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

[BlackWidowPilot]

And another "Greedy Old Pervert" in Dinocratic sheep's clothing comes out in the open...

Phony as a three dollar bill, phony as "the party of conservative Christian family values:"

http://www.republicanoffenders.com

Yeeeach.

Leland R. Erickson

Citizen

One of the 47 Million Americans shut out of affordable healthcare for daring to be "not profitable enough" according to the nice man from Blue Cross/Blue Shield (off the record of course)

[Lilith33]

Pre-exisiting condition?Nice how they can just cut people off if they want.

[Lilith33]

The centrists have ruined this country starting with Reagan.Tha­nks for that.

[SoccerNana]

Some large insurance corporation has her in its back pocket; there is not doubt. Louisiana crooked politics as usual. Why doesn't she give up her public health coverage?

[MintysMom]

Ring this woman's D*MN phone off the hook and let her know this is unacceptable.

[smchp]

I would like every single one of these people asked to walk the talk and drop their own public gov't provided health care. In front of cameras they should ALL be asked this! Every last one of them!

[chronic]

She's a phoney and I never liked her. Whenever I would hear her speak it made my skin crawl.

[MSNichols]

She is useless

[Garrett123]

Bo Weevils need to go.

[gloriousbeing]

"I know there are some people really pushing this public option, ....." YES! That would be US, the PUBLIC! Those who elect you! Easy to say you aren't in charge of it when you are getting YOURS for free! Hypocrisy!

[helonias]

As if she will drop her public health care coverage

[hangdogit]

Of course not! Let them eat cake!

[LiberalDemIda]

And until naysayer congresscritters to public option do that, they have ZERO CREDIBILITY and their argument is WEAK.

[StevenJay]

Let me guess. The health care industry has donated one zillion dollars to her campaign fund?

[Mogamboguru]

Who does she think she is?

The queen of heart-a.t.­t.a.c.k.s.­?

Vote that .b.i.t.c.h­. out ASAP, I say.

[marthainmaine]

If Louisiana 's elections were close to fair and transparent

Mary Landrieu and Mayor Naygun would not be in government

They are selected not elected

[Grannysue]

Just another political hack in the pockets of the Insurance and Pharmacutical industries!

[SKonnery]

Take heed any congressman who votes against single payor or public option. There will be a real voter backlash and rightly so.