Graham: House Health Care Bill Would Die In Senate (VIDEO)

Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) declared on Sunday that the health care legislation passed by the House of Representatives would be "dead on arrival" in the Senate, in part because his friend and colleague, Sen. Joseph Lieberman (I-Conn.), wouldn't go "anywhere near" it.

"The House bill is dead on arrival in the Senate," Graham told CBS' "Face the Nation." "Just look at how it passed. It passed 220 to 215. It passed by two votes. You had 39 Democrats vote against the bill. They come from red states, moderate Democrats from swing districts. They bailed out on this bill. It was bill written by liberals for liberals and people like [Sen.] Joe Lieberman are not going to get anywhere near the House bill... it is a non-starter in the Senate."

"Let me tell you why Joe feels that way and I do [too]," Graham added. "I think the public option will destroy private health care."

The Senate, of course, will never actually vote on the House's health care legislation. They still must consider a version of their own before going to conference committee with the House and voting on a revised version of the bill. All of which makes Graham's narrow point moot. Still, at some point down the legislative road, the chamber does seem likely to weigh in on a public option. And this is where the South Carolina Republican's "dead on arrival" pledge will be tested.

Appearing alongside Graham, Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.) would not say if the 60 votes were there to cut off a Republican filibuster on a public plan.

"We are far from the end of the debate in the Senate," he said. "It will take time. It will be careful, thorough and deliberate. I hope that the public option is part of the final bill.

"I think there is a discussion, about as Senator Snowe [R-Maine] suggested, a trigger to the public option, Senator Reid [D-Nev.] has suggested an opt-out by the states," he added. "There is a debate, an active debate about how the pubic option might come about."

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Comments

[iBlog4Fun]

Men who look like old lesb|ans should not be allowed to hold Americans hostage like this.

[LITU]

This bill is so far removed from any form of socialized medicine being practiced in dozens of socially responsible nations today, it's overtly duplicitous.

I (emphasis) am for 100% socialized care, and nothing short of that will give the citizens of this country what they need to achieve health. Other than filling the capitalist niche, private insurance for health care is an abomination, and has no place in a civilized society.

[lemonyashes]

This is a liberal bill progressives would be proud of? It's a blue dog bill.

[timhere]

Where in the constitution is the fillibuster? It is time to get rid of this tool. Republicans will always be against deocratic ideas. It makes it almost impossible to get anything done when there is a democratic president. A 60 percent majority is too high a threshold in a two party system where one party's political plan is to be against anything the other suggests. With the advantages inherent in the senate for conservatives this makes no sense.

[billobasher]

Another right wing lie now being spewed is the claim that this bill places requires all small busiensses to insure there employees. You know the elie< 'big government" is coming after the mom and pop's."

The bill EXEMPTS businesses that have less than 500,000 dollars a year in sales. I'll bet Rush, Glenn, and Sean forgot to tell their sheep that.

[DredLockRasta]

Have nor fear fellow libs, graham has been wrong many times before (he said McCain would be the next president) and he'll be proven wrong about healthcare reform.

[BeVeryAfraid]

Please sign this petition. Senator Coburn is holding up funding for our troops.

http://ga3.org/campaign/coburn/

[Akat1973]

Thank you for your post,It is an important one..cobur­n is a midevil type leader and I hope to see his career end. He is just short of doing the devils work and destroying people in the name of GOD

[Ron44]

Many political careers will end next year and in 2012!!! I do hope his is one of them!!!!

[Elbrando]

The public option is ONLY for those that don't have health insurance. If the health insurance companies want to save themselves they would offer to insure these people. The insurance companies have spent DECADES ripping off the American public. The piper's tab is due, time to pay up.

[Buffyboy]

Please God-ah

[Ashamed-in-Texas]

OFF TOPIC BUT IMPORTANT

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[jeanwny]

You think it would destroy health care Lindsay? Don't think it could be dangerous to your health or at the very least, your seat in Congress.

[cbates]

There is hope that the bill will pass. Senator Graham and others have not told us why the medical insurance companies are worth saving. You folks continue to report stuff and not challenge the people who are making the arguments for nor against this bill or any other item. Ask him why we must save these jobs at the expense of the USA's economy?

[Michael Valentine]

Ironic choice of words considering how many Americans die every year for lack of health care insurance.

[Brute]

I think what people fail to understand is that when this much power/control is placed in the hands of government it is extremely difficult to reverse.

Imagine if a Palin/Gingrich type were elected next term or Conservatives became the majority in Congress. Government would already have access to an avenue to implement THEIR medical/moral world view upon the populous.

Very dangerous when either party has this much power.

[widdles]

It is not any more dangerous than leaving the power to make medical decision for you by the insurance industry.

Talk about death panels!! The insurance companies are death panels.

[lesterbud]

"If you Dems cross this line we will kill you!"

"Ok...I meant this line!"

"Better not cross this line - I really mean it!"

"All right, this is my final line, better not cross it!"

"Conservatives, always having the best interest of poor and working class Americans in our hearts, have wanted to pass real health care reform for years, but have been blocked by liberals."