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

[Tulka2]

I heard Sen. Conrad promoting Puget Sound Co-op Health Care as a good thing on The Ed Show... was that last night? Sounds all hippy-dippy and green with the "co-op" name, doesn't it? It's just and HMO, folks. It's just an HMO. Don't fall for it.

The only thing that stands between the public and the single payer health care they want are the Senators in the Democratic Party who are actually minion of Big Pharma, Big Insurance and Big For Profit Health care.

The Republicans could not stop a casual Friday in the Senate. They have no power whatsoever.

We want names!

[ProgressiveAndProud1]

He and Baucus are big insurance and pharma's biotches!!

[Tulka2]

Ed Schultz? Surely you jest. He may not be smart enough to outmaneuver Conners in an interview, but he is certainly no one's bitch.

[Icantbelieveher]

I heard that people in the Puget Sound co-op call it the death insurance -- not sure what that means. But they said it is horrible!

There are too many democrats that want a public option -- they won't go for a co-op!

[Tulka2]

If we do not end the health industry for profit scam, we shall never get health care under control.

[IowaKid]

Sounded like to me that something like leaving the rooster in charge of chicken coop.

[UncommonSenz]

It is not a HMO.

Now it may be a bad idea for a number of reasons but it is NOT an HMO.

[alabaman]

Iit's not just the banks who own Congress. It's the insurance companies, manufacturers, its Corporate America itself. Twenty years of Regan and Bush and Bush have taken their toll on our government.

[kevinw]

It is beginning to look like Conrad and his Insurance company owners have won the day.

If the Democrats do not deliver on their original pledge to provide REAL health insurance reform, they will be hard pressed to convince people that they are really any different thaan the Repubs in delivering for the people. They have used health care the way the Repubs use the constitutional amendment on abortion. Even when the Repubs controlled all branches of government they did not deliver. They were more concerned about having an issue than delivering on a promise. For the Democrats it is looking like Health Care reform will be our token issue. Triggers or Co-ops are phony covers. Actually coop is a perfect name for this fig leaf.

You just had an election based upon hope. Many young people have been energized to work in the political arena. They have yet to live through the disillusionment we experienced in the 60s. Obama actually has some of the jadded people of that era feeling hope. Health Care is a watershed moment for this administration. If this reform just becomes the Obama Medicare part D program, good luck bringing the masses to the polls. You will have shown that Democrats are just as bought and paid for as the Repubs.

[scooperss]

Fav.

[AdV2k1]

51 is the magic number. we don't need 60 if the soft democrats and republicans don't want to help than don't get in the way of progress.

[Antifascist-08]

How so?

[dnegri]

Cloture, cloture, cloture......60 votes.

[MovingtoNorway]

This is the time for these self serving career politicians to grow a pair. Vote out all incumbants who vote against a public option

[wintoday]

What Happened to Government by the People For the People?

[ProgressiveAndProud1]

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

[JackRusselTerrier]

It never specified which people.

[Icantbelieveher]

They changed that in 2000 -- it now reads: We, the corporations of America!

[rughead23]

Capitalism has hijacked democracy in the form of lobbyist and special interests. Whats the political name for that?

[ProgressiveAndProud1]

F@SCISM!!!!!

[JackRusselTerrier]

Corporatocracy

[IowaKid]

Bribery

[LeftCoastLarry]

Conrad is just another Senator unwilling to put up a fight. To say there aren't the votes without putting up a fight is to admit he's under the control of the insurance company interests.
We have to urge our representatives in congress to fight this resistance with all they've got.

[ProgressiveAndProud1]

WRONG ..... He is very much into fighting .... FOR BIG PHARMA

He got over $800k from them. He is their biotch!

[steamboat]

But in all fairness, didn't Hillary receive more money from phrmaceutical and insurance companies?...........and maybe I'm mistaking you for somebody else, but weren't you a Hillary backer during the primaries?

[Golfer59]

Kent Conrad is a damn SELL OUT!!!!

[Bronxdude]

In collusion with health insurance corporations, pharmaceutical manufactures, and physicians who regard healthcare as only a revenue stream, the Reagan deregulated, for-profit medical culture has methodically raped America, while complicit, unscrupulous, and self-serving republicans silenced by special interest, graft, and kick-backs acquiesce. Since obstructionistic republicans support the systematic plundering of the middleclass by ruthless corporations like UnitedHealthcare, this is why we need government oversight between the public and greed-driven health insurance providers. Profit at the expense of human suffering is a republican engineered abomination. Bipartisan or not, true non-profit health insurance reform will provide affordable and cost-effective options that include a public offering. Since Georgia is self-insured, state employees have no due process patient protection rights, which means UnitedHealthcare can deny medical care and authorize exorbitant copays and deductibles with no appeal oversight. Real, quality-driven reform will end the monopolistic strangle-hold enjoyed by morally bankrupt health insurance corporations. In Georgia, Cigna and UnitedHealthcare officials colluded with state republicans to eliminate Blue Cross and Blue Shield as a competitor, narrowing the slate of choices to two, with the end result being higher premiums, bigger profit, and reduced benefits. Mr. Obama: The health insurance industry (and the despicable republicans they bankroll) will not retreat quietly from billions in annual profits! I want the same affordable, universal, federally subsidized health insurance Congress and their families enjoy. When compared to the average American, why do politicians live longer? Answer: universal, affordable health insurance.

[urweatherman]

You have no right to the same health coverage that Congress enjoys.....unless you studied harder, worked harder, accomplished more, which would allow you to provide for yourself. Thats the problem in this country....you expect everything for nothing. Example, 2 families in TX within 2 years time went to the local emergency room over 2500 times at a cost to you and me of over $3,000,000. That is outrageous and show how the abuses of the system will multiply when one does not have to work for what he/she has.

[Icantbelieveher]

I have a friend who is an attorney who has worked hard her entire life. she was laid off last year and is running out of money to pay for her insurance.

You're right -- even though she works every day to find a job, she is lazy and she is asking for a handout!

People like you make me sick! The wealth has been redistributed in this country to 5% of the population, and you think people don't want to work?

[flyribbon]

Typical scare tactic - give some extreme example and portray that as a necessary outcome.

By the way, 2,500 visits in 2 years is nearly 4 visits every single day.

[Icantbelieveher]

Your arguments helps to show how much Americans could save if everyone had health care!

Thank you!

[motodude]

I am sorry but that is just not a true generalization urweatherman. I retired at 47 being able to because of my hard work. I pay my own insurance and in the past 2 years my premiums have DOUBLED and out of pocket INCREASED by 10 times. No change in my healthy lifestyle and health condition (excellent) so why the excessive increase? This is attributable to going from a group plan to individual status. The private insurance market does not work correctly nor fairly for 47 million excluded from insurance and 25 million more like me with inadequate coverage. Another 1.2 million go bankrupt from medical issues often because of insurance practices.

I WANT A PUBLIC PLAN BECAUSE I AM TREATED BADLY AND UNFAIRLY BY THE INSURANCE COMPANIES. I CAN"T TRUST PRIVATE INSURANCE AT ALL. With profit as their only motivator these companies should not have decision power over my health.

If auto insurance excluded 1/6 of drivers heads would roll yesterday.

So why are you defending the rapacious and vicious industry of medical insurers urweatherman? Are you another medical insider profiting off illness and misfortune at peoples expense? Or just a plant from the medical lobby trying to derail reform of the broken health system?

[chaifreak]

Oh, boy. You do realize that most of the %50 of all personal bankruptcies that were caused by bankruptcies were people WITH health insurance. You do realize that most families spend more money on health insurance than on food or mortgage or rent. You do realize that most comprehensive plans do not cover immunizations or well-child care over the age of 6. Must be some findealternate reality that you live in. Stay there and let the rest of us continue working our asses off, but actually get something for it.

[stell]

What's interesting is that Congress can find the billions, and even trillions (and votes) to protect an oil pipeline in Afghanistan and for Iraq and Pakistan, and even revive the World Bank and IMF, but can't seem to find the money to INVEST in America and deliver excellent health care with the same money that is already being spent in the system. Wow.

[Golfer59]

Democrats...The Democrats have failed us AGAIN!!!! These Democrats in congress don't give a rat rip about you.

[SpectCon]

The fight isn't over. This can be done with 51. Obama can deliver...the question is whether he will. I'm hopeful.

[kcmookie]

As compared to the Republicans that do?

Who are you kidding?

[Golfer59]

At least you know where you stand with the no good republicans. The Democrats ALL preached national health care and once they got elected what are the doing....NOTHING!!!

[dagdavid]

Americans WAKE UP! Write your congress people and DEMAND that, until we get the same coverage we give them, they should have to live without!

[Heather Barnes]

I'm excited about the possibility of health care co-ops. They could exist alongside for-profit insurers, just as credit unions exist alongside for-profit banks without much fuss. Credit unions provide returns to members in the form of lower fees and higher interest rates; co-op health care can return any financial benefits to members. Imagine getting a dividend check at the end of the year from your health insurance company!

[ProgressiveAndProud1]

No thanks ..... Trying to make money on other people's back is how we got into this mess in the first place.

You've been exposed as another right wing fraud.

[Christian]

Don't be stupid, that is why Blue Cross was created, for a non-profit and it did nothing to drive down cost of services or insurance. These would be just little blue crosses, worthless.

[kevinw]

And when you get together with your friends and neighbors to form a coop, where will the actual coverage come from? Your coop will have to negotiate with a private insurance company for coverage. So what actual benefit dio you get. If you can get somewhere between 500,000 and a million members with a good distribution of young and healthy members, you might be able to negotiate a good plan. Good luck with that. It still would just be regular insurance, but the coops could be clubs or interest groups like the ABA, AARP, AAA, Nurses's association. This kind of insurance has been sold for some time. This faux bill would supposedly make it easier for people to crate these groups.

[JohnFromCensornati]

Why are Republicans in such a meltdown mode? The Dems have no real plan to change anything.

[ProgressiveAndProud1]

gop are all bed wetting ret@rds is the first thing that comes to mind

[EmeraldWorld]

Uh, this is the SAME senator who a few days ago said he wasn't going to listen to the health care reform advocate groups because "they don't have a vote". I'm going to ignore whatever BS he spews again and keep pressuring the senators for the public option.

[SpectCon]

Why are reporters so deferential???? They know the guy is bought and paid. Make him disclose it in the interview.

Matthews, Olbermann and the rest ought to insist on this as well.

It's like the generals who were advocating military projects when they were working for the companies. How is this any different? The health care lobby is his biggest (as far as I could tell) constituent.