Mary Landrieu Opposed To Public Health Care Option

Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.) said on Tuesday that she is opposed to the creation of a public health care plan patients could opt into that would compete with private insurance.

"No, I'm not open to it. I'm not open to a public option," said Landrieu. "However, I will remain open to a compromise, a full compromise. Public option is not something that I support. I don't think it's the right way to go."

Landrieu is a key swing-voting "centrist" Democrat. Her vote may be less valuable, however, if Democrats decide to move health care reform through the Senate using the reconciliation process, which requires only a majority vote.

In May, Landrieu told the Huffington Post she was leaning against the public option but still considering it. "I am actually not sure," she said at the time. "I don't think I am [for it], but I told the folks that are promoting it that I would talk with them, but I am an original cosponsor of the Wyden-Bennett bipartisan proposal -- the only bipartisan proposal that I know of. And so I'm going to stay focused on that as a core, but I'm not going to shut the door on anything right now."

The Wyden-Bennett plan does not include a public option.

Though she is now opposed to the public option, she said she may still vote for a reform package that includes it. "It would be unlikely, but I'm not saying no, no and no," she said.

"I know there are some people really pushing this public option, but I think it really undermines the essence of our efforts to create a real market-based private sector model but with strong, I guess, safeguards for consumers," she said.

Landrieu said that in her estimation, a public option is not likely to be a part of the final reform plan. "I don't think that's likely, but I'm not counting all the votes," she said.

Asked if there were any other Democrats in the Senate that she knew of firmly opposed to a public option, she didn't miss a beat. "Ben Nelson," said Landrieu.

Get HuffPost Politics On Facebook and Twitter!

Comments

[lazercat2008]

No surprise here 35% percent of campaign money came from the health care industry lobby. And a wopping 11 percent from the Conservative Christians.

Lawyers & Lobbyists $1,641,791 19.2 %
Finance/Insur/RealEst $1,337,903 15.6 %
Ideology/Single-Issue $968,979 11.3 %
Misc Business $780,624 9.1 %
Energy/Nat Resource $696,211 8.1 %
Health $629,966 7.4 %

[BoyInBOYCOTT]

Mary Landrieu and her entire family are OWNED by hospitals,insurance companies, Big Pharma, and oil companies.

Southern Democrats are such a bizzaro mutation, I can't wait to vote her OUT!

[HST]

"but with strong, I guess, safeguards for consumers," she said."

She guesses?

I really didn't hear a rational arguement as to why she was against the public option.

[Palemoon]

See, this is the crap that I had been worried about and was starting to see a while back, but I didn't realize it was going to happen so fast and so obviously. It's the reason I was concerned about 2010 and 2012, lol.

The Dems got everything they wanted in 2006 and 2008, now they are completely blowing it by inaction, taking too many things off the table to appease the Republicans whom they had no business needing to appease in the first place, and now the in-fighting among the party starts. I tell you, it's like that old saying, they can really screw up a wet dream. They get a mission from the people to do the right thing, to right the wrongs and bring this country forward and here we are, EPIC FAIL.

Now I can't even count on Mr. Obama getting ANYTHING accomplished in his first term, which may end up being his only term if the Dems keep digging their graves like they are.

[jdt67]

This is the least shocking thing I've heard all day. Sadly, the very people she supposedly served in Louisiana would benefit greatly. I wish somebody would vote this woman out of office. Having the majority is nice, but it's meaningless with senators like this.

[Hnorc]

I'm not in favor of public funds rebuilding a city that should not have been there in the first place. How about that Mary?

[vonPinto]

Yikes

[cosmicmom]

Senator L and all you other so-called "representatives of the people". It really doesn't matter whether YOU like public health insurance or not. How do your CONSTITUENTS feel? You folks are supposed to be representing US! Try to remember that! *sheesh*

[BUTCHER111]

Funny how she’s not against the public PAYING for HER Health Care. Maybe WE should be open with getting rid of Health Care for elected officials and give them the Free Market Choice.

[Ergon]

Run against her in the primaries

[RickyPoo]

If any Dem ever gets enough of a spine down in LA to primary challenge Ms. Landrieu, I will be happy to send a check to him/her with the following note.

"No, I'm not open to Mary Landrieu being a Democratic Senator. She's not someone I support. I don't think her views are the right way to go."

[katheyquilts]

oh, and she voted against the mortgage reform bill too.....so she's right....way right...

[coot08]

how is she going to say she's not open to it, but wants a compromise? what kind of backwards bs is that???

[Querent]

It's the usual "centrist" gobbledygook. She wants to continue to be a US Senator, so she works for the big contributors. Like most centrists.

[cmdrgmh]

She is stupid. We don't need her or anyone in favor of private Health Care.

[GerryS]

it sure is a good thing ML has LIFETIME health insurance paid for by the US taxpayers

[4real]

Ok fine let's take away the healthcare from our elected officials and everyone do for self. Let's make it fair for everyone.

[IndelibleVoice]

Big Pharma and Insurance are mobilizing. If you haven't yet, please take the time to read this great post.

http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/blogs/robert_reich/2009/06/the-public-option-smokescreens.php?ref=fpd******

If the people aren't heard, if we fail to speak up, universal healthcare will be formed in the board room -- not Congress!

[jorge4u]

That sounds like the famous or infamous "Energy Policy."