Key Blue Dog Democrat Pushes Health Insurance Co-ops (VIDEO)

One of the chief Blue Dog Democrats in the House made the case on Monday that fellow members of his party should get behind health care legislation that included cooperative insurance coverage rather than a robust public plan.

Rep. Jim Cooper, (D-Tenn), who played a key role in tripping up the health care reform efforts during the Clinton administration, told MSNBC's Chris Matthews that "co-ops" could be an ideal substitute for a government-run plan, provided that they protect consumer rights and keep insurance companies honest.

More than anything else, the Tennessean made the case that the proposal would be the best vehicle by which to get the 60 votes needed for passage in the Senate.

"A co-op is really used over three-quarters of the land area of America so we buy our electricity that way," said Cooper. "It's a creature of the New Deal. It's worked really pretty well over all the country for 70 or 80 years. It's owned by the customers; it is not owned by the government. It works. It works real well. There are good ways to solve this problem.... We can solve any problem we want to in this great country. Let's put our minds together and calmly and rationally solve this health care problem. It's eluded every president for 60 years, but we can do it and we can do it without a big government solution."

Watch Video (Starts At The 4:30 Mark):

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The news in this nugget isn't just that Cooper's on board with the co-op approach. A centrist Democrat with a history of expressing concerns about government involvement in health care, his support for such an approach is somewhat expected. What's of interest is the extent to which the center of the health care debate has been shifted in a matter of weeks. Three committees in the House of Representatives have already passed pieces of health care legislation with a fairly strong public option. As has one committee in the Senate.

Discussion of cooperatives by Cooper, Senator Kent Conrad, (D-N.D.), and others of a co-op alternative truly is an instance in which the party is negotiating against itself, with the moderates dominating the conversation. And while Cooper's co-panelist, Rep. Phil Gingrey, (R-G.A.), seemed to offer philosophical support for the cooperative structure, it doesn't seem likely that the proposal will win much Republican backing. Late on Monday, the Republican National Committee released a statement declaring its opposition to this (already considered) compromise approach.

"PUBLIC OPTION" BY ANY OTHER NAME IS STILL GOVERNMENT-RUN HEALTH CARE," read the headline.

Comments

[Genep34]

04:41 PM on 08/19/2009

We should be putting them on the defensive by saying that if they defeat the public option they will go after medicare next and take health insurance away from the elderly.

Then they will go after social security.

If they had the majority - which they did for a while - all this was true.

[roller]

03:24 PM on 08/18/2009

Strategically, it is a stroke of genius to be "pumping up the cooperatives" RIGHT NOW. Why??? Because the Repugs just cannot resist saying "no" loud and proud to ANY health care reform. They have already fallen for it, and are all over the intertubes and other waves being opposed to competition of any kind vs. fat cat insurance companies. The strategic result, if we are playing chess (instead of same old checkers)? Well, golly gee whiz, since the "negotiating" repugs won't give any votes for co-op either, even though we bent over, then we might as well have our original PUBLIC OPTION. Game. Set. Match.

At that point in time, every Dem Senator who consistently votes against all of the eventual 3 Senate committees' health bills will be "primaried" for sure, for sure.

And to think that both Grassley and Conrad of the Gang of 6 are making such parodies of themselves. Grassley's latest statements this past week will doom his lengthy political career; he borders beyond illogic and hypocrisy, he had gone straight to bonkers and non-sensical. And, as for Conrad, it depends on his real intent here. We will know soon enough.

If you don't have a copy already, feast your eyes on what all Frank Luntz's talking points way back in May - Please disseminate these links as useful.

http://wonkroom.thinkprogress.org/2009/05/06/luntz-memo/

http://wonkroom.thinkprogress.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/frank-luntz-the-language-of-healthcare-20091.pdf

[Peaceisnecessary]

03:14 PM on 08/18/2009

This guy might as well said "Look, I know that coop-ops do not work, I want the health care bill with the Public Option to not pass so that is what, I and my fellow Red Dogs disguise as Blue Dogs are doing to do to make sure it fails"

[Genep34]

04:37 PM on 08/19/2009

Exactly

[amv215]

08:51 PM on 08/19/2009

I strongly disagree with you, Peaceisnecessary, when you say that Rep. Cooper is just a Republican disguised as a Blue Dog who doesn't want healthcare reform to pass. Jim Cooper is my congressman, and he does want healthcare reform. In between his terms of service representing Tennessee in US Congress (1985-1995, I believe, and 2003-present), he was a professor of health policy and business at Vanderbilt University. He is no idiot...he is fiscally conservative, but is socially progressive. That is why he is pushing co-ops as the solution that he believes will receive SOME bipartisan support, or at least a good bit more than the public option. The public option will likely receive 1 Republican vote in the Senate (Olympia Snowe) and maybe a couple in the House. Co-ops are likely to receive far more Republican votes in both the House and Senate because they are not under the direct control of the government.

[LeoTheDog]

02:40 PM on 08/18/2009

Watch the video through to the end and you'll hear a short discussion on bringing firearms to public events. Rep. Gingrey (surprise, a Republican) thinks it is a good idea for people to bring guns to these events "because it is their 2nd amendment right" to do so. Apparently, this bozo believes that if you CAN do something you SHOULD do it. The United States has become the laughingstock of the world.

[nikinomo]

02:34 PM on 08/18/2009

The bluedogs are the same right-wing dixiecrats and corporate-financed hacks who have undermined the effectiveness of the Democratic Party for generations. Clinton institutionalized them in the Democratic party as the "New Democrats" to the point where their are now two republican parties. One made up of crazy christian fundamentalists and the other made up of crazy corporate-financed right wingers in the democratic party whose ideology is that the government is incapable of running effective proprams. They see their duty as sabotaging the party's chances of getting elected or if, the party is elected by accident, to thwart the program of the progressive wing of the party. That is precisely what is happening with the health care legislation.

[Antifascist-08]

02:22 PM on 08/18/2009

Why anyone has ever counted these Dixiecrats as Democrats is beyond me.

It shows the lack of a true MSM. No one is calling them out or explaining why the Dems DO NOT HAVE 60 votes in the Senate. Instead we are going to be treated to endless PR about how the Democrats had the votes for health care and didn't use them. Watch, it will be a big campaign issue.

These people are democrats in name only. They should be kicked out of the party.

[Coinyer101]

01:28 PM on 08/18/2009

I can tell ya where ta put yer coops. WE AIN'T CHICKENS! I WILL NEVER EVER NEVER EVER EVER GO TO A COOP TO BE FORCED TO PAY $ TO CRIMINAL-CONARTISTS FOR PRIVATE INSURANCE! EET ME!

[politicscorner]

01:27 PM on 08/18/2009

The Congressman should read the article at the link below.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/18/health/policy/18plan.html?_r=2&scp=1&sq=But%20it%20took%20us%20over%2030%20years%20to%20get%20where%20we%20are%20today&st=cse

[goodnews7]

01:03 PM on 08/18/2009

In other words, the politicians who voted against the draft of the Health Insurance Reform Bill had received about twice as much in contributions from healthcare interests as the ones who voted for it.

The Democrats should be able to pass the reform Bill without any support from the Republicans, but there’s an interesting group that calls itself the “Blue Dog Democrats” who may be messing things up. We’ll take a closer look at them after a bit more research.

1 – OpenSecrets.org analysis of voting patterns.

Share and Enjoy:Please see the entire article at silverbuzzcafe.com

[wave06]

12:57 PM on 08/18/2009

The best way to fight fire is with fire !

For all those in congress voting against a Public option

and for a co-op style health insurance, challenged them to insure the same

type insurance for them and their families .

Otherwise call them out for being elitist and incompetent !

Progresives and Citizens concerned with America's future, dare not rest.

In this case be your brother's or neighbors keeper.

'

[DestinationsUnknown]

12:55 PM on 08/18/2009

Gotta love all you country first folks!

What does 4 hours on the house floor ranting about Criminal Acorn have to do w/healthcare?

That is what R-IA King did the night of 7-27-09! 2 hrs
That is what R-IA King did the night of 7-29-09! 2 hrs

Bash Unions and Union workers and back the likes of Rick Scott-

This is what GOP support-
THURSDAY, JUNE 26, 2003; WWW.USDOJ.GOV;
HCA Inc. (formerly known as Columbia/HCA and HCA - The Healthcare Company)
LARGEST HEALTH CARE FRAUD CASE IN U.S. HISTORY
Note: Hospital Corporation of America (HCA) was acquired by Columbia in 1994.

Richard Scott, "the former chief executive of HCA Inc," had formed the non-profit organization Conservatives for Patients' Rights

THEY WANT THEIR COUNTRY BACK !!!

Conservatives for Patients' Rights - Rick Scott

WOW! Ram this down our throats?

I think not - keep it stupid is done!

Rick Scott and his WALMART CLINICS is what you want? Rick Scott?

You dare bash unions?

Do I have this correct?

BASH UNIONS! PROMOTE RICK SCOTT AND HIS FRAUD!!!

Go find another country to destroy- and take Rick Scott with you !

[LeftHandedBrain]

12:42 PM on 08/18/2009

I have a friend who is a retired nurse who used to work for Group Health in Seattle and now has Group Health as her health insurance provider as part of her pension.

Group Health is one of the "models" being held up as an example as a co-op.

She said the other day she wished she could opt out of the Group Health plan and switch to Blue Cross.

So much for the "model".

[quindy]

12:39 PM on 08/18/2009

Can we, the people, take away the health care coverage of our representative till they give us what they give themselves? They are working on our dollars.

[wave06]

12:43 PM on 08/18/2009

Yes if you can get your Congessman / woman to sposor a bill to call out he hypocrites

[Antifascist-08]

02:18 PM on 08/18/2009

No we can't.

[DawnK]

12:12 PM on 08/18/2009

We the people need to hold these aholes accountable for filling their pockets and letting the average US citizen (including dumb tea baggers) go broke trying to pay for healthcare. Not having a public option actually comes closer to killing people than made up death panels. My brother put off going to the doctor for what he thought was the flu because he has no health insurance. He ended up in the emergency room with a broken insulin pump and his blood sugar at 700. For most that spells death. He is very lucky to be alive but is now broke for the rest of his life. Within 15 minutes of being there he was pretty much financially ruined. How do these blue dogs sleep at night. I will sign every petition and donate to non blue dogs running against them. And if the dems don't grow some balls soon it might be time to start a party that is actually by the peopel and for the people.

[Scalie]

12:10 PM on 08/18/2009

MSNBC fill your news on interviews of how the PUBLIC OPTION WILL WORK, the cost, and people who is in dire need of it. Why do we feed into the negative of "how it won't work". I don't care to hear how it won't work. Let's leave that to Fox.