Graham Open To Dem's Health Care Compromise, But Not Public Plan (VIDEO)

Senator Lindsey Graham became the latest Republican and most conservative Senator yet to express a willingness to consider a compromise approach to health care reform based around co-ops providing insurance coverage.

The South Carolina Republican, appearing on ABC's "This Week," set a firm line in the sand when discussing the creation of a public option for insurance, insisting that such a proposal would not pass the United States Senate.

"The reason you are not going to have a government-run health care pass the Senate is because it will be devastating for this country," he said. "The last thing in the world I think that Democrats and Republicans will do at the end of the day is create a government-run health care system."

Later in the program, however, Graham offered what his co-panelist Sen. Chris Dodd and former Labor Secretary Robert Reich (who appeared later in the show) both viewed as openness to compromise. A system of state-based co-ops -- which would be run as non-profit entities, subject to private insurance rules, and operating out of the premiums paid by its members -- could be an adequate substitute for a public plan, he said.

"I think this idea needs to go away," Graham said of a public plan, "and replace it with something maybe like [Senator] Kent Conrad's proposal."

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Comments

[Lexie]

All of you Senators and Congress people who are against public health care should give up your health insurance immediately and go out on the open market to purchase insurance. Moreover, you will have to list all your pre-existing conditions and you cannot use your position in Congress to get insurance.

[countthevote]

The irony is that America ALREADY HAS UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE.

The point is 16% of the people DON'T PAY FOR IT AT ALL, and they should.

24% are inadequately covered, which means they too go bankrupt (that means they don't pay the bills) when they have catastrophic health care expenses.

So, that's 4 out of 10 people, 40%, whose cost can shift to everyone else if they have expensive catastrophic costs. And the baby boomers are getting older and more in need of catastrophic health care just as premiums have already more than doubled in the past 8 years.

In the US, The Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act also ensures public access to emergency services regardless of ability to pay. There is a $1,000 surcharge Now in health care premiums in the US to cover people who receive treatment in emergency rooms.

The number one best way to reduce the health care costs is to have everone pay into the system. That's what insurance does, right, spread the risks around!

Single-payer systems are not "socialized medicine" but "social insurance" systems, because doctors are in the private sector.

I do like the idea of having both a public and private option competing for America. If the private plans can't continue it will be because American's will eventually not choose them. That's a choice that we don't have now just like we don't have a choice now to pay for those emergency care visits and bankruptcies.

[dandypuddin]

Insurance companies don't care if their customers go bankrupt when they deny their claims. I don't care if insurance companies go bankrupt because they can't compete with an honest option for the people. We have far too many insurance companies anyway. Just like we had far too many brokers on Wall Street. Time to weed some out.

[Beachchick]

I am sure the CEOs will live out the rest of their days just fine. Think about earning 77.8 million in five years. These guys aren't even philanthropists like the Gilded Age capitol class. They are useless.

[Ken Maddox]

How many of these members of congress have refused the Public Option, single payer health care program we the citizens have provided for them. Do they think that their participation in a public funded health care system is wrong? Do they take money from their pocket to pay for their health care, retirement, and sick pay benefits. Think people, don't deny everyone else the benefits you have voted for, worked for, and shamlessly accept from the tax payers. If congress can not pass health care reform this session, the nation should demand a repeal of their plan in the next one.

[socalgal38]

Single payer and public options are two different systems. If you want single payer than why settle for public option?

Public option is segregation. The high risk vers Low risk. The other segregation is being labeled low class welfare class.

Single payer is equality for every American. You would not be labeled because everyone has the same kind of coverage. No competition strain on the system, a lot less expensive than any plan on the table right now.

The top 2% of the wealthest people can have addition perks by purchasing private insurance. Problem solved for everyone.

[Ken Maddox]

These members of the party of NO! need to shut up and listen. Did they not hear us last Nov. when we voted. Did they not hear us in Jan. when millions attended the swearing in of our new President. Do they not hear us now, when we tell them via the polling data that we still want the same thing we wanted in Nov. . Can these people not understand that the majority of Americans want a public option for Health Care. Can these people not comprehend that we want health care reform that is a complete overhaul of the millionaire controlled system we have now. If they don't hear us, if they don't understand us, if they don't comprehend us, and if they try to ignore us we will tell them again in 2010. We will have health care reform, we will have a public option, and we will have it soon.

[Lorianne]

Forget the Republicans
Democrats can pass any healthcare bill they want.
Why aren't they passing a universal health CARE bill?

[Ken Maddox]

Many are the sole property of Blue Cross and other insurance companies. I for one will be paying close attention to the one that have sold their soul for a dollar bill.

[patrickgarret]

It's called BLUE DOGS. FAKE DEMOCRATS.

[ChelseaC]

Lorianne poses a very good question.
It's the Dems we have to worry about. They could ram change down the throats of the Repugs if they had the will--much like LBJ did when he and the Dems passed MEDICARE in the 1960's. Obama and some blue dog and corporate Dems appear to lack the balls to stand up to the Repugs--and some also enjoy the status quo as they are on the take too.

sign this petition:
http://sanders.senate.gov

Call the White House and demand action
202-456-1111
202-456-1414
Call your reps and demand action too.

[ChelseaC]

Lorianne,
Are you for a public option or universal health care?

[MrRight77]

YOU WON'T BE COVERED!

[cdnnewsjunky]

"needs to go away"

Gee, I guess this is how the open minded deal with controversial subjects.

[sagmann]

Senator, why do you hate Americans?

[lazercat2008]

What in bred race of humans votes for this guy!

[sviolette]

Souse Carolinians

[lazercat2008]

They wanted to secede from the Union Right? Why didn't we let them?

[BullMoose1]

Graham got free healthcare as an Air force JAG and now gets it as a U.S. Senator. If it's so evil, why doesn't he decline it?

[tregibbs]

First, Lindsey "Wagner" Graham needs to come out of the closet, then he needs to go away... He's a Catholic Priest in senator's clothing. Fathers - hide your sons !

[djgonebad]

WOW!!!!

If it was once good enough for him, and his colleagues(as our congressional representatives) are they willing to give theirs up and join us (average American citizens) and pay out their noses, for anything the insurance companies will give us (as long as we don't have any pre-existing conditions)? DOUBTFUL!!!

[mharg11]

With 75% of americans supporting a public plan, it is amazing these congress people are saying NO. There family members are covered under their gov. sponsored plans, so to h*ell with us. I have reached the conclusion that everything they are against is based on money. The abortion issue is not about life, it is about gov. spending money to support planed parenthood, abortion centers. Gay marriage is about the cost of benefits. Health care is about spending some money for american tax payers. But they want to get us involved in Iran's elections to create a hostile situation that could lead to war. War, they are for that and will spend any amount of money for decades.That's the republs. thinking, just take a deeper look at every bill that comes before them. Follow the money and if you are to benefit, forget it with the republs.

[Osprey3]

Lindsey Graham needs to go away- his arguments against a public option are simply fallacious and contrived.

[Lorianne]

Forget Graham
Forget the Republicans
Democrats can pass any healthcare bill they want.
Why aren't they passing a universal health CARE bill?

[TheImpaler]

Good! People like that are just adding fuel to fire. Sign, Forward to your friends, help distribute by re-posting the link below:
A PETITION TO CONGRESS
Supporting Single-Payer Health Care

http://sanders.senate.gov/petitions/index.cfm?uid=7fd59f2e-88e1-477a-8eaf-762a5b050809

[mesmerised]

YOU are the reason why there will be inadequate/improper health care reform. You and your kind will force the Democrats to stand firm while the Republicans show the country the economic truth about single payer health care.

The Dems are in trouble because of the far Left pushing for a Marxist type government.

[ChelseaC]

Mesmerised,
That's NUTS!
You think MEDICARE is Marxist--WOW!
Too funny--yet very sad!
BTW, it's not a "far left" issue to want single payer health care.
It's a MAIN STREET issue!
60% of American doctors are for expanding MEDICARE to ALL Americans.
http://www.pnhp.org/
Don't give us the "commies are coming" socialist crap.
We're to smart for that BS here.
Good grief!

[kenEBport]

I've commented before, I believe, that your screen name is perfect for you. Know anything about Mesmer?? You would be a perfect subject; just perfectly transfixed by all the Repub double-speak you seem to be swallowing & not even aware of the state your in.

[kenEBport]

you're in. sorry

[TheImpaler]

Just sign it! I'm sure there is a cure for people like you. LOL!!!

[Ken Maddox]

You are wrong about so many things. You know nothing about Democrats. You shouldn't talk about subject about which you are so ignorant. Democrats are loyal, hard working, liberty loving citizens, and your venomous words can do nothing to change us.

[Egalitare]

Does Graham get a lollypop for including 75% of Luntz's talking points in less than one minute?

[Ponderus]

Some people call it a lollipop.

[ChelseaC]

lol!