senate because they underestimated the power of a determine mind, intellectual understanding of the law, and President Obama is not afraid to make the tough decision despite the easy political road that he could take by saying we don't have anywhere to send these folks.

[Amondale]

Slacker. In office since January. What's he going to do for the next 4 1/2 months?

[NoFactsJustTruth]

With 70% of OUR country wanting this public health care option, thems ol' republican't dirt dawgs in Dem clothing had better tuck some tail if they want to keep running ...at all.

[20090120]

Check the Blue Dogs for where and how much of their campaign contributions come from private pharmacos and health insurance agencies. Self interest before the American people....­reminds of Rethugnicans.

[Gatorray11]

Good point. In fact on the Senate side, Sen. Max Baucus, the chairman of the one of the committees that is righting one of the bills, is the Democrat with the most donations from the insurance companies. The Montana Democrat has tried to keep single payer advocates off the table.

[IhaveaDREAMwhitegirl]

BlueDogs :

jellyfis h

ameboa

.parasites?!

gallupPoll windSeekers

[Amalek]

You taking that hillbilly heroin again?