Signed Letter From Landrieu Shows She Supported Public Option Before She Opposed It

Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.) pledged her support for a public health care option less than six months before she announced opposition to such a plan, according to a signed letter she sent to a major reform coalition dated November 4th.

Read the letter, obtained by the Huffington Post, here.

"I'm not open to it. I'm not open to a public option," Landrieu told the Huffington Post early Tuesday afternoon. "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."

It only took a few hours for her rejection of the public plan to become ammunition for the GOP. After lunch with his colleagues on Tuesday, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell used Landrieu's rejection of a public health care option to make the case that the nation doesn't want such a "government plan."

McConnell, after citing a Washington Post editorial opposed to the public option, turned his attention to Landrieu.

"Apparently Sen. Landrieu just made an announcement a while ago that a government plan is a bad idea, and so I would strongly recommend to the administration, and to the majority in Congress, that if we're serious about getting a bipartisan health reform bill...the best way to go forward on a bipartisan basis would be to take out the government plan," a pleased McConnell told reporters.

Landrieu had told the coalition Health Care for America Now (HCAN) in April that she supported a public option, which would compete against private plans. She signed a pledge that she supported a "choice of a private insurance plan, including keeping the insurance you have if you like it, or a public insurance plan without a private insurer middleman that guarantees affordable coverage."

Landrieu went even further and drafted a letter to HCAN specifically spelling out her support for a public option.

Story continues below

advertisement

"HCAN principles embody an approach that actually delivers a solution of guaranteed quality, affordable health care for all in America. Under this approach, everyone gets a choice of health insurance plans, including the right to keep your current insurance, choose another private plan or to join a public health insurance plan," she wrote in April.

"Again," she concluded, "I support the HCAN Statement of Common Purpose, and I oppose the 'on your own' approaches to health care reform that go against these principles. And, I salute the efforts of the broad grassroots coalition represented by Health Care for America Now to advance this most critical of issues."

The efforts of the coalition that she saluted will now be directed at her.

Throughout her congressional career, Landrieu has raised $1,668,693 from health insurance and health care interests -- broken down by "health professionals" ($607,616), "Insurance" $401,731, "Hospitals/Nursing Homes" $269,645, "Pharmaceuticals/Health Products" $224,696 and "Health Services/HMOs" ($165,005). HuffPost blogger Sahil Kapur helped gather the campaign figures from the Center for Responsive Politics.

Landrieu's office has been getting deluged by calls from reporters since the news of her public plan rejection broke and her spokesman Aaron Saunders responded to a request for a comment with a statement:

"Senator Landrieu is committed to reforming the health care system and ensuring that all Americans are covered. She is reviewing all of the reform proposals. Senator Landrieu does not believe that health care reform starts with a public option. However, she is open to compromise in a comprehensive legislative package, and is focused on appropriate consumer protection and patient-centered care."

Landrieu Letter -

Comments

[dwright]

Okay you folks in her state need to step up and put the pressure on her big time. Tell that the Lobbyist money won't help her get elected because you don't care how much money she has you will vote against her in the next election if she doesn't vote for the people on this one.

[mediamarv]

Wonder how much money it took to get her to change her mind. I know LA is a cheap state with low standards ('cept in music) but I hope she made as much as Barbour in Mississippi would have asked for.

[TParrish]

The amount would depend upon whether the sign on her office door read "For Sale" or "For rent".

[jimfl]

It's time for the Democratic Party too dump this CROOK.

[TeeOff]

Here is an interesting thing. The US is a signatory to the UN declaration of Human Rights.
http://www.un.org/en/documents/udhr/index.shtml#a1

I draw your attention to article 25 regarding health care.
"Article 25.
(1) Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control.
(2) Motherhood and childhood are entitled to special care and assistance. All children, whether born in or out of wedlock, shall enjoy the same social protection. "

Since we are obliged to honour the treaties we sign does this make health care as shown in the treaty a constitutional or legislative requirement? For those of you who are lawyers out there I propose the question.

Also - look at article 5 of said declaration
"Article 5.
No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. "
I guess we don't honour this one either.

[Nutcase]

Any treaty ratified by 2/3 rds of the Senate becomes the equivalent of provisions of the Constitution. They outrank legislation.

[GeorgeP922]

Ryan, how soon will your bosses let you go on TV.
Your hard work better pay off soon!

Again EXCELLENT reporting!

[JABean]

Is there really any politician who is not a liar? They all think the job is for life, and everything they do, has everything to do with getting re-elected. That's what Landrieu is all about. Same with the rest of the bluedogs. Max Bacus, Ben Nelson etc. They have no courage. What they do have is a bundle of health insurance company donations.

I am quite disappointed every time I read another article about another thing Pres Obama is backing away from-- things he promised. If he does not deliver on healthcare in a meaningful way, he does not deserve to be re-elected. And, if he fails to do so by the end of this year, it will not get done.

[Nutcase]

Like every other politician that opposes a public option and/or single-payer, she is a well-paid political pro.sti.tute for the leeches that are the healthcare industry. She is just earning her keep.

To her and the others, reform, healthcare, public good and such are simply groupings of letters from the alphabet. They have no ideology. They have no concept of morality. They have only a mirror and an ego.

[HeartTlc]

that's why we have to keep the pressure on so that these elected officials can learn that the vote is more powerful than the dollar. Keep the letters and calls coming. If we don't do this, for sure our so-called advocates will sell us out to the highest insurance bidder. Landrieu is just the tip of the iceberg.

[jazzman]

Obama's not backing off on this issue but he can't do it without our support. God write the blue dogs and email. Put the pressure on man, it will help the cause and make you feel better.

[SOLERSO68]

woops! wrong blonde

[vgirl1]

Senator Landrieu, against the millions of Americans who voted for health care reform. I hope her constituents are paying attention and noting that she is in favor of the system that is bankrupting them and our country.

I hope her constituents remember it each time they pay that increased monthly premium or pay that higher deductible or get turned down because their insurer decides what medical care is appropriate for them, or a collegue is refused medical insurance because they have a pre-condition or when they have a catastophic illness that leads them into bankruptcy because they cannot pay and their insurance won't pay. And, remember, it was the Republicans who passed the law that in bankruptcy you cannot be freed from medical debt.

I hope Ms. Landrieu's flip flop position haunts her for the rest of her elected term and ensures she does not get another one.

[jazzman]

Write her and tell her what you think and tell her that if she doesn't change her mind your working for her opponent in the primary even if that means sending checks in out of state. Put the pressure on!!!

[mbsq]

Give me the public option I voted for in November. In a democracy we get to choose to set up public services like Police, Fire Department, Post, FDIC, Public Parks, etc. It's not communism, it's my choice as a voter. Consent of the governed. I will gladly pay taxes for it-- that will be cheaper than my current plan. Health is a public interest, not a commodity. Stop getting in the way, Landrieu.

[SOLERSO68]

why WOULDNT she be against it now? im sure the insurance companies reminded her they they put up half the bribe money to that disgrace of a NY govenor to get her hand picked to go to the senate. primary primay primay

[bygollymissmolly]

Apparently she is getting hammered over this stand. I heard about this on the Thom Hartmann program and a caller called in to say that she had been trying for a half an hour to get through to her Washington office and had given up because the lines were so jammed. She then tried Landrau's local office and they weren't answering their phones. Imagine that?

I sure hope the Democrats in LA find someone to run against her in the primary. She is a useless piece of $hit DINO.

[Mr. Cobb]

I'm one of her constituents and voted for her twice. I called her office, told them that and demanded a single payer public option.

[EmeraldWorld]

How pathetic. It's glaringly obvious that the language of MONEY made her change her mind.

[jp5472]

Exactly why she and anyone else who opposes this is opposing it - the "Language of Money"! Protect those profits of big insurance and pharmaceuticals even if it is bankrupting our country and its citizenry so those campaign funds keep rolling in. I like the one thing I heard on the radio not too long ago. Senators and Reps should wear suits like race car drivers where they wear all the patches on the suit showing who they are sponsored (bought) by. We could also require them to list it on the first page of their official websites, even list the corporate names under their name when they appear on TV. Let's see just who these "representatives" are representing!

[MIVOTE]

Money talks...wonder where her's is coming from.

[lazercat2008]

You have to admit, not many Democrats get money from DCI Group.

1 JPMorgan Chase & Co $42,399 $33,400 $8,999
2 Pilot Catastrophe Services $36,800 $36,800 $0
3 Patton Boggs LLP $35,100 $30,100 $5,000
4 Edison Chouest Offshore $32,400 $32,400 $0
5 Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold $28,800 $19,800 $9,000
6 Entergy Services $28,400 $28,400 $0
7 Acadian Ambulance Service $28,298 $18,300 $9,998
8 Jones, Walker et al $25,010 $17,050 $7,960
9 ActBlue $22,900 $22,900 $0
10 Dci Group $22,250 $18,250 $4,000