Cantor: Public Plan A Non-Starter, Whether In Trigger Or Co-op Form

House Minority Whip Eric Cantor gave further indication on Thursday that the default position of the Republican party will be to oppose Democrat-written health care legislation even if its key provision, the public plan, is drastically watered down.

The Virginia Republican said that if a health care bill includes a trigger for a government-run health insurance plan or merely co-operative insurance plans in its place, conservatives would be ideologically opposed to the legislation.

"The public option, which is the essence of HR 3200, to me is a non starter," said Cantor during his appearance at The Atlantic's First Draft Of History conference. "I do not believe you can take a bill that puts Washington in the business of making rules and then says Washington is going to be a competitor under those rules. You can't do that because you will drive people into a single-payer system. I just think fundamentally, when you talk public option, whether you call it trigger, whether you call it co-op, if you got the structure in place of mandating individual and employer insurance purchasing coverage and then you are defining what it is you're mandating, and then you are putting the government either as a backstop, a trigger or an option you can't see how that doesn't end up with bringing people out of the system."

What Cantor's remarks suggest is something that progressive activists have long warned: that regardless of the changes made by Democrats to the public plan there is little chance of recruiting GOP support. Indeed, when asked whether he would be willing to back a public option as part of a deal for caps on malpractice lawsuits (a GOP cause celebre), Cantor replied: "I don't think I would make that trade."

And yet, at this juncture in the health care debate, the views of Cantor are of somewhat secondary importance. The legislative spotlight now is squarely on the group of conservative Democrats (both in the House and Senate) who aren't fully committed to supporting the prospective bills in their chambers. And the lone Republican worth following appears to be Sen. Olympia Snowe of Maine, who seems likely to back a trigger provision for the public option, considering her earlier push for the proposal.

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Comments

[carpdd]

10:04 AM on 10/04/2009

Mr. Can't er you are a non starter! I have had enough of this crap, bipartisanship is dead, gone, never to return in this environment. Move on and get it done, we the people who elected a super majority demand it. To allow this farce to continue is nothing short of dereliction of duty by the Democratic Congress. We have moved beyond the political satire created by the GOP and the press. People are starving for meaningful leadership and the murmuring is turning into shouts for action. Stop lending credibility to people who display bad behavior and false indignation. Do what you were sent to Washington to do. LEAD!

[MighteeAphrodite]

01:30 PM on 10/02/2009

Prioritizing lobbyist's interests at the public's expense is obliterating the working class.

Any political party that perpetuates the hardships of its constituents by failing to pass a health care bill that offers affordable heath care to all, and eliminates insurance industry abuse, will be unseated. Nov 2, 2010.

[tehixe]

12:43 PM on 10/02/2009

Here's Eric Cantor saying his favorite word! http://cheezburger.com/View.aspx?aid=2681917184

[dmsdzinr]

12:22 PM on 10/02/2009

Well Mr. Cantor, the ONLY thing that is a NON-STARTER is YOU!

[lafayette2009]

12:07 PM on 10/02/2009

Eric Cantor has already stated on a number of occassions that he wants Obama to fail and he was one of the speakers at the 9/12 rally so what else can we expect from him?

Given that he spent his time texting on his blackberry while the President addressed the joint session, I guess he received a text telling him his funds from the various lobbyists are in the bank.

[Gidster]

12:41 PM on 10/02/2009

Didn't he also endorse the tea baggers and other anti government organizations?

Is he anti American or just anti Obama? Because fighting so hard to make sure Obama fails damages America and Americans!

[RobBob]

11:29 AM on 10/02/2009

Dear Eric,
Keep talking. I need the constant reminder as to why you all are irrelevant.

[jelly450]

11:16 AM on 10/02/2009

Cantor in the house we don't need the republicans support. It can be done without a single reupub.

Oh hey, that movie Grease called and they want that wig you stole back.

[jazabelz]

11:09 AM on 10/02/2009

I know this is serious, but I just can't get over his pompodour in the picture! Too funny to take him seriously!

[Guscat]

11:07 AM on 10/02/2009

After the election who would have thought the the Republicans and conservative Dems would determine health care "reform"?

[jeremyfive]

11:06 AM on 10/02/2009

The Republican Plan per Eric Cantor? We can all go begging for charity!!!

[One more Thing]

11:04 AM on 10/02/2009

I've read and read this article and can not find anything newsworthy other than a reminder that foot-dragging, knuckle-dragging Neanderthal Republicans continue to obstruct access to affordable healthcare for all Americans.

[unclelew]

11:02 AM on 10/02/2009

Ah yes, another exposition of the Republican health plan. Well done, Mr. Cantor

[gladhart1]

10:52 AM on 10/02/2009

Cantor needs to give up his health care benefits provided by the tax payers. When he or a member of his family have a catastrophic illness they can go to charity for help! How do these people sleep at night when they know that their actions are contributing to the death and suffering of American citizens. Shameful.

[edwardf56]

10:45 AM on 10/02/2009

I will be contributing to the democratic candidate to REPLACE Cantor.
And I am in California…………Sign me up

[Michaela1976]

10:33 AM on 10/02/2009

Oh I just love it when Mr. Swish Swish speaks... ughhhhhhh