Blue Dog Boren Defends Private Insurers Against Public Plan

One of the most recalcitrant Democrats in the health care debate said on Wednesday that his skepticism about a public health insurance option was driven by concern for the health of private insurers.

Appearing on MSNBC's "Morning Meeting," Blue Dog Democrat Rep. Dan Boren of Oklahoma said that he generally agreed that a government-run insurance program could effectively lower costs for consumers.

"The problem," he argued, "is in a state like Oklahoma, where we have a lot of private insurers, you have a public option come in and it drives everything else out and the only thing left is the public option and then you have rationed care."

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Defending the private insurers is a tricky proposition for any Democrat, even a Blue Dog. For Boren, it is complicated by two other factors. The Oklahoman is a self-described fiscal conservative who has repeatedly raised concerns about health care costs. But, perhaps more significantly, a recent Congressional Budget Office report suggests that the congressman is wrong to suggest that private insurers would be driven from the market if forced to compete with a public plan.

On Tuesday, the CBO released a study estimating that 12 million consumers would sign up with the government-run option for insurance coverage -- a far cry from the 100 million envisioned earlier in the reform process.

Boren, who has received a relatively scant $195,000 from health professionals over the course of his career, predicted that Congress ultimately would not pass a bill resembling the one being pushed by his own party in the House of Representatives.

"[Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.)] has got a bipartisan bill," Boren said. "It's the Wyden-Bennet bill. And in the House, Congressman [Jim] Cooper, (D-Tenn.), has been talking about the same thing. We need one of those solutions that is bipartisan. That may be the vehicle, at the end of the day. It may not be what comes out of the [Senate] Finance Committee, it may be something like the Wyden bill. It's not going to be the bill that has come out of the House, I can assure you of that."

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Comments

[TruEngineHearing]

America has been rigged. Completely. No progressive legislation can make it through this gauntlet. All that's left is some time to enjoy the remaining years of a middle-class America - then intellectual darkness, hardship and fear.

[unite4change]

Why do we continue to trust these lying politicans. The only things they care about is money.

[Rog49Thomas]

That's not fair.

They also enjoy their perks of office - greatly.

The prestige, the power, the access to the "secrets", to being on the inside.

And then there's the satisfaction at the end of the day of knowing that they've done something for those more fortunate among us.

[Thurly]

It's just insurance! America needs to produce and sell more product than it buys from overseas to dig itself out of its financial hole, PERIOD. We don't need to save another "move the money around" industry. Nationalize health. Give our private companies an even footing when competing against foreign companies that don't pay for employee health insurance directly. The current hodge-podge is short-sighted and a victim of politics. When it fails, and it will in this form, the Democrats rediscovered the scorn of the American people who want real leadership, not "practical" leadership that produces impractical policy.

[jonguu]

"Boren, who has received a relatively scant $195,000 from health professionals"

That doesn't change what he is; it merely means he's a cheap whore.

[InfosolutionWiz]

RIGHT ON! he sounds like a Repuglican health care killer to me!

[Donns]

You didn't think these insurance companies bought these politicians to let them get any sorts of deals for the public did you? Insurance companies buy things that will make them money no other considerations.

[titantom]

When this guy ran for office what platform did he run on? He needs to go and that is what I told his office this morning.

[sej100]

So I admit I caved in and did nothing to assist the best interests of the people because of the insurance industry. Basically they finance him.

So corruption reigns supreme and the people, the voters mean nothing!!!

Replace this man

[mheister]

Rationed care? What do you claims denials due to pre-existing conditions? What do you call insurance companies hiring private detectives to rummage through the trash and the lives of their insured, looking for an excuse to deny a claim? What do you call rushing patients out of the hospital after major surgery???

Dan Boren is a Renfield protecting those soulless vampires, the private health care insurance industry.

[WaimeaWidow]

The Blue Dogs should be renamed the Greenbacks.

[Travis bdboy]

And they have you right where they want you>....IN THEIR POCKET

[peacegurl48]

All about the MONEY and not the people.

[arizonabay]

Why not just switch parties, and make everybody happy!

[Dante in Madison]

Try #2...

At least Boren has the cojones to admit this.

Now that he's admitted it, let's work on getting him out of office.

We don't need politicians who are more concerned with the "health" of corporations instead of the health of the citizens of this country.

[tbonehead]

count me in; 50million people w/o insurance should have a voice for getting these paid for whores out of office; remember how Billy Tauzin committed his betrayal to this country.

[USerInCanada]

Why do you kowtow to these Blue Balls Democrats?

[LMPE]

Oh well. At least we know what kind of a person this guy is.