Pelosi: Health Care Reform Can't Pass Without Public Option

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told the Huffington Post Thursday that a health care overhaul that did not include a public option wouldn't make it through the House because it "wouldn't have the votes."

At a press conference earlier in the morning, Pelosi had been asked if including a public plan that would compete with private insurance was "essential" to health care reform.

"Can you have effective health care reform without a public option?" a reporter asked.

The goal, she responded, was affordability and accessibility. "If you have another way to do that, put it on the table. And that's where we are. Everything should be on the table," she said.

The open-ended answer led some reporters after the press conference to wonder if she was backing off her statement to MSNBC Wednesday that a bill without a public option wouldn't get out of the House.

Not at all, she said. Asked by HuffPost if she would allow a reform package without a public option out of the House, she responded: "It's not a question of allow. It wouldn't have the votes."

The bill would lack the votes because the GOP generally opposes Democratic reform proposals, and the 77 member Congressional Progressive Caucus -- rarely heard from on the Hill -- has been particularly vocal in its commitment to oppose any reform that doesn't include a public option. The public plan's popularity extends beyond progressives and is broadly popular with the Congressional Black Caucus, Congressional Hispanic Caucus and even two-fifths of Blue Dogs, the conservative Democratic coalition.

Pelosi, during the press conference, also rejected a compromise proposal by Sen. Kent Conrad (D-N.D.) to create private, nonprofit, regional health care cooperatives instead of a national public option.

Pelosi wasn't having it: "Not instead of a public option, no," she said.

Get HuffPost Politics On Facebook and Twitter!

Comments

[stell]

01:39 PM on 06/12/2009

Did she say that single payer was off the table?

[TableTalk]

01:17 PM on 06/17/2009

Last night I watched a replay of the Senate Hearings on Health Care. Three Insurance Company top dogs were testifying. The ideas they seemed to be pushing were (1) "mandatory coverage", (2) "no need for a public plan"; (3) "keep it at the state level" (Divide and conquer?). It seems to me they are counting on their Corporate allies in Congress to destroy any possibility of a public option. They certainly want mandated enrollment to enlarge their paying pool, while minimizing/destroying competition and group bargaining power, and continuing to exploit the American public, while feeding at the public trough.
How anyone can believe a word that comes out of their corporate mouths is beyond my comprehension.
There was one believable voice in the group. This was a professor from Georgetown university, who seemed to be the only honest and informed participant, confronting the Senators on their non-enforcement of the few existing HIPPA rules that could possibly protect consumers.

[Samalabear]

10:56 AM on 06/12/2009

I still want to know what the word "affordable" means. It is such BS. Affordability is relative.

[SPQR1775]

11:43 PM on 06/11/2009

CHANGE IS IN THE UNIVERSE and is gaining speed in the Galactic period on earth. YES, Honorabloe Speaker Pelosi, I second your argument, however, Public Plan watered down is a risk we cannot take. The Progressives, Blacks, Hispanic, Blue Dog caucauses, need to unite and DEMAND once and for all an AMERICA STRONG-HEALTHCARE for all Public Option (bring the cost down) for too long the private industry and the pharmaceuticals along with GOP Congressional delegation and some Blue Dogs like Conrad, Nelson, Laundreiu and other's from Indiana have lie in bed with the Industry and fleece AMERICA. The rural states from Indiana to the Dakotas are the more in need and yes South Carolina, Lousiana, Mississippi, Arkansa, Oklahoma, Alaska, Alabama, TN, Kentucky, W. Virginia and others have the worst education, health care, and support system for their people. Must be the water cause only the Universe know what collectively these people are not STANDING UP FOR THEIR RIGHTS! HEALTHCARE IS A RIGHT............MARCH ON WASHINGTON JUNE 25, LETS ENSURE WE GET THE HEALTH CARE WE DESERVE. FDA must be giving the right to regulate alternative sweetners in diet soda's, soft drinks, and other food product. The neocons highjack Reagan adminstration while he was in the hospital; they try to get Askcroft to sign laws on his potential death bed, when he refuse to sign the constitution over to Cheney, they fire him. THE GOP is a confederacy operating in the shawdows, it is time to dismantle the CONFEDERACY NOW!

[BlueOnBlue]

08:04 PM on 06/11/2009

The Democrats in Congress have no idea how to bargain. Starting with a"public option" is to already give away most of the bargain. Republicans start with "no way, no how." They will then accept a crippled plan which provides for a very, very limited government option in only exceptional cases, while ensuring that everyone else is mandated to buy health insurance from the current private companies. As a result, we will turn health care reform into a shambles while increasing corporate profits.

The Democrats, had they any sense, would have started with single payer and then been willing to compromise on a robust public plan open to all who wanted it. THAT would be reform.

[textynn]

10:51 PM on 06/11/2009

The Dems are playing good cop - bad cop. They are just giving the people lip service while they allow the medical insurance industry to ream the public at will. Now that they got the majority the jig is up. They are phony and we will be replacing them. Nancy P is first on my list. The people mean nothing to this people the truth is obvious.

[jmpurser]

05:55 PM on 06/11/2009

Speaker Pelosi is participating in a con job. The "public option" is not a "public plan". It is in fact yet another way to foist the costs of a system (poorer, older, sicker people) off onto the government while driving the healthier, wealthier, patients to private companies.

The "public option" as it is currently being discussed would require the poor to submit to a financial audit to prove their need, only to be taxed additionally in order to get health care. The rest of "the public" would have no option but to buy from one of the private plans currently at the heart of Americas Health Care disaster. This is neither a "public option" nor a "public plan".

A real public plan is universal single payer health insurance run by the government. This is a proven plan that will achieve all the stated goals of health care reform. The only thing it doesn't provide is massive profits for the health insurance industry and bribes for congressmen which is why it's "not on the table" now.

If you would like a REAL public plan then contact your congressional delegation, state governor, and the white house and tell them this nation NEEDS single payer health insurance!

[textynn]

06:27 PM on 06/11/2009

Believe it people. A public option is going to be the same as the welfare option and you can't own anything. Your assets have to be less than $5000. Everything. They even want to know if you have a burial plot. And if you do, you have to sell anything you own as quickly as possible because you won't get help until you do. If you sell something, they take the money you get and use a time line formula that sets a time period in which you should be able to live on that money and you aren't eligible until the time is up. They believe that one person can live on about $300 a month. I know it's nuts but they do. So if you have 8K worth of assets you must sell 3k first. 3k divided by 300 is 10. You won't be eligible for services for 10 months. That time won't start until you actually have sold what ever it is. No matter how sick you are you will have to wait.

The only thing you don't have to sell is your home and they put a lien against it. When you die they collect. If you have family members still living in the house they will have to move on because the government pays itself first. Happens all the time.

[Dolphyn]

04:38 PM on 06/11/2009

The goal, [Pelosi] responded, was affordability and accessibility. "If you have another way to do that, put it on the table. And that's where we are. Everything should be on the table," she said.

Does this mean SINGLE PAYER is on the table now? Pretty please?

[textynn]

04:45 PM on 06/11/2009

Oh PLEEEEze. Nancy and the rest have no intention of standing up to the Medical Insurance Industry that has lined their pockets to the tune of millions upon millions. So a few people die. Who cares . Who needs sick people right.

[judesuper]

04:33 PM on 06/11/2009

Thank you Nancy! Maybe this time we will finally have success in getting the public option on health care. Thank you!

[textynn]

04:25 PM on 06/11/2009

If any of you are interested. Start Practicing. I know I am.
O Canada!
Our home and native land!
True patriot love in all thy sons command.

With glowing hearts we see thee rise,
The True North strong and free!

From far and wide,
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

God keep our land glorious and free!
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

[bmxking28]

04:32 PM on 06/11/2009

I have that well rehearsed from the days leading up to the election, thankfully i have not had to swim across the St. Lawrence and sing it yet.

[textynn]

04:40 PM on 06/11/2009

Well Im not waiting until a so-called public option is gonna save me if I get sick or injured, I can promise that. I have a pre-existing condition and Im not just going to lay down and die without health care so a group of elite that are holding our health care ransom can live like gods. They provide no service at all. They are just rich and aggressive that's all. What they are doing to people cannot be justified in any way. It's criminal and our leaders are allowing it because, like torture, they are involved as much as Republicans ever were..

[smarttart001]

06:25 PM on 06/11/2009

I love Canada. My husband has relatives there and we cross the border several times a year to visit and just hang out.

Their healthcare if FANTASTIC. Dont let anyone tell you otherwise.

I'd have no problem living in Canada. They already have Civil Rights for Gays, Pro-Choice is the Standard operating procedure and Healthcare is Universal. That's a terrific Trifecta of Goodness.

[textynn]

06:54 PM on 06/11/2009

Sounds like heaven

[Samalabear]

10:59 AM on 06/12/2009

I would love to move to Canada, believe me.

[Coinyer101]

04:16 PM on 06/11/2009

as long as I can 'opt out' of it, I'm fine with it. It will all depend on the 'requirements' they set up to be covered by the gubment. if they use similar methods as insurance cos., or violate privacy rights, then ferget it. I don't want it.

[Samalabear]

11:00 AM on 06/12/2009

You will always be able to keep your gold-plated policy and pay your gold-plated premiums.

[LemonMeringue]

04:08 PM on 06/11/2009

Yes Yes Nancy!

Are Dems beginning to get it?

Republicans don't want our families to be healthy. If the Democrats won't help us... nobody will.

[Realization]

04:07 PM on 06/11/2009

Good. But it has to be a strong public option that competes head to head with private plans that get no subsidies or other advantages.

I demand choice. And that means that I want to choose a good public option. The GOP wants to deny me my right to choose.

[textynn]

04:20 PM on 06/11/2009

Apparently nobody will. The Dems still refuse to stand up to the exploitative medical insurance industry. I wonder what it feels like to sacrifice the lives of real human beings so you can be super rich.

[Mikeeee]

04:01 PM on 06/11/2009

Yes!! Finally a statement that a public option must be included.

[j mcdouglas]

03:37 PM on 06/11/2009

Go Nancy!

The public healthcare option is a requirement at this point.

That's what America voted for.

[textynn]

03:37 PM on 06/11/2009

If I come across someone seriously wounded in the woods and refuse to go get them help unless they pay me, what happens if I decide they don't have my asking price and I walk away and don't help them? Isn't that a crime? These medical insurance agencies commit this same exact crime many thousands of times a day while they pretend to provide a service that is neither a service or a help in any way.

This is sociopathic behavior and I for one will never fall for this completely indefensible rhetoric we are being fed so a handful of useless people, that apparently have no skills or talent, can live like kings while people I love suffer and die. It is sick sick sick. Anyone who stands up for it has no morals and cares nothing about people and humanity. It is an abomination.

Nancy Pelosi is nothing but someone who draws a pay check. She won't put herself out or rock the boats of the elite in any way, Everything she says is phony and for-show. She only pretends to care about her constituents while she really serves the Elite.

The Dems are just playing Good Cop - Bad Cop while they serve the Elite Medical Insurance Industry. That is exactly what they are doing.

SINGLE PAYER NOW!!!

[OkieMon]

03:23 PM on 06/11/2009

you dingbat....the public is clamoring for a public health care plan hence the apoplexy by the insurance corporations who estimate that 60 million americans would immediately opt out of their health inusrance companies to the public plan....give the public what they want nance....