Conrad: Public Plan Doesn't Have The Votes In Senate

The Washington Post:

Earlier today, Sen. Kent Conrad, the North Dakota Democrat who chairs the Senate Budget Committee, introduced a "potential compromise" on the public plan: A system of federally-chartered co-ops that could offer a non-profit alternative to the for-profit insurance industry. In this telling, the co-ops preserve the central feature of the public plan -- they're a competitor to the traditional insurance industry -- but are free from the baggage of government control.

I spoke to the Senator this evening about the co-op model, and he said a few things that surprised me. First, his search for an alternative was on behalf of the G-11 -- the key Senate powerbrokers on health care. Second, it proceeded from the premise that the public plan doesn't have the votes. All Republicans are opposed and, according to Conrad, "at least three Democrats." And third, he thinks reconciliation is basically out as a viable option for comprehensive health reform.

Read the whole story: The Washington Post

Comments

[PaxEterna]

SYMBO: SEND YOUR MEDICAL BILLS TO OBAMA - NOW!

If we go on strike, refuse to pay, and ask for a bailout, they will get the message.

It's time for REAL Change.

[ncmom54]

oh I like that!

[TheTampaSaint]

No one is more strongly in favor of single payer than I am. Close all insurance companies, put tens of thousands of their workers out on unemployment, and just let medicare take it, I say. Its an idiotic and expensive way to fund health care benefits, agreed.

Realistically though, that's just not going to happen. Let start with that. Its been figured out that the 51 vote reconciliation process just can't really be used here, so we are looking realistically at a 60 vote solution. Failing that, we just need to get somewhat less than 40 Republicans willing to work at blocking it. If some can be bought off with a face saving gesture of voting against it, but not participating in a filibuster, than we win.

In light of all that I am willing to hear out the coop proposal that develops. Since all insurance will be portable, and everyone will be insurable and have the same rates, its an idea that should not be rejected out of hand it seems to me.

Health care solutions should be seen incrementally to me. If we can get universal mandated coverage, potability, non-exclusions, and a coop, and then start attacking waster and excess, there just might be a solution in there somewhere.

[UncommonSenz]

That was far too coherent a post for here. You'll get attacked. I however agree 100%.

For those talking about reconciliation as the answer- that article (and some quick googling on the Byrd rule) show that isn't true. Takes a roll call vote to throw up a rule to be stricken and then 60 votes to keep it in. So, the repubs bring up every single provision in the bill, the parliamentarian decides if the Byrd rule, and now you need 60 just to keep the provision in there. The bill would be gutted- and all of the rules that progressives want would be stripped out.

[ProgressiveAndProud1]

Max Baucus, is that you?

[fourex]

"Its been figured out that the 51 vote reconciliation process just can't really be used here,"
Disagree, majority votes are the bases of our democracy, and enshrined in the Constitution. The exceptions (two I believe) are impeachment and .... the other.
The Senate has no authority or standing to change the Constitution. The vote can be put to the Senate based solely on the Constitution, which thankfully trumps Senate rules. It is vitally important to pass health care legislation, and also to identify those who deny others the same care they receive.

[UncommonSenz]

The constitution does not dictate how the senate works, only what types of power they have.

Senate rules dictate how it runs, and nothing trumps that (for the senate). The parliamentarian is the referee and decides how the rules get applied. THAT is where this battle will be fought.

Yes, it is vitally important to pass health care reform, but there are rules that have to be abided by to make that happen.

[scooperss]

WHAT does have enough votes conrad?

Enriching the insurance companies who give you thousands in campaign money?

[JackRusselTerrier]

I suggest to everyone both Democrat and Republican see the movie SICKO. (You can watch it for free on google videos) Even if your a staunch Republican and hate Michael Moore, I ask you please look at ALL the facts before you decide.

In it you will see American firemen and rescue workers at a Cuban hospital because they could not get the health care they deserved in their own country.

You will see an American having to decide which finger to re-attach after a accident involving a saw blade cut off two of his fingers. (he could only afford one at $12,000.00 - the other was $25,000)

You will see how political propaganda has falsely portrayed universal health care. You will see how the insurance companies, HMOs and hospital administrators conspire to nullify your medical claims for profit.

Hopefully you will be outraged enough to do something (call your state reps, write them, camp out on their doorstep if you have to)

PS Don't fall for this talk of Co Op plans (it's just another HMO scam)

[UncommonSenz]

How is a non-profit entity, run by member-elected people a HMO?

Not saying I am sold on his plan, but calling it an HMO seems like you didn't even read the article.

[ProgressiveAndProud1]

Dude you are lost .....

Look at the program, it is a board that solicits bids from HMOs to provide the services.

Get your head out of the corporate DLC's @$$!!!

[Antifascist-08]

Kent Conrad is a coward and tool of the insurance companies.

Come on folks, we all know what the problem is.

Its time to hit the phones and the streets. The battle has just begun.

Please, no more negativity. We know what is wrong.

Now we have to fix it.

[iceage7]

A 50m march on washington. Now. A website focusing on those senators who are being paid by congress. As time goes by every day and the resistance for public option we need to send a message to these dems and repubs otherwise forget health care reform

[Icantbelieveher]

Email Senator Conrad and let him know he'd better find a way to come up with enough votes for a public option! They have one chance to work for the people. If he's not going to do it, he won't be here next election! I don't care how much money he receives from big pharma and insurance -- we can donate to any democratic challenger running against him in a primary!

http://conrad.senate.gov/contact/webform.cfm

[mikala]

Conrad is full of bull and health care lobbyist dollars. It is time to start looking who we can find to replace these Democrats who are only Democrats when it suits them. Dodd's wife is connected to the health care industry too and Baucus receives large amounts from them too.

We want a public plan and we would rather have a single payer plan. Lets put it to a referendum amd let the people speak.

[motodude]

Way to go! Corruption wins! Business as usual from our despicable sellout congress. Thanks for cheating the American people once again.

[Icantbelieveher]

Email Conrad:

http://conrad.senate.gov/contact/webform.cfm

[IowaKid]

If there is no public option then what the h*** on they voting on. It sure isn't health care REFORM.

[Paisano]

Senator Conrad's campaign contributions!

http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/summary.php?cid=N00004613

Now we see why he's against a public option!

[Icantbelieveher]

Email him and let him know we're onto him!

[DaveVentura]

This might explain why Obama's rhetoric doesn't match his actions seeing how Obama leads all Presidential candidates (both Democrat and Republican) in the HMO lobby:
http://www.opensecrets.org/pres08/select.php?ind=H03
Obama gives pretty speeches, but he's not going to kill the goose that lays golden eggs for him. Why do you think he's doing "comparative effectiveness"? So that way HMOs will be able to reduce the amount of care by rejecting treatments that your doctor feels you should have and he's going to tax your health insurance benefits just give it right back to the HMOs to make them richer...m­ore revenues for HMOs with an Obama-mandated justification for HMOs to lower the level of care compared to what's out there now.

[kendraro]

If they aren't wiling to vote for what we (the majority of the people) want, then they are going to find that we won't vote for them...the­n they will understand the whole insurance thing a lot better.

[ProgressiveAndProud1]

Here is some basic math ..... There are 3 parties here

President - For Public Option
Senate - Against Public Option
Congress - For Public Option

No matter what the senate does it then goes to committee and if Obama is true to his word, he and Pelosi will put back whatever the scumbags in the senate take out.

[Antifascist-08]

You still have to pass it in the Senate and apparently, a majority vote in this country is not what it used to be.

Somehow we have moved to 60 votes on everything but "money" issues.

[ProgressiveAndProud1]

You don't understand the procedure. The bogus 60 number only applies to the senate.

It goes to committee AFTER the senate. Pelosi will put it back in committee.

[vanmungo]

Sorry--the Senate trumps the other two with the filibuster. Your math is wrong. Besides, the public option is a sham anyway--it leaves the whole system chiefly in the hands of the corrupt and rapacious HMOs--no real change.

For real change, go to
www.singlepayeraction.org
www.pnhp.org

[ProgressiveAndProud1]

Did I ever say I didn't prefer single payer? I think that will come automatically once the for-profit insurance companies go out of business.

As far as procedure, you have no idea what you are talking about. There is NO filibuster in committee which is the last place this bill will go.

[UncommonSenz]

You clearly do NOT understand either the public option or HMOs.

They are in no way the same.

[SpectCon]

Funny how a Democrat is trying to act like they have no power.

They're almost at 60, they could simply change the filibuster rules to a lower number anyway, and they could go budget reconciliation.

And yet, he's selling us that he has no power and has to give in. Come on!

Democrats hold ALL the cards and could even do single payer if they so choose. Conrad is a weasel and won't admit that he doesn't favor a public option because his biggest supporters are from the health care industry.

[Chernynkaya]

You know, whenever there is news about health care reform on Huffpo, I read all the likeminded people like me who get incensed about no public option, let alone no single payor. Thousands of posts. Do the number of people who post here represent dozens of folks who feel the same but don't write?

But here's my sincere question: Doesn't the majority in this country feel the same as us? I really don't know. Please reply if you know.

I've never heard about a poll saying x-number of Americans want a public plan. I can't believe most people are happy with their health care.