House Democrats Draw Line in the Sand on Public Option
We talked to Rep. John Yarmuth (D-KY) on The Young Turks last night. He gave us an important look into what happened inside the Democratic Caucus meeting on healthcare reform.
Rahm Emanuel came to speak to the House Democrats and said he was misinterpreted by the Wall Street Journal when they quoted him as being open to negotiating away the public option. The Progressive Caucus, with their 80 members, threw down the gauntlet and said they must have a "robust public option" in the bill in order to vote for it. And perhaps most importantly, the Blue Dogs seemed to step out of the way and agree to a public option.
These are important developments. And Rep. Yarmuth added, "I think it would be almost impossible to get a bill out of the House without a strong public option on it."
It seems clear at this point that the Democrats in the House are drawing a line in the sand on the public option. In fact, when asked specifically, Rep. Yarmuth said, "I really think it is [a line in the sand]."
Watch the interview here:
You can read the whole transcript and some of the more powerful quotes here.
Rep. Yarmuth also had a great quote on the importance of this healthcare reform effort:
This is the Super Bowl of legislation; this is Wimbledon; this is the U.S. Open if you're in a golf context or the Masters. This is the most important thing we'll do.
It sounds like the House Democrats are trying to encourage President Obama to do the right thing here. This is not time for half-measures that won't get the job done. If Obama is going to deliver on his promise of change, this is the the time and healthcare reform with a public option is the issue.
This is his legacy. Will it be one of false promises that leaves a broken system essentially intact or will he have the courage to deliver on what he promised? It looks like the House Democrats are trying to push him in the right direction. Let's hope he listens to their clear message.
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Contributions from healthcare providers & insurers (2008) per www.opensecrets.org:
John McCain $7.7 million
Max Baucus $2.23 million
Chris Dodd $1.5 million
Joe Lieberman $1.1 million
Ben Nelson $0.89 million
Harry Reid $0.8 million
Saxby Chambliss $0.76 million
John Ensign $0.65 million
Kent Conrad $0.62 million
John Boehner $0.62 million
Blanche Lincoln $0.59 million
Bill Nelson $0.55 million
Ben Cardin $0.53 million
Mike Enzi $0.52 million
Chuck Grassley $0.45 million
Mitch McConnell $0.43 million
American healthcare costs more than double than anywhere else in the world, yet our rates of wellness, accessibility, life-expectancy, infant mortality rival those of Third-world nations. It is apparent we’re not getting our money’s worth. Recent polls indicate 72% of Americans want a single-payer system and are willing to pay higher taxes to fund it. Those congressional representatives who decry a government, taxpayer-subsidized healthcare system should opt out of their plan, paid for and provided to them by their constituents (since they have an ideological objection to such), and purchase their own coverage on the "free market" as they advocate.
Get them all in a room without lobbyists and show them the One trillion of waste already in the system, which erodes quality and a 7-8% of true GDP budget like other large countries with better quality. Lock them in there until they come out.
OR
Just agree to a No Tax Public Option.
Oh boy! what a beautiful strategy Obama chose, when he decided to stay out of the fray and let the Republicans rant and rage for weeks, against the will of 90% of the American people, who want the Public Option. The political damage the Republicans have done unto themselves is catastrophic and will help keep them under the bus where they belong, for decades. And again, the Right, proves to us every day that they are not half as smart as they think the are.
I hope you're right and I hope it works.
I've learned more and more to appreciate & respect the fact that President Obama efficiently does his work while msm & others merely run their mouths !
We can show 'em better tahn we can tell 'em. If they don't get health care legislation passed...with a public option, I think some of bludogs are going to crying in their champagne. I guess the think we'll get over it..we won't. Every Senator and every Congressperson needs to really stop and think before the cowtow to the insurance and pharmaceutical companies. WE WILL NOT FORGET!
Time to tax the excessive profits and CEOs compensations of the insurance and hospital corporations.
Thanks Brother Cenk, and everyone over at "The Young Turks"
The president cannot enact or nullify laws. Nor does he allocate money.
If health care fails to become reality, it won't be the president's fault unless he vetoes a bill that provides health care.
People seem to be very confused about the limits of presidential authority.
George Bush's outrageous claims were the exception, not the rule. The president reports to Congress & they can fire (impeach) him. The president cannot fire Congress. They do not work for him.
Actually, Obama has rejected precious little of what Bush claimed.
But to your point; of course, you are correct about the limits of presidential authority. But you're completely letting Obama off the hook as a leader. He is not only the leader of the country but the head of the Democratic party - if he can't get health care enacted, it's because of his lack of leadership. It's his job to make calls and twist arms and make it happen. Can he get everyone to go along? Of course not. But he's a pretty crappy president if he can't get Congress to enact what 72% of the American public wants.
Exactly, Susan. Obama has to show "leadership" and let Congress know where HE stands on universal health care. If Congress does not produce what we the majority who voted for him want, he can veto it, and show us that he is listening to us. But it won't get to that, republican/blue dogs ranting not withstanding, they, Congress and the President will give use the public option/Medicare for all plan that we are clamoring for.
No" triggers", no "co-ops", no "taxation of health benefits", no "mandates", no more involvement of employers in the nation's health CARE. A not-for-profit PUBLIC OPTION, administered as Medicare is, that everyone can afford, for essential, needed care, like the rest of the world.
Excellent. The Blue Dogs have NOT been neutered. Good dogs.
Oh, but they will be.
Now now, blue on blue ha.te is so uncivilized.
Universal single-payer health care or bust. Otherwise the increasing cost of health care will bust the economy anyway.
I wonder if the right approach would be to ask what plan gets coverage to the poorest of the poor. If we were to start there, I think the discussion would lead to single payer. But Obama seems to want to approach this from the middle class viewpoint. (Politically, it's hard to blame him since that's where the votes are)
You know poor people tend to be illiterate; they would have a very hard time researching different plans to find the best one. They also tend to be the most unhealthy. This should have been the starting point.
Bernie Sanders says and I agree:
In my view, the fight for universal and comprehensive health care is the civil rights battle of our time. Like the other great struggles in our history that have made us a more democratic and just society, victory will require a strong and united grassroots movement that is prepared to take on the very powerful and wealthy special interests that benefit from this failing health care system.
Regarding commenter concerns that Obama isn't pushing hard enough for a public option, karela said: " 'Don't let the perfect be enemy of the good.' I agree that we need to fight for what we want and need, but in the final analysis, wisdom is still a good thing to cling to."
I think karala needs to explain why he/she 1) thinks a public option is the perfect solution; and 2) thinks it would be wise for Obama not to even fight for this second-best solution (single payer being the best).
Dear Congress, if you compromise today, you can look for a new job tomorrow.
Years ago I read a newsletter from one of the Democratic districts in my state which pretty much said it all. Truculent after the revelations of Watergate, the author pronounced that the major corporations in the United States believe that this nation is their private whorehouse and the president is the head towel boy.
That was 1973 and things haven't improved much. It remains to be seen if President Obama will be the next in a long line of towel boys or whether he'll be Chief of the vice squad.
The American citizenry have not been sheepish about saying that they want health care reform. It is precisely true that this time it's a showdown between the will of the people and the relentless corporate agenda. The Democratic party will never get another window of opportunity to deliver for their constituents as they now have on health care.
Thank you, Sealthbomber, for your wise words. The voice of the people should be heard - if not in Congress, then at the ballot box.
According to Harold Meyerson of the Washington Post, we won't get true healthcare reform (i.e., a strong public option) because there is no mass movement insisting on it:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/07/AR2009070702340.html
Myerson assails the Obama administration for failing to mobilize everyone on the list it compiled during the campaign, but while noting the recent opposition to Dems who have balked at a public option, Myerson fails to mention Obama's suggestion that Dems stop targeting conservadems on this point.
Perhaps it's time to create a mass movement and ramp up the pressure on Congress.
Write, call, or fax your congressional critters:
http://www.senate.gov
http://www.house.gov
There is a mass movement behind it !!
July 30th, Washington, D.C., Upper Senate Park, 1 p.m. Show up in your lab coats, nurse's uniforms, union t-shirts, patient gowns, whatever ... Just show up!
The site for the mass movement on July 30th is
http://www.healthcare-now.org/docs/july30.pdf
Sen. Grassley, when asked why we can't have the same insurance he enjoys, replied, "You can! Just get yourself a Federal job!"
Yeah, get a job, you lazy Americans! I got my cushy government insurance plan. You don't have insurance? Sorry about your luck, chump!
So Grassley's solution is to create 75 million government jobs to take care of the under and uninsured?
The arrogance of this man and his ilk is infuriating! He and all the others like him have got to go! It's time for the people to take back this country.
Let no Congressperson who votes against the people on health care, be left in office come their next election.
Doesn't Grassley remember that his line is supposed to be "less government" or "smaller government"?
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