GOP senators warn Obama on health care

[babylonsister]

GOP senators warn Obama on health care

By RICARDO ALONSO-ZALDIVAR
Associated Press Writer


WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Barack Obama is making a mistake on health care by insisting on a government insurance option for the middle class, influential Republicans said in a letter to the White House released Monday.

It could cost him chances for broad support across the political divide, the nine lawmakers, all members of the Senate Finance Committee, warned.

Leaders of the Finance panel, which has the best odds of producing a bipartisan bill, are working against a self-imposed deadline for moving the legislation through committee this month. But tensions have been rising since Obama recently affirmed his strong support for including the option of a public insurance plan.

"At a time when major government programs like Medicare and Medicaid are already on a path to fiscal insolvency, creating a brand new government program will not only worsen our long-term financial outlook but also negatively impact American families who enjoy the private coverage of their choice," said the letter, signed by all but one of the Finance Republicans.

Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, said Democrats would live to regret it if they insist on a public plan.

"Democrats know that if they go to a totally partisan approach like the president has suggested they're going to eat that the rest of their lives," said Hatch, who circulated the letter to Obama.

more...

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_HEALTH_OVERHAUL?SITE=CONGRA&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

[Romulox]

1. More Good Cop/Bad Cop. BOTH sides want mandatory, for-profit insurance. nt

[leftstreet]

15. Best summary of the problem yet!

:thumbsup:

[Cha]

18. Not everyone on the Dem side does but

that wouldn't work for your broad deadender brush.

[Romulox]

19. Fair enough. The Obama admin and the GOP BOTH want mandatory, for profit insurance.

Better? :hi:

[Cha]

20. Says you..and I don't

believe you.

[Romulox]

21. "The bill would require individuals and businesses to purchase insurance..."

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3910990

:hi:

[Xipe Totec]

It could cost him chances for broad support across the political divide?

:rofl:

Support from the pugs? Yea, like that is ever going to happen.

[Skink]

2. Note to Ralph Nader there is a difference.

[Oregone]

7. Id prefer his plan

Speaking of the devil

[Sebastian Doyle]

10. This might not be the best time to bring up Nader.

Because the existence of Max Baucus, the Nelsons, and the rest of those cowardly corporatist asskissers proves that he was right about at least SOME who call themselves "Democrats".

[graywarrior]

3. When are they gonna read the memo that we don't give a flying fuck what they think?

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

4. Unscrambled: Bayh, Nelsons, Baucus...

:think:

[Eric J in MN]

5. RE "Medicare and Medicaid are already on a path to fiscal insolvency"

Medicare's finances were fine until George W. Bush and the Republicans messed with it.

[a kennedy]

6. so these arseholes can join the d*mn Blue Dog Dems and have

a great coalition. http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=5790095&mesg_id=5790095 :mad: :grr: :thumbsdown:

[Sebastian Doyle]

8. Orrin Hatch, go to HELL (or "outer darkness", if you prefer to call it that.)

And take Baucus with you.

[DURHAM D]

9. My fear - we are going to end up with something much worse then we currently have.

Medicare and Medicaid will be "privatized" to an extent greater than it already is and that will be called "reform" by Dems and Repubs alike.

That is all that will happen.

Everyone under 65 will be totally screwed and everyone over 65 will get totally screwed as well.

This is not the change I voted for.

[joeybee12]

11. Kind of like the prescription drug "change" of a few years back...

...costs did not go down, and private insurers now have a larger stake in that piece of the Health care pie.

[DURHAM D]

13. Yep - same process.

For God's sake - we have the W.H., the House, the Senate, the citizens. What the hell else do we need?

Oh wait - the lobbyists. Well, forget that.

If all the House and Senate members need is a free meal or two I will send every one of them a gift certificate to McDonalds for $3. This will cost me only $1,608. This will be a savings to me of $552 over a six months period if I don't have to pay my medical insurance premium.

Guess I will start with my congressman and two senators. Two of them are eligible for the senior discount so $3 will buy them an extra beverage. They will need to furnish their own liquor.

I will send them each a McDonald's gift certificate today. Hope that gets their attention.

[w4rma]

12. Republicans aren't going to support any Democratic plan, with or without a public option.

They never were and never will. See exhibit A: The Stimulus package - no Republican voted for it despite watering it down for them.

[Fovea]

14. Dear insurance whores, this is not the way back to relevancy.

In fact, this is like styling with the hair dryer while taking a shower.

[Triana]

16. They should not "create a brand new government" program - they should expand Medicare to cover

everyone.

Idiots.

[Thrill]

17. They have no power in Congress. But they know all they have to do is talk tough

and it will scare Democrats in the Senate. Ie, the Gitmo closing money. Weakass Democrats