Sen. Rockefeller Won't Vote For Baucus Health Bill

Speaking with reporters Tuesday, Democratic Senator Jay Rockefeller slammed Senator Max Baucus' health care bill, saying his vote would not be forthcoming.

"The way it is now there is no way I can vote for the package," Rockefeller said, according to the AP.

The New Republic's Jonathan Cohn has more details from the Rockefeller conference call.

Rockefeller cited four main concerns: The lack of a public insurance option, changes to Medicaid, changes to the State Children's Health Insurance Program, and overall affordability provisions. He did caution that he reserved the right to change judgments once the final bill comes out, although it's unlikely that bill will look much different than what Baucus has already released.

On the other side of the aisle, Republican Senator Olympia Snowe also still has doubts about Baucus' bill, George Stephanopoulos reports. According to Stephanopoulos, Snowe is not ready to sign onto the draft, and intends to keep negotiating.

Baucus' plan also came in for withering criticism before the House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee Tuesday, with former health insurance industry executive-turned-whistleblower Wendell Potter calling his plan an "absolute gift to the industry" during testimony.

Comments

[CTtransplant]

I wouldn't vote for it either!

Until a health care bill is signed, we need to keep up the pressure!

If not now, when? If not us, who?

Kennedy was one of our greatest champions of health care reform. He carried the torch for a long time...and now it is up to us to continue to carry it!

Our elected officials in Congress receive health care mostly paid for by us tax payers, yet many are trying to make it impossible for us to purchase an affordable plan of our own :

While many of us are struggling to afford medical insurance/medical bills.
While Congress people try to stop healthcare reform.
While Congress people accept large contributions from lobbyists to prevent health care reform.

Please sign these petitions - and by all means, spread the word! Thank you!

http://www.petitiononline.com/PubOp676/petition.html
http://www.democrats.com/honor-ted-kennedy?cid=ZGVtczQ0MTA5OGRlbXM=
http://salsa.wiredforchange.com/o/5649/t/4922/content.jsp?content_KEY=2763&tag=hk1_typ-e1

Read more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-tv/arianna-discusses-health_b_288023.html

[Salilu2]

Good for Rockefeller!!

[DuPageDem]

For once, checkbook democracy works in our favor. Rocky can't be bought by the insurance industry, because the telecoms already own him.

[clutchkill]

Stand up for the Public Option: http://www.actblue.com/page/theytookthepledge

[tbone99]

which public option?

The one they offered before they bait and switched it ?
http://pnhp.org/blog/2009/07/20/bait-and-switch-how-the-%E2%80%9Cpublic-option%E2%80%9D-was-sold/

[tbone99]

Sen. Rockafeller - thank you for refusing to support this bill.Lets call this healthcare bill out for what it is.... a shakedown by the insurance industry aided and abetted by Obama and his Gang of Six.

[moongal6]

You forgot to add the rest of the R party in DC.
The R's don't want reform at all. They say we have the number one healthcare system in the world.

[norepublicanleftbehind]

Noblese oblige in action. Good. He shouldn't vote for it and Bacus should be run out of town.

[Zombeaver]

Now I know where to send my dozens of dollars of campaign contributions that would have gone to Baucus!

[Zombeaver]

The actual democrats in congress need to make their oppostion to this bill loud and clear, and hold firm until the Senator from Mass. is seated. We don't need to pass a bad bill before Christmas if we can pass a good one by Valentine's Day. Forget the Republicans.

[gizmo64]

I don't believe any of those 6 were really working at anything.IMO it was all a big lie to make everyone think people actually were working on a health insurance reform bill,when in reality they were all cashing in from the insurance industry.

[gizmo64]

Good for Senator Rockefeller and all who oppose this plan with no public option.Does Backus not think that the public can't see what this plan is ,it is a benefit to the insurance companies,making people have private insurance no matter what.A big boon to the insurance industry who do have panels that decide whether you are covered for something or not Ms Palin got it wrong we already have those panels in our private insurance companies who deny coverage whenever it suits them unless someone has the bucks to fight and those who have fought have died before the insurance company was overturned.So in the end the insurance company made out big time anyway

[castlerider]

Granted, a lot of things our government’s done, and done badly.

BUT THIS IS DIFFERENT... It’s a call to arms in a battle against a formidable foe.

We should rally strongly against those saying government can’t run healthcare.
America needs the best, most inexpensive healthcare in the world. That's the mission.
This mission makes us better. A nation where healthcare’s a right, not a luxury.

Single payer would save the most, but a Public option at least sets us in this direction.
HONEST TRUTH, that special interests attack...

We don't have a choice. Our economy’s on the ropes, getting MUCH WORSE…
We need to grab a hold, gut this pig, and start over with a clean slate, dropping off the excess fat and greed that's been strangling our nation...
That’s why it's so important, even to the point of being patriotic, even calling out those that say we can’t as unpatriotic..
It must be done. Those saying we can't must be ignored. They’re cowards, wealthy, dwelling in ignorance. We’ve GOT TO BELIEVE, and move on.

[rockinroll]

Dump this Bipartisan stuff1 They will NEVER vot e for it. Put in everything we want. Vote it in.
Screw them!!

[BlueMed]

Thank god once in a blue moon a billionaire shows some kind of conscience.
Or is it because Rockefeller doesn't need the contributions of the insurance industry since he has huge family wealth?
Whichever way, I applaude his refusal to bow down to Max Bogus's plan.
Shame on you, Baucus. You are one giant sleazeball thriving on subsidized health care paid for by the people, and subsidies paid for by the health insurance companies.

[LucieLee]

While so focused on Republican support, like Sen. Snowe, Baucus and the White House totally ignore the fact that the Seante has a "Progressive caucus" as well.

[windup]

Go for the 50 votes. Period.