Enzi On Health Reform: "I'm Pretty Sure It's Going To Fail"

Despite continuing to claim he's working on bipartisan health care reform, Sen. Mike Enzi (R-WY) has been quoted, yet again, condemning the effort. The latest evidence comes from an Americans for Prosperity event on environmental legislation, following the White House's recognition of the his intransigence. Via Think Progress:

Enzi and John Barrasso, Wyoming's delegation in the U.S. Senate, have been among the leaders of those opposing the cap and trade legislation, which Enzi referred to as a "cap and tax." It is a "hidden tax" in which the government will print and sell certificates to companies who will pass the expense on to customers, Enzi said. [...]

Congress won't start serious work on cap and trade until after the health care bill is taken care of.

That (the health care bill) is going to take awhile and I'm pretty sure it's going to fail, Enzi said.

Further undermining Enzi's stated desire for a deal is this news from Greg Sargent:

A top official with a committed anti-reform group tells me that Mike Enzi, one of those GOP Senators, strongly suggested at an event hosted by the group that he would oppose whatever proposal emerged from the Gang of Six talks.

Ultimately, Sen. Enzi's comments seem to suggest that his commitment to achieving bipartisan health care reform legislation is about as strong as South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford's commitment to his marriage vows.

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Comments

[BBCup]

09:58 AM on 09/08/2009

For the life of me (literally), I don't understand why we're letting rich, white, lobbyist-controlled politicians make these decisions. They're looking out for there bottom line and that of there Corporate buddies, not 'the people.' If there is one truly immediate need in this Country, it is to KICK the Corporations out of OUR Government.

[fresno500]

02:24 PM on 09/04/2009

Nobody is Wyoming needs healthcare?

[Da-king]

12:35 AM on 09/04/2009

I am starting to think that the democrats are using the republicans as spokesmen. I don't know much about internal politics but I have never witnessed these kind demagoguery going on in this health care debate, from fake bipartisanship to flip flopping of the majority party , this is all confusing and disingenuous.

[MyrtleJune]

12:06 AM on 09/04/2009

And he must be so proud.

Look if the Dems do NOT get that this fight represents MORE than health care reform then they truly are just stupid.

[Tommygun264]

11:09 PM on 09/03/2009

I'm pretty sure that Senator Enzi doesn't have a soul.

[PhilipTaylor]

10:24 PM on 09/03/2009

How 0BAMA and his TEAM PLANS TO SELL US 0UT (Media’s Story fed by Emanuel):

1. President Refuses to say he is for or against Public Option - Positioning to Drop it!

2. Assumes Left will NOT abandon 0BAMA!

3. 0BAMA wants any Bill that does NOT RUFFLE Industries’ Feathers!

4. The House Passes a Strong Public Option Medicare Bill!

5. Senate passes an EXTREMELY WEAK Bill controlled by BAUCUS/EMANUEL- No Public Option!

6. 0BAMA/Emanuel PUTS IMMENSE PRESSURE ON HOUSE TO CAVE IN so Corporations WIN $TENS of TRILLIONS!

7. 0BAMA Theory is Pressure will get him Corporation Friendly BILL with Nothing for Americans except some Regulations and TRIGGERS that will never be ENFORCED!

8. GOAL IS TO FORCE LIBERALS INTO CORNER and DEFEAT THEM in FAVOR of Corporations!

9. 0BAMA wants 30 to 40 Million more people to be forced to BUY INSURANCE!

10. 0BAMA S0ld 0UT to Big Pharma, AMA, Hospitals, and Insurance Companies in return for BIG ill-Gotten L00T from them for REELECTIONS!

We must BACK PELOSI, WEINER, and KUCINICH to the END!

HR 676 Medicare for All WHO WANT IT and an OPT OUT Clause for those that don’t!

http://vodpod.com/watch/2073364-anthony-weiner-leaves-scarborogh-speechles

[max hp]

09:53 PM on 09/03/2009

A PUBLIC OPTION, DON'T REFORM WITHOUT IT.

Without a Public Option, you are delivering more to Private Insurance.
Without a Public Option, we are at the mercy of Private Insurance.
Without a Public Option, there is NO COMPETITION.
Without a Public Option, there is NO COST CONTROL.
Without a Public Option, there is MORE CARE DENIED.
Without a Public Option, we will be worse off than we are today.
Without a Public Option, we bend over - AGAIN.

Without a Public Option, the US is doomed to mediocrity.

A Public Option is not just a good idea, it's a REQUIREMENT.

[bluecollarblogger]

08:09 PM on 09/03/2009

“We shall need compromises in the days ahead, to be sure. But these will be, or should be, compromises of issues, not principles. We can compromise our political positions, but not ourselves. We can resolve the clash of interests without conceding our ideals. And even the necessity for the right kind of compromise does not eliminate the need for those idealists and reformers who keep our compromises moving ahead, who prevent all political situations from meeting the description supplied by Shaw: "smirched with compromise, rotted with opportunism, mildewed by expedience, stretched out of shape with wire pulling and putrefied with permeation."

Compromise need not mean cowardice. ...” JFK

Once we concede our convictions we will never be able to cancel the concession. Things will never be the way they once were or could have been and will be twice as expensive. What will remain will only be a faint exaggeration of what either side really wanted. From the beginning The compromise which conservatives and blue dogs have asked for are but the sacrifice and abandonment of our right or our hope that all Americans will be treated with the human rights which each deserve. Compromise will only lead to the abandonment of these rights. I have found that it is never the strong who ask for compromise but rather the weak ……..we are stronger than we ever have been let us holding true to our goals.

[rcampbell]

04:49 PM on 09/03/2009

To hell with bipartisabship and to hell with the blue dogs. Jam reform down their throats and any Dem who doesn't vote in favor gets zero campaign dollars for reelection. It's past time to start playing hardball!

[tompoe]

01:01 AM on 09/04/2009

Agree 100%. Makes it easy. On September 15, 2009, without public option, Americans default to pre-election Single Payer demands. If the public option is tied to market rates for insurance premiums, Americans default to pre-election Single Payer demands.

Makes it real easy, come election time. Democrats and Republicans failed the people they represent, so it matters not what their label is, they are voted OUT! I'm sure Nader and the Green Party are ready to go to work for America.

[MacGregor57]

04:44 PM on 09/03/2009

The "most republican" state there is. It's the opposition parties' job to undo. Those that are in need of good health care in Wyoming may be out of luck if this guy has his way. Pretty lonely place to curl up and die in.

[alice09]

04:32 PM on 09/03/2009

And we're pretty sure you are not an honest broker.

[GrandmaBEE]

05:01 PM on 09/03/2009

Sorry, I am a first time contributor to the Huffington Post. Not quite sure what you mean.

[GrandmaBEE]

04:32 PM on 09/03/2009

There is a reason the Democrats are in office. We put them there and we expect them to make good on their campaign promise of healthcare reform with a public option. We never expected the Republicans to join the cause! If they don't do what the people put them there to do, they won't be back next time around. We won't forget..

[goodnews7]

04:28 PM on 09/03/2009

Axelrod Nails “Snake in the Grassley”
hite House Press Secretary David Axelrod lashed out at Republican Senators Chuck “$2,546,596″1 Grassley and Mike “$844,427″ Enzi this week, saying – “If you’re sitting at a table negotiating in good faith, then you probably don’t send out mailers saying, ‘Help me stop Obama-care.’ That’s just common sense. ” The two senators’ actions, he went on to say, “suggested they don’t want to participate” in bipartisan talks. “They’re satisfied with the status quo. We are not,” Mr. Axelrod said.

Senator “$2,546,596″ Grassley is the one who flip-flopped on the topic of end of life counseling, choosing to forget that he voted for an earlier version of the same kind of coverage in President Bush’s 2003 Medicare prescription drug bill! Senator Mike “$844,427″ Enzi, another one of the three Republicans ostensibly negotiating health care reform as part of the Senate’s “Gang of Six,” told a Wyoming town hall crowd that he had no plans to compromise with Democrats and was merely trying to extract concessions. He went on to say – “It’s not where I get them to compromise, it’s what I get them to leave out.” – Billings Gazette – 9/31/09.http://silverbuzzcafe.com/?p=3041

[max hp]

09:56 PM on 09/03/2009

So what don't you understand, David?

[BigDogMom]

04:17 PM on 09/03/2009

I think I can, I think I can, I think I can......you keep working at this and you too, little red engine, will make it up the hill.

"I'm pretty sure"...that gives me hope that this will pass and with a public option to boot!

[Tim303]

04:08 PM on 09/03/2009

Thanks for telling where you stand matey.