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.

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Comments

[DakotaMinnesota]

America's corporations will go to war rather than give up their monopolies. Not figurative war; actual war.

[IndelibleVoice]

Wouldn't be the first time!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ki/Business_plot***

http://www.liberalslikechrist.org/about/ut/FDRcoup.html***

[Free2Speak]

It never cease to amaze me,the poorer states who will most benefit have politicians bought and paid for by Big Pharma....

[clearthinker2008]

Big Pharma = Health Care Mafia

[mcantwell]

Ms. Wish Washy needs to say what you mean, and mean what you say!

[17ladyslippers]

Just how much $$$$$ did Senator Landrieu rake in from the Insurance industry? How is it OK for 46 million people to have no health insurance? How is it OK for Americans to declare bankruptcy because of debt related to a catastrophic illness? (remember, too, the credit card lobbyists succeeded in changing the bankruptcy laws)
When will voters educate themselves to elect Senators and members of Congress that will truly keep the good of the people and not corporations and their lobbyists in mind? Why are conservatives afraid that a public health care option will take away the campaign contributions they get from the health insurance industry? Simple answer - the European models do work and make it unnecessary to even have a health insurance BUSINESS industry taking a large percentage of health care dollars in big profits and exorbitant executive compensation packages. By allowing a true market-based competition, finally, the lie that corporations are more efficient than the government would be exposed. Medicare is more efficient than the private sector.
The Republican Party is long overdue in reevaluating its raison d’être or rumors of extinction might become reality. They allowed their party to be hijacked by the religious right and now the party is being held hostage by them. Conservatives need to divorce social moral issues from government altogether and remember that the United States is not a Christian country. The founders were clear in that. Let Senators and Congress men and women do the country's real work.

[Dolmance]

Why in the hell is she being referred to as a "centrist? She's a blue dog confederate sympathizer, as common as spit in that part of the country.

[NWNHNM]

Why do these people have health insurance paid for by the taxpayers?

We need a law that says no one working for the federal government can have health insurance paid for by the federal government until there is a public option for all Americans.

The only thing that these clowns understand is money.

We need to have a boycott of all products beyond the necessities of life for a month or two; that would get the monied interests to pay attention to the most crucial domestic issue facing this country. They think that they are entitled to our money. They need to find out that they are not.

[aliceautumn]

We need to raise taxes for everyone, rich and poor, to pay for healthcare for everyone. We donthave the money to pay for it now but if we raise our taxes by a large margin, like they do in Canada, then we can afford it. I know I lived and paid taxes there for a few years. It is a big chunk of your check but you get healthcare coverage.

[KarateKid]

They're taking a big chunk of my check now, and I don't get coverage that's worth squat.

[createpeace]

I believe we would pay the insurance premiums to the government and that is what would pay for this. This is not a free ride. I don't mind paying a reasonable amount for coverage. The risk is spread out over all those enrolled.
It is unreasonalble not to be in favor of this.

[Tyler-Durden]

"i have free govt healthcare, but i don't think the public should have it. that would be wrong"

i got a b*tchslap with YOUR name on it, Mary.

[Sparty1]

Thank you!

[LiberalDemIda]

Oh I get it. Republicrat Landrieu means by "fully compromise" as in "Pro-public option Dems need to drop public option 110%".

Why is Landrieu a Dem again? And here I thought Diane Feinstein was bad...

[fscuttle]

We need to make it known that health care is the number one issue with the voters!Any opposition to public health insurance is political suicide!

[brklynivn]

A lot of people who voted for Rethuglicans are also starting to lose their health insurance, independent truck drivers, etc. This is not a wise move by the Blue Dogs, we can talk about everything -- but health care like the rest of the world even if it means the exterminat­ion/sacrif­ice of the insurance companies is non-negotiable!

[bikerdude]

It is up to us who are FOR public health care to keep the names of all the congress people who vote against us and keep reminding the voters in their area what this sleazy politician tried to do to them.

[Losercuda]

Ah, yes, another "Profile in Courage" nominee.

While I don't feel strong either way on "public health insurance," I can't help but throw up watching Senator Landreau opposed it.

She represents one of the poorest, unhealthiest, and uninsured state in the country. She can create any "private" health insurance option she wants, but the vast majority of her sickest, most unhealthy consitituents are never going to see it.

They will be stuck in Medicaid -- and we will all pay double for it.

God, what a joke.

[Sparty1]

Exactly. Great post my friend.

[Travis bdboy]

She's on the insurance company's pockets

[bikerdude]

Why would anyone from her home state vote for her? She takes with both hands and does little for the people she represents. We NEED single payer, universal health care right now. Mary be damned.