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

[silentknight65]

Senator Graham is probably on the take with the insurance companies. He doesn't care about the average American---he gets all his health care paid for---BY US.....

[d julien]

I'm a bit confused. Senator Graham rails against any form of public health care yet that is what he himself has. As a US Senator, he gets free healthcare courtesy of you and me, the taxpayers. Come on Senator,if it's good enough for you......

[KrugnacTheMagnificent]

A public option is a ruse. It won't save what they say it will, it will be anti-competitive when they claim it will be competitive. Congress will undoubtedly rig the game in its favor if it should falter in any way. Who wants to spend $1 trillion on a public option, and then have it fall flat on its face?

They would rig the game to make sure that it survives, no matter how many deficits it runs up, which makes it offensively anticompetitive.

[Ponderus]

Just wondering, in case you haven't already mentioned it:

who pays you to post here?

[sviolette]

Is this just a rant or do you have some reason for this theory?

We have spent more than that on a war that fell flat on it's face to no advantage of any Americans except for Black Water and Haliburton of course.

What is most offensive is the fact that these people that work for us have the benefit of free health insurance and there are millions of kids that have to go to the emergency room for healthcare. I say to fix that problem then take health insurance away from government employees and give it to average Americans instead. McCain can give them each $5000 to get their own insurance.

Problem solved. Next problem please!!

[Beachchick]

There is no market for health care. Market forces do no regulate price; prices aren't negotiated between patient and doctor. The quality and cost of health care are established by industry norms and negotiated by insurance companies and the government.

Insurance is also limited by market forces since it is risk management. The intrinsic cost of providing insurance is low. There is no technology to invest in to remain competitive, no innovation to worry about. Thus, providing insurance is something the government can do competently and much cheaper. It shouldn't even be an issue to debate.

[ChelseaC]

Beachchick,
Fanned and faved!

[traveler501]

if competition works so well, how come the banks failed?

[dandypuddin]

The same thing is going to do the insurance companies in---Greed.
They just can't hep themselves.

[SmolderingRuin]

Please sign Senators Leahy, Durbin, and Schumer's petition to support a public option.

http://ga3.org/campaign/healthpetition/373i8se29jxntbt5?source=hc_leahy

[ChelseaC]

Smoldering Ruin,
No way! Senator Schumer is in bed with the insurance company--it's a ruse--public money going to private insurance companies to keep them in business. Schumer is one of the highest paid Senators by the insurance company.Don't trust him.

This is the man for real change:
http://sanders.senate.gov

[ChelseaC]

opps, I meant to say insurance companies--lol.

[SmolderingRuin]

Thanks. I got that petition from Senator Leahy. Seeing Schumer's name on it almost turned me away, but I signed it. I signed Senator Sander's petition as well.

[triplbee]

Co-ops won't work. There needs to be a public plan. Health insurance and pharmaceutical companies cannot be reformed.

[Lorianne]

The public plan will be farmed out to the same private insurers, as government contracts.

[triplbee]

But at a third the pay.

[SueInCA]

Perhaps the congress need to see the American people out in the streets. We could take a page from the Iranian people. But it won't happen because people are too afraid to get out of their space. There are demonstrations going on on June 25. Look for one in your area.

[NewGenerationNewIdeas]

I sent him a respectful letter telling him he's wrong. You should too.

http://lgraham.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.EmailSenatorGraham

[Ponderus]

If it didn't end with "kiss my uni.sured a**" it as TOO respectful.

[Lorianne]

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

[davenav]

Hmm, just the other day, Cramer said 'People are waiting for Obama to just go away.'

Today, Graham uses the same terminology about Health-Care. It's like these guys sit in a back room and write zingers together. Only problem -- they are clueless.

As someone said earlier, the CBO report was not based on a model that included the Public option, so it is therefore a useless reference point for the shills. Not that THAT will stop them, but we need to be better informed of stuff like this.

[Ponderus]

I think "just go away" is code for the Rapture.

[SueInCA]

ha ha ha not cramer and most of these other rapture folks, they are gonna find themelves left behind, you watch

[american2008]

It's funny how these same Repubs screaming about the high cost of healthcare never say a word about the 600 billion a year we spend on Defense and thats only whats on the books, Bush spent almost 900 billion on Defense and off budget secret deals to Blackwater etc. We spend over 10 times what the next closest country spends and for what? You dont think that if we cut that budget by 200 billion a year we still couldn't beat the hek out of any enemy?
If we had a public health option and substantial cuts to military, along with cuts to the dozens of wastfull little pet projects for all these pork loving Congresman, we could break out of this crisis ASAP!

[Lorianne]

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

[Nonpartay]

These people need to make up their minds. Either a public plan would be the most horrible disaster, putting "the government" between doctors and their patients OR it would be so terrific and so many would want it that it would put the private insurance companies out of business. WHICH IS IT?

[ladyvader]

The insurance companies already get between you and your doctor.

[SueInCA]

they are counting on the american people to act like sheep

[ladyvader]

I know. But I'm no sheep.

[Tim Craig]

Please vote this guy -- and others like him out of office! Definitely go to the Sanders website. The facts he lists there about the rip-off and waste of the current health care insurance system are irrefutable.

[Ponderus]

I would if I lived in SC, but if I lived in SC I would been the victim of a hate crime by now...

or rickets.

[ChelseaC]

Call the White House:
202-456-1111
202-456-1414

Call your Congressional and Senate Reps too--put the pressure on. Send e-mails too.

Support Senator Bernie Sanders who is 100% behind single payer health care unlike other selfish dolts in the House and Senate.

Sign here:
http://sanders.senate.gov

[ladyvader]

Go Bernie. I've always liked him on the talk shows he has been on. He was really ticked on The Ed Show on Friday. Or I think it was Friday.

[SueInCA]

you don't need to call the WH, they get it, congress does not

[ChelseaC]

Hi Sue,
If Obama "got it" he would not say we have a "tradition" of employer based health insurance system and we can't "disrupt" that going with single payer.
Where is his fight for single payer option--really? He praised the CO OP idea whille he talked about cutting Medicaid/ Medicare.If he were SERIOUS about a public option--why would he not merge these two systems into the "public option?"
What is he proposing, having Medicare, Medicaid, AND some "public option?"
Why the beauracracy of three public plans? Doesn't make sense, does it?

Look at the fine details of his plan and then tell us he's strongly committed to a real public option that does not involve triggers and the insurance companies.
Please assume nothing. Talk is cheap until it's put into action.

People, call the White House too.
202-456-1111
202-456-1414
Sign with Sen. Bernie Sanders
http://sanders.senate.gov

[dagnew]

Our dear elected officials are never going to do right by the people as long as Big Business is lining their pockets with lots and lots of campaign money. I keep hearing that if things don't change, just wait until the 2010 elections. Well, what makes anybody think things will change with a different set of knuckleheads in Washington?? Different puppets, but the same old puppeteers!

[pbziegler]

Linsey Graham needs to go away. Far, far away.

[Mark Twaine]

At least get his face off TV. Heck, he could go trolling for scratch!

[MMJones]

And Graham, you better drop your own top-tier health insurance coverage, voted in by yourselves FOR LIFE.

Walk in our middle-class, we're-dyin-here shoes for a month or two of premiums, high deductibles, and raise in rates around 8-10% every year. THEN tell me how happy the American public is with their health care.

I would GLADLY pay higher taxes for peace of mind that my family and I will no longer be held hostage by the insurance industry.

You are absolutely out of touch, Mr. Graham.

[PBMac]

Well said.

[Mark Twaine]

Senator Graham needs to be reminded we have no priviledged class or royal court in this country by revoking the insurance coverage he and other Congressional members enjoy.

[Layman23]

Very well said.