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

[Bernique]

This "co-op" idea smells like "triggers", "taxing benefits", smells desperate, too. Anything to appease the insurers!

The only solution is SINGLE PAYER (everybody who wants to, in, nobody out), a la Medicare, VHA. That's why the insurers are throwing anything out there to see if it sticks. And Senator Conrad is their stooge.

[scooperss]

Here's a interesting take about the article above.

http://oxdown.firedoglake.com/diary/5735

"Democratic Senators applauded themselves some time ago by claiming they had adopted a rule dispensing with the 60-vote requirement they normally imposed on themselves to pass any contentious legislation. The solution, they told us, was "reconcilation," a process they promised could be applied to health care reform and only needed 51 votes.

Now Sen. Kent Conrad tells us that was all a ruse, that in fact we're stuck with the 60-vote requirement, which means Republicans and one or two Democrats can block any meaningful health care reform -- which they are more than happy to do.

[jonbw]

A strong public plan would save you $2,500 a year on health care. That is how much "bipartisianship" will cost you. That is what this "compromise" will cost you. Call and tell them you are unwilling to pay the "biparitisanship tax"

http://jwalkerreport.blogspot.com/2009/06/2500-year-high-cost-to-you-for.html

[Coinyer101]

If they hadn't taken single-payer off the table, then they may have been able to compromise on a better public option, at least. Instead, we'll wind up with something noone likes.

[NCYvonne]

oh shut up, you l00n. People like you who say "single payer or nothing" are the best friends big pharma and the insurance companies ever had.

[Coinyer101]

eff u big ot.

[sixx]

It's important to know who will reject the election, the will of the people, and neglect the millions who will benefit, by having the vote. Saying it won't pass is not enough, It is nothing but cover for corrupt Senators. The country needs to know who are these Senators who choose public health plans for themselves every year and deny these same plans to others. Step aside Conrad, you are part of the problem.

[bygollymissmolly]

All Republicans are opposed and, according to Conrad, "at least three Democrats.­"
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Ok, that means that the vote would be 56-44. That seems to me to be enough to get it passed. Conrad is l y i n g to us to try to get us to give up on a public option for insurance.

[ProgressiveAndProud1]

That's what over $800k buys.

[scooperss]

My representatives haven't disappointed me at all this year---I expected nothing from them but the same old bull as the last 9 years.
If you expected different from yours, I'm sorry for your loss.

[TremoluxMan]

Co-ops? Sounds like 100% sell-out gobbledygook bullcr@p. So we get a bunch of puny regional provider co-ops with no real power to bargain and we still have the big piranha providers slicing and dicing the competition. Oh, that's reform we can all use.

[bygollymissmolly]

Well, the insurance industry buying legislators seems to be working. Ok folks, it's time to have your voice heard. Look up your Senators by googling their names. Call them or send them an e-mail letting them know that we will settle for nothing less than a public option. Otherwise, we will just be moving the chairs around on the deck of the Titanic.

[Tena]

If we had effective leadership in the Senate, we would not continue to have these problems.

Get rid of Harry Reid.

[ProgressiveAndProud1]

AMEN!

[Chris]

IF this administration passed health care reform it shoudl be either equal to what our elected officials receive or the elected officals should be forced to enroll in the public plan.

Do not allow the fed to do what the state of maine did. Pass a public health plan but then have its own employees opt not to participate in it. The plan was so bad that the state workers union would not accept it.

[bedrocklib]

Unless the dems vote a public option they will find themselves without votes in the next election.

[linton]

Too much greed on the part of those with vested interests.

[ProgressiveAndProud1]

HEADLINE TRANSLATION

The public option supporters haven't given me enough $$$$$$$$$!

[expired]

Write your congress. Even if they are against it. Remind them of the upcoming election.