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Key Blue Dog: I Will Oppose Health Care Bill with Public Option
Brian Beutler | September 8, 2009, 9:56AM
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Rep. Mike Ross (D-AR)--the leader of the Blue Dogs' Health Care Task Force--says he will vote against health care legislation if it includes a public option.
"I have been skeptical about the public health insurance option from the beginning and used August to get feedback from you, my constituents," Ross wrote in a newsletter to constituents. "An overwhelming number of you oppose a government-run health insurance option and it is your feedback that has led me to oppose the public option as well."
"[I]f House leadership presents a final bill that contains a government-run public option, I will oppose it," he added.
After blocking progress on House health care legislation in the days leading up to August recess, Ross struck a deal and voted to move health care legislation out of the Energy and Commerce Committee.
Then he went home and boasted that he'd held health care reform "hostage."
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Steaming Pile
September 8, 2009 10:04 AM
"I have been opposed to the public health insurance option from the beginning and used August to provide a forum to the Tea Party lumpenproleteriat to bolster my case," Ross wrote in a newsletter to constituents. "An overwhelming number of them oppose a government-run health insurance option and it is their feedback that has provided me a convenient excuse to oppose the public option."
FIFY
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Indie Pro
September 8, 2009 11:03 AM in reply to Steaming Pile
good work.
I wish he'd explain why he is skeptical about a public option.
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Dorn76
September 8, 2009 11:23 AM in reply to Indie Pro
He's a Senator from Arkansas....what's there to explain?
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SqueakyRat
September 8, 2009 12:14 PM in reply to Dorn76
Not a Senator, a Rep. Thank God.
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Dorn76
September 8, 2009 3:02 PM in reply to SqueakyRat
Thank you, Rep, not Senator...
Bottom line is these Blue Dogs are more trouble than they are worth. Let's see how much success they have getting re-elected if we fail to do anything on the major issues of the day, health care being first and foremost on that list.
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FreeRider
September 8, 2009 10:05 AM
Y-A-W-N . . .
Despite his pandering, he'll go down in flames next year. Great!
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Steve LaBonne
September 8, 2009 10:15 AM
Not remotely news, and Ross is irrelevant.
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wbgonne
September 8, 2009 10:21 AM
"Rep. Mike Ross (D-AR)--the leader of the Blue Dogs' Health Care Task Force--says he will vote against health care legislation if it includes a public option."
Well, that's what he was paid the big bucks for. Good luck with the re-election, Toad.
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JohnW1141
September 8, 2009 11:11 AM in reply to wbgonne
wbgonne,
I called my Congressman today, Dem Patrick Murphy, Bucks County,
Pa. an alleged Blue Dog, I reminded him he wasn't a Blue Dog from Arkansas, Mississippi, Tenn. etc.
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IMNOTBITTER
September 8, 2009 12:15 PM in reply to JohnW1141
Hey Bucks County my old stomping grounds by the Delaware river. After I read the piece on Ross I looked up the health rating of all states for 2008....You wont be surprised to learn that Arkansas is 43 on the list and who is number 50....Our good friend Jindal's state Louisianna! By the way very disappoointed to hear the the rep from Busks county is a blue dog....yuuck!
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jdb316
September 8, 2009 11:36 AM in reply to wbgonne
wbgonne, Ross represents a very conservative consituency, one that is only getting redder by the year. If his constituents don't support this and he votes for it, that's how he'll get voted out of office.
Just because a Blue Dog isn't willing to support this doesn't mean that they're in bed with the insurance companies. They MAY be, but they may also be doing nothing more than reacting to their constituents, the people who actually determine their job security.
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wbgonne
September 8, 2009 12:29 PM in reply to jdb316
McClatchey August 26, 2009
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/economy/story/74426.html
Just a coincidence, I guess.
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714Day
September 8, 2009 12:29 PM in reply to jdb316
Uh, Ross is in the pocket of United Health. His position has nothing to do with his constituents.
http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/09_33/b4143034820260.htm?campaign_id=rss_topEmailedStories
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kmac
September 8, 2009 1:57 PM in reply to jdb316
I love the use of the term "CONSERVATIVE CONSTITUENCY". When it really is RADICAL EVANGELICALS being told by their pastors what to believe in or not. Mentioned Arkansas and Louisiana in the responses are just 2 of many that also are part of what is often referred to as the BIBLE BELT! These nuts are the BIRTHERS, DEATHERS, TEABAGGERS and I'm certain they will continue to come with many more as required to keep Fox News in business.
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Stroszek
September 8, 2009 10:36 AM
Good job, Mr. Ross, I'm sure this will win you about 2 and a half votes from the utterly batshit hardcore Constitution Party voters that you're listening to.
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JohnW1141
September 8, 2009 10:40 AM
How is the Public Option any different than what Ross already has as a member of Congress?
Has the Government taken over his health care? Has his health care been rationed?
Doesn't Ross have Government run health care?
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Stroszek
September 8, 2009 10:58 AM in reply to JohnW1141
No, he doesn't. Like all federal employees, Ross gets his health care through the FEHB, which is an exchange system where individuals can choose from a variety of regulated private insurance plans.
He's still an asshat, but he's not on government-administered insurance.
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JohnW1141
September 8, 2009 11:06 AM in reply to Stroszek
Stroszek,
I'm using the right wing tactic of distortion; since Government
is the primary mover, since it pays some of his health care premium and decides what private insurance companies are in the pool of options.....then he has Government run health care.
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JohnW1141
September 8, 2009 11:08 AM in reply to JohnW1141
and Stroszek,
since I don't have the formidable right wing noise machine broadcasting my opinion all over the place I can't convince people like you and others that I'm right.
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Stroszek
September 8, 2009 11:29 AM in reply to JohnW1141
Okay.
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Alan in SF
September 8, 2009 11:39 AM
You seem to have misidentified Ross as a "Democrat." No sane political party would allow one of its members to work openly to sabotage its key initiatives.
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driftless
September 8, 2009 11:44 AM
Finally! No more sleepless nights waiting to hear the verdict from whoever this guy is.
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Rich in NJ
September 8, 2009 11:47 AM
Become a Republican.
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Rich in NJ
September 8, 2009 11:49 AM
This jerk should be intellectually consistent and come out for the repeal of Medicare and public health care for veterans.
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sbv
September 8, 2009 11:52 AM
ah, is this the same pharmacist from arkansas who biggest campaign donor is the health insurance industry? i thought so! well, even in arkansas the majority of his constituents know health care must be reformed and skyrocketing costs to our country and themselves must be controlled.
he, the other blue dogs and the republicans have come to believe their own obfuscations. they better run as republicans the next time around because they will face an democrat and an energized willing-to-come-out-and-vote primary.
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ru4862
September 8, 2009 12:04 PM
YAWN....Not news, he never intended to support the public option. But i wish the congressman luck explaining to his uninsured constituents why he voted against their health?
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xargaw
September 8, 2009 12:05 PM
We don't need his vote, so move on and work with those that aren't bought and paid for lunatics.
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Hidden Oak
September 8, 2009 12:38 PM
translation: Teabaggers scared me. Plus I have this big insurance industry check I can't cash unless I roll over for them.
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