GOP Opposition To Health Bill Goes Beyond Details, Right To The "Core"

The Senate Republican leader made clear on Wednesday that his party, despite all its griping over the public health insurance option, abortion-funding or health care for illegal immigrants, is simply and flatly opposed to the "core" of the Democratic health care reform proposal.

Satisfying every Republican demand short of scrapping the entire project, said Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), would still not capture GOP support.

"Senator Kyl and some of the others have talked about some of the things that are happening in committee," McConnell told reporters, referring to Senate Finance Committee Republican Jon Kyl of Arizona.

"But the core point is this: At the end of the day, if the government plan is either in the bill or out of the bill, whether they will be able to argue successfully or not whether tax funds are gonna be provided for abortion, whether or not they will be able to argue at the end that dollars for health care for illegals is in or out, what we do know is what the core of the bill is going to look like. We know that for sure," he said.

And the bottom line, said McConnell, is that Republicans don't like the bill at all.

"It's going to be a trillion dollar bill," said McConnell. President Obama has said he won't sign any bill that exceeds $900 billion over ten years, but what's a few billion?

"We know it's going to have half a trillion dollars in Medicare cuts. We know it's going to raise taxes on individuals and business. So however these other issues are resolved, the core of the bill is a trillion dollar government attempt to take over one-sixth of the economy, which slashes Medicare by half a trillion dollars, and raises taxes on most Americans," he said.

The Finance Committee is currently debating a health care proposal crafted in part to win Republican support. On Tuesday, the committee rejected two amendments that would have established a public option for some patients who couldn't afford private insurance. Every Republican and five Democrats opposed the first amendment; two Democrats flipped to support the second, but it still fell short.

Republican have loudly complained that some of the subsidies to purchase insurance could end up paying for abortion services, which is not true. Republican have also expressed concerns that undocumented immigrants might be able to buy health insurance in exchanges that are set up as a result of reform.

Comments

[joyce2]

08:52 PM on 10/09/2009

McConnell you lie period on almost every thing you say except for the just say no republican party would not sign on to any bill for reform no matter what.

[rmreddicks]

05:08 PM on 10/08/2009

Wouldn't you be against health care for everyone if you had a cash cow like McConnell. Probably not. But Mitch is rolling around in $lop in hog heaven. (RMReddicks said, mixing his metaphors. And darn, I hate to insult barnyard critters.)

http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20091007/NEWS0106/910060365/1008/NEWS01/14+health+care+groups+and+their+lobbyists+gave+more+than+$500+000+to+McConnell

[dancinggrandma]

05:01 PM on 10/08/2009

Oops - that one's pretty cute, but THIS is the video I meant to post!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=964uCtgsDoE

[dancinggrandma]

05:00 PM on 10/08/2009

The GOP's mantra: NOOOOOOOO

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tRWRSfcDuQ

[Aerows]

04:29 PM on 10/08/2009

When the Republicans come up with a plan I'll be glad to consider it, but so far, the only plan seems to be leave it alone. That isn't working, and it hasn't worked for a while, otherwise we wouldn't even be discussing it. All I've heard is "don't get the government involved", but there is no way out of the health care mess without some type of government involvement.

[homer37]

03:18 PM on 10/08/2009

One thing you repugggggggggggggggggggggg can believe is senator Kly saying what is in the health bill that hasn't been passed yet and having McConnell repeat same makes it nothing but the gospel.

[DRaymond]

03:37 AM on 10/02/2009

Lets get right down to what this 'core' is. The 'core' consists of just one simple thing. It will be seen as Obama's bill. The Republicans simply want to preserve their ability to en masse complain about Obama's bill.

Take the stimulus. Did the Republicans really feel that there was no need for a stimulus? No. Was the concessions included in the bill really all that deficient? Not really, It was just that they wanted to be able to in a unified whole whine about it.

[theriondata]

08:25 PM on 10/01/2009

Republicans are firmly convinced that the only solution to the health care crisis is. . . Massive
tax cuts for the rich.

Have they ever had any other solution to any other problem.

Oh yea, INVADE.

[Katzencats]

06:45 PM on 10/01/2009

From the story: "Republicans have loudly complained that some of the subsidies to purchase insurance could end up paying for abortion services..."
-----------------------------------------

Aren't these the same people complaining any govt. involvement will lead to the govt. dictating procedures & care? So which is it? They want the govt. to back off, or they want the govt. to be involved in these decisions?

Actually, I realize it's both - they want to be the ones in govt. to make the decisions for everyone else.

As always.

[saami]

05:42 PM on 10/01/2009

Remember they work for us. We hired them and we need to fire the GOP for deriliction of duty.

[Mitchbailey]

05:31 PM on 10/01/2009

There it is, from the horse's mouth, so to speak.

[dtlewis]

05:24 PM on 10/01/2009

Republicans' priority is to insulate the top five-percenters from economic fallout with tax breaks. Next, deliberately bankrupt the treasury to eliminate resources for social programs. It's in their manifesto, The Conservative Mind. Now they argue that it is unjust, immoral and unamerican to ask those who have largely escaped the downside of the republicans' own policies to contribute their fair share of the damages visited on the rest of us through the deceptions and criminal conduct of their own. These are not the actions of patriots but of fanatics. Compare their behavior to the textbook definition of "fanatic," you will find this to be quite an accurate observation. Wise up Democratic majority. You cannot debate fact with a fanatic. They are absolutist in their mindset and you will never win them over because that requires self-reflection and admission of fault. Such character traits are not contained in the conservative DNA. You asked us to send you to the Capitol to affect sweeping change on behalf of those of us who have been systematically denied equal access to the blessings of liberty and justice and we did our part. Now it is time for you to do yours. Do you really think you will get away with betraying us now? Guess again.

[peaches49]

05:24 PM on 10/01/2009

The Republicans do not care for the American public --- period!
Wake up , Democratic legislators!!!!!
Do it without them.

[mergina]

05:12 PM on 10/01/2009

old washed up sewer rats.

[QOTW]

05:12 PM on 10/01/2009

Sorry grandad, we've said no to the status quo and this time we mean it and we knew all along there'd be no help from the right. We've dealt with it, now it's your turn :-)