Sebelius Now Says Public Option Remains Obama's Goal

Columbus Dispatch:

In a visit to the Ohio State University Medical Center today, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius reasserted the Obama Administration's strong support for government-run insurance as part of a new health-care system.

Although she did not rule out a compromise that excludes a public insurance option, Sebelius today avoided repeating her comment on CNN Sunday that a government-run alternative to private insurance is "not the essential element" of the administration's health reform effort.

Read the whole story: Columbus Dispatch

Comments

[Beltane]

11:41 AM on 08/23/2009

From another caring Canuck.

HiThe reform plan for universal health care in the US is at risk in part because of the powerful medical insurance lobby and right-wing propaganda machine spreading lies about the Canadian health care system.I have just signed a petition urging the US Congress and American people to ignore the propaganda about the health system in Canada and to turn the debate away from fear and lies -- I thought that you would want to help set the record straight too!Click the link or paste to sign the petition:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/reform_health_care/96.php?CLICK_TF_TRACK

[TazoWolf]

11:53 PM on 08/22/2009

Ultimately, the public option will save money. Preventative care, and earlier diagnoses will reduce treatment costs, help keep people off of disability and medicaid, and those people are able to continue working and contributing to the economy. I'm a good example. If I hadn't been insured when I got sick 10 years ago, the delay in treatment and the inability to afford the costs would have led to me either being d3ad today, or I'd be on disability and medicaid, and getting dialysis 3 times a week. Instead, I'm healthy now, working full time, in medical school, and am a contributing member of society.

This is my full statement re: health reform: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5RwVzUYT3EM

Links are provided there for contacting various entities to express your opinions and concerns, including the email address for Kathleen Sebelius.

There's one thing that hasn't been mentioned that I'd like to see added to the bill, though... how about improvements in school lunches? Kids are getting some of the worst junk food directly from their schools.

[Michaela1976]

08:31 PM on 08/22/2009

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/07/28/health-cares-gang-on-the-hill/

This is an excellent article explaining how we got where we are on this legislation.

After reading it along with many other things.. my guess is there will be no bill at all or it will be so watered down it will not resemble anything that has been discussed so far.

[Shadow08]

08:33 PM on 08/22/2009

You said it. "Your guess."

[Siobhan11]

07:33 PM on 08/22/2009

Their mixed messages is getting embarrassing. I wish the President had appointed Howard Dean instead of her. But I guess he couldn't because he is so obviously so pro public option. Yet he is the only one right now who calms me down and makes me think it will happen. I hope he is right.

[Michaela1976]

07:57 PM on 08/22/2009

Rahm doesn't like Dean.

Dean would have been a much better Secretary of Health and Human Services ..

Heck I think he would have been a much better President.

[Shadow08]

08:36 PM on 08/22/2009

"Rahm doesn't like Dean." Rahm and Dean put their heads together and took the majority in 2006. That statement doesn't even make sense.

[Shadow08]

08:21 PM on 08/22/2009

Mixed messages perhaps, but, when attempting legislation this sweeping, wires are bound to be crossed and messages may be mixed at times. The larger picture is, the Obama administration is trying to reform the entire heath care system of the US. There are alot of heads involved and I think if Americans weren't being uber-reactionaries to every bit of media coverage, they would see the goal has always been the same. Media nuances, mis-quotes and off the cuff remarks are not the heart of the legislation. Health Care reform is. I think a measure of patience is prudent. But, thats just me.

[Siobhan11]

10:17 PM on 08/22/2009

I can understand your point. They just seem so be pretty big mixed messages or miscommunications when they should know every little word is being watched.

[verycold]

06:38 PM on 08/22/2009

Look I have watched her talk on health care many times. She changes the message every single time as if she is testing the waters. She is a lightweight. She looks depressed as well.

[Shadow08]

08:22 PM on 08/22/2009

She looks depressed? Thats an odd statement.

[LemonMeringue]

05:42 PM on 08/22/2009

This is not good enough Kathleen.

"President Obama will not sign any bill that does not include a strong public option, without triggers, available to everyone, and without mandates."

Nothing less than this will do.

[Shadow08]

08:24 PM on 08/22/2009

In that case, I'm glad you're not in charge of anything. That is never how any legislation is ever written, especially in it's infancy.

[medic628]

05:33 PM on 08/22/2009

No public option? No reelection!

[Shadow08]

08:25 PM on 08/22/2009

I disagree 100%. Thats way radical.

[ChairmanOfTheBoard]

04:39 PM on 08/22/2009

What is it today? is this another trial baloon/ mixed message? someone is good at speaking out of bothsides of their mouth

[ndnndpendent]

03:32 PM on 08/22/2009

I agree with comment that Obama has wrong people on this....it just is not what it should be and I predict it will collapse if Baucus does not yield to his wiser colleagues...

[Michaela1976]

07:59 PM on 08/22/2009

There is only 1 Democrat on the Baucus committee who wants a public option and I am not even sure about him

There is not a public option coming out of this gang of 6, no matter how long they talk

It's not happening.

[mwilliams]

03:21 PM on 08/22/2009

She never said it wasn't his goal.

[dwright]

05:25 PM on 08/22/2009

the media making the news

[Shadow08]

08:27 PM on 08/22/2009

Bingo! Rght on the money. Fanned. A lot of Americans are not seeing the forest because of the trees. After 8 years of bush, one would think they would give the president a little wiggle room, but not these hard-liners, everything the media puts out, to them is gospel.

[SangZe]

03:21 PM on 08/22/2009

And tomorrow it will be another flip-flop depending on what the republicans say.

[dwright]

05:25 PM on 08/22/2009

or the "faux ournalist"

[Shadow08]

08:29 PM on 08/22/2009

In your life, has every statement and every action of yours been perfect? Just consider that.

[DEJM]

02:38 PM on 08/22/2009

Does this mean death panels are back in? I'm confused.

Let me see if I've got this straight. We've abolished torturing our enemies and instead will establish
death panels for our citizens.

Did Big Pharma bring some goodies to the meeting with Washington officials?

[ndnndpendent]

03:17 PM on 08/22/2009

Turn in to Faux News....I am sure you will get the latest info!

[Archivist1000]

04:42 PM on 08/22/2009

DEJM ... go to Palin's Facebook site, they will explain it ALL to you .... or make up new stuff! One Palinbot over there actually said there is a provision in there for coffins, if people choose to let their relatives die, or something equally stupid!

You will fit right in, and you won't be banned, you have the 'right attitude' !!! ROFLMAO

[dteg]

02:38 PM on 08/22/2009

Love the fact that unlike most politicians she is not afraid to have grey hair.

[LemonMeringue]

05:43 PM on 08/22/2009

She is not a Republican, if she were she would never be allowed out the door without bleaching it blond.

[johnnynyc]

02:28 PM on 08/22/2009

This is so silly.

When was a public option NOT the goal?

[dwright]

05:26 PM on 08/22/2009

never

[Michaela1976]

08:01 PM on 08/22/2009

Since nobody in the White House has gone to the Hill and crammed it down their throats.

[JayeSF]

02:12 PM on 08/22/2009

I feel bad for Sebelius...she's actually a decent person, good Democrat. The Administration sent her out there to walk the plank, neck completely exposed...and float out the notion of dropping the Public Option.

But the big, big mistake was made before that. They should have left her in the Governor's chair...she'd have been able to take the repoob Senate seat there in 2010 NO PROBLEM....but Team Obama wasn't thinking beyond the tip of their noses.

And now, unfortunately, the Secretary is being vilified as a flip-flopper....so she has to backpedal as well....

But it makes you wonder which words to believe...which is also sad....

[johnnynyc]

02:38 PM on 08/22/2009

Nobody floated anything.

Obama has said public option is just part of it and if somebody could show him something that works as well to achieve the other goals too he'd consider it.

This being August, the press is parsing every scrap trying to keep their audience's interest.

[Michaela1976]

08:03 PM on 08/22/2009

But this one aspect of the health care debate shouldn’t overshadow the other important steps we can and must take to reduce the increasing burdens families and businesses face.

This is what Obama said. Tell us exactly what else would reduce costs and how then.

He never mentions the alternatives.

[ndnndpendent]

03:19 PM on 08/22/2009

It was her job---she did sign on as Secretary.....to rile up the base, she did a good job of it and it reflects on her. Progressives are crowing and guess what---we will keep it up as long as we have to!

A Montana Progressive for Universal

[Michaela1976]

08:05 PM on 08/22/2009

Do something with your Senators.