Dems, GOP Centrists Hold Secret Meetings To Work Together On Health Care Reform

The Hill:

Centrist House lawmakers from both sides of the aisle are working together privately on healthcare reform.

The talks have been so secretive and politically sensitive that some members interviewed by The Hill refused to name other legislators involved in the bipartisan effort.

Read the whole story: The Hill

Comments

[pwiecek]

"GOP centrists"

Both of them?

[DEvans1]

This is exactly what the Bill Maher's of the world are not taking into account when they spout off about President Obama not 'doing anything'.

Bush didn't have these weak-kneed yahoos to deal with. For wrong or right, the Republicans in Congress showed solidarity and backed Bush on pretty much everything he wanted to do. Democrats in Congress on the other hand couldn't find loyalty with 2 hands and a flashlight.

[jmpurser]

But Obama surrendered the health care fight BEFORE BRINGING IT UP. Congress doesn't get the entire blame. His stunning lack of leadership is a big contributor as well.

[unwashedmasses]

No 'bennies' for Congress until there are 'bennies' for all citizens. Then, and probably only then, will we see Congress looking at Health Reform seriously, and not as some sort of 'benefit' for the wealthy and the lucky.

They just don't get it. WE HAVE SPENT AN EQUAL AMOUNT OF MONEY IN IRAQ FOR A WAR THAT WAS A LIE.

Congress is more concerned with covering their *ss from retribution from the drug companies and health insurance corporations than standing up for our "RIGHT" to affordable health care.

[GoldenAgeMaster]

Healthcare is NOT a right.

The only healthcare bill that I agree with is one that ONLY covers the very poorest in our country. The bills being discussed in Congress and what's coming from Obama do NOTHING for anyone making under $220,000 a year. Yep, you read that correctly. The latest stats says that the bill being considered today will leave out some 38 million people. Right now there is approx 45 million without health insurance. So why does a complete overhaul only help an additional 7 million people???

[kasinca]

If these centrist legislators have universal healthcare, every American citizen deserves the same coverage. These people work for us. If they propose less for us, they should opt out of the coverage they have. We should encounter them with this alternative every time we have the opportunity.

[GoldenAgeMaster]

What Congress has as health insurance is elitist in nature. Whatever they voted for themselves should be exactly what they vote for the citizenry!

[wehrke]

To me this is encouragin­g.... as long as the intent is to move universal health care forward.

[jmpurser]

The intent is to guarantee that health insurance companies continue to make massive profits while calming the public down to the point where they're willing sheep again.

[yemaya]

transparen­cy.... promised. A secret meeting on the most important public issue Americans face..... delivered. Change? What change? I voted for this guy but I'm starting to get pissed off. This is the biggest chance we've gotten in 40yrs to make changes that benefit the people of this nation and I hope it's not gonna get pissed away. Lord help us....

[Golfer59]

We're screwed!!! Centrist Dems and GOP working on a plan?? WTF!!!

[sonoffestus]

Working on a sell out of the American people.

[jmpurser]

Just arguing about the price now.

[kasinca]

These so called centrist need to read the memo.

We the people want the same healthcare coverage everyone of you congressmen and women have. If you offer something less for us, you must opt out of your current lucrative plan to join with us. Anything less than your plan is unacceptable. Your plan is a universal healthcare plan. Figure it out, morons.

[BambooHarvester]

It Dems can't shove REAL National Health Care up the gop A$$
~ It's time to get out of here !

[jmpurser]

It is time for a 3rd party. The Democrats have become the maintainers of the status quo. We need a liberal/progressive party to carry the nation forward.

[emlr]

I'm in.

[MSaxe]

Better to show a little patience and allow the Republican­/conservat­ive coalition to self destruct first. Those Blue Dogs and "moderate" Republicans will be the new opposition party to the Democrats. This will strengthen the progressive's position in the Democratic Party.

Even though it looks a little gray out there now, the future, with some form of single payer is much closer than it ever has been. To make a step toward it, we're going to have to settle for an Obama led compromise plan now.

It's either that or mobilizing mass demonstrations for "Single Payer Now" in Washington this summer while Congress is working on the bill.

[instagladiator]

Secret meetings on an important public issue? Does this mean that Health Care falls under the category of National Security now?

[kasinca]

They are dealing with republicans who believe in secrecy and cover up.

[maggienash65]

I think you have to look at the "centrist". Some of those people wanted positions in this administration and were past over.

[2garen]

GOP wants tax breaks,where is the person to get the money to still pay for that care if that person has no job?
How much money do these representatives have invested in the health care industry? It should be a law that any representative or any family or staff member of that representative would not be allowed to own andy stock bond etc, The rep would not be allowed to vote on legislation because of a conflict of interest.
Nothing from nothing is nothing.
Why is it they the congress gets great benefits and they let us the taxpayer pay for it yet they will not let single payer even be discussed?They got theirs and forget the taxpayer who pays their health care?
This is not Free it is our dollars that we pay in taxes.

The real reason those people do not want to have single payer is because it will remove a big percentage of corruption from the system that already exists.hav­en forbid that the taxpayer gets something for their investment­.Hr 676 is the only honest answer.

[jmpurser]

I agree. The only need that Single Payer doesn't address is the need to bribe congress to act in America's best interest.

[emlr]

OK folks....i­f they screw us out of a public option, I fear single payer is already dead tho I don't know why, it will be time to take to the streets. If we can't make our voices heard through calling and writing to our reps. maybe mass demonstrations will get their attention.

[Deruist]

One of the main mistakes that doomed the Clinton plan was taking too long to develop complex proposals in secret. I hope this isn't repeating history.
We need single payer and someone actually representing us at this secret table.