Obama to Grassley: I'm Interested In Alternatives To The Public Option
Sen. Charles Grassley (R-IA)--ranking member on the Senate Finance Committee--says President Obama's insistence on a public option might actually be a public show.
"It would have been good if he had said to the entire country what he said to me privately, that he would look to alternatives," Grassley said. "We have a very good alternative by going with cooperatives."
Critics are suspicious of the cooperative idea in general, but particularly of the sort Grassley has proposed. And since the committee's chairman Max Baucus seems insistent upon winning Grassley over, he is perhaps the greatest obstacle to the creation of a public health insurance option. Grassley does say, however, that the chances of passing health care reform legislation of some sort by the end of the year remain quite high.
Josh
Matt
Eric
Brian
The Republican alternative to public option in 140 characters or less.
July 27, 2009 10:08 AM | Reply | Permalink
There is no other option, period. The best option would be universal, single payer and no insurance carriers involved at all, but that would be a very hard sell. It's a shame that people just don't understand the criminal insurance industry. If they did, there would be no argument at all. The right wing media again is selling americans down the river. I really wonder how they sleep at night.
July 27, 2009 10:21 AM | Reply | Permalink
I keep trying to think that people like Grassley have some sort of intellectually sound, principled opposition to the public option. Unfortunately, I just can't find one.
If Grassley thinks that we'll get health care reform legislation, given his opposition to any real reform, then he must be confident that he can roll the Democrats and Obama into going with a flawed, and ultimately politically disastrous (for the Dems), bill.
Which might be his plan all along - screw up reform and then blame the Dems.
Obama's politically smart. I imagine he gets this. At least I hope so.
July 27, 2009 11:02 AM | Reply | Permalink
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I really don't like Barack Obama.
July 27, 2009 11:04 AM | Reply | Permalink
Come on, do you really believe a word Grassley has to say about this? The man is full of shit and is merely trying to sow confusion and dissension.
July 27, 2009 11:15 AM | Reply | Permalink
You don't like him based on what Republicans say he is.
July 27, 2009 12:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
Brian, you need to fix that headline because it's way misleading. As it is, it makes it appear that Obama is saying in a speech or something that he is open to alternatives to the public option when in fact the story is simply that Grassley is claiming that Obama has told him he's open to other ideas.
July 27, 2009 11:13 AM | Reply | Permalink
Agreed....why give grassley a headline when his credibility is in doubt! Change the headline brian!
July 27, 2009 12:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think the public option is going to be the bait that is used to get Republican support, unfortunately.
July 27, 2009 11:36 AM | Reply | Permalink
Half the time I think that, the other half, I remember that Obama has said this before, but always after voicing strong support for the public option, and with a tone that implies "if you have something better, show me, but you and I both know, you don't."
I think Grassley is taking that same statement Obama has always made and putting his spin on it, but who knows.
If Obama's willing to do it on a 50+1 vote, I think he can get those votes with a Public Option, we'll see.
July 27, 2009 11:51 AM | Reply | Permalink
That's also my reading of Obama said.
July 27, 2009 11:53 AM | Reply | Permalink
If Obama's willing to do it on a 50+1 vote,
He may be willing, but I don't know if Democrats will be. We'll see. I hope so, but they haven't given me much to base that on.
July 27, 2009 11:55 AM | Reply | Permalink
I know 50 of them plus Biden are willing. That's all that matters.
July 27, 2009 12:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
Where are you getting that number? I don't see, as of today, that 50 Democrats would be willing.
Plus, wouldn't this be subject to a debate about cloture? Do you see 60 votes for cutting off debate?
July 27, 2009 12:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
They're talking about budget reconciliation. That's the last card, and I hope (and believe) Obama is willing to play it.
July 27, 2009 1:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
There are only 6-7 Dems who are problematic. So the 50 votes are there. That's why reconcilliation was not taken off the table.
July 27, 2009 2:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
My goodness, America is just being sold out left and right. Grassley dosen't have any alternatives these people aren't serious. I think it is time to attack Republicans directly. Don't defend health reform everyone knows that we need health reform. Just spend all the money attacking Republicans on health reform.
July 27, 2009 12:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
I can imagine the 'new' health care we'll get from the corporate parties: insurance companies can double their rates, pharmaceuticals the same, the public does not have the right to negotiate rates, and everybody has to be insured. God what a bonanza for the corporations and their paid politicians (virtually all of them).
You people need to wake up. There will be no meaningful change while the dumbocrats and rethugicans run the show.
July 27, 2009 12:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
Please check out my web site. I am running against Republican Grassley on the Democratic ticket. Your support for me is one way to let him know that you support the public option and are standing strong for it!
http://www.krauseforiowa.com
July 27, 2009 1:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
While I don't believe Obama said this I really want him to stop playing games and air out to the public the names and districts of these people standing in the way. Do it in a press conference, or post the information on whitehouse.gov, I don't care just do it! Do that and I think even the insurance companies will be drowned out by the voice of the people.
July 27, 2009 6:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
Let's set aside another distraction, a baseless, nominal, and minimal coverage by some senators. A new Gallup Poll released late last week shows that 71 percent of Americans want health care reform, with a substantial number calling for reform to come sometime this year.A pay for outcome / value payment system, key to the deficit-neutral, might be capable of bringing all groups together.
Supporters of the agreement say it could save the Medicare System more than $100 billion a year and 'improve' care, that means more than $1trillian over a decade, and virtually needs no other resources including tax on the wealthiest. (Please visit http://www.kare11.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=820455&catid=391 for detailed infos).
As much as 30 percent of all health-care spending in the U.S. -some $700 billion a year- may be wasted on tests and treatments that do not improve the health of the recipients,” Thus the remaining $239 billions over a decade do not matter.
Dr. Armadio at Mayo clinic says, "If we got rid of that stuff, we save a third of all that we spend and that is 2.5 trillion dollars on health care. A third of that and that is 700 billion dollars a year. That covers a lot of uninsured people."
1. There is no need for infighting and class conflict.
2. It can satisfy revenue-neutral raised by the Republicans.
3. It is able to resolve the regional disparity.
4. It may bring the private insurers to competition, innovation.
5. The focus on 'outcome' over volume can make the practitioners more accurate and creative based on IT SYSTEM and evidence, while eliminating the additional, unnecessary care that is increasing patients' pains, frustrations, and possible side-effects.
6. It undoubtedly allows for massive medical job creation.
7. The desperate people will get back American dream.
THANK YOU !
July 29, 2009 4:56 AM | Reply | Permalink