Liberal Democrats Threaten Not to Vote
President Obama’s Swerve on Health Care Reform Angers His Party
Congressional Democrats find themselves divided now that President Obama’s change from insistence on a public option has angered liberal Democrats. Subsequently, moderate Democrats may now be likely to consider backing other pieces of Health Care Reform, reports The L.A. Times.
The White House on the Goals of Health Care Reform
NBC defined the public option as “the idea of a government-run insurance plan alongside private plans,” whose supporters hope will force insurance companies to keep costs lower and whose critics say it would drive health insurance companies out of business, leading to a government takeover of health care. White House Press secretary Robin Gibbs told reporters aboard Air Force One there had no change in policy, that the President wants an insurance market which services consumers better and that he does not believe a public option the only means of reform.
“The goals are choice and competition," Gibbs said. "His preference is a public option. If there are other ideas, he's happy to look at them. I think this is true not only for the issue of healthcare, but for virtually every other issue that he'll ever deal with in public life."
Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius told CNN's "State of the Union" that a public insurance plan is "not the essential element," igniting liberal Democrats' fury.
Liberal Democrats' Opposition to the Administration
NBC reported that liberal Democrats “pushed back hard,” with some threatening that they won’t even vote without the public option. The L.A. Times noted possible political gain for the President as demonstrated in the response of Rep. Rick Boucher of Virginia, one of five Democrats who initially opposed the bill. Boucher said that the President’s willingness to compromise had strengthened his hand among conservative Democrats and other skeptics without harming the basic goal of lowering healthcare costs and insuring more people which now “creates the opportunity to pass the healthcare bill.”
“A government- operated healthcare plan is not essential" concluded Boucher.
Reuters reported the head of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, representing more than 80 members of the House of Representatives and two senators as saying a majority of the group would oppose any bill that did not include a government-run insurance plan.
"The public option is central to healthcare reform," said Representative Raul Grijalva, chairman of the group.
Outspoken opponents of health care reform have been vocal at town hall meetings across the nation, expressing fears amid emotional outbursts. Public support has turned, with 44% in strong opposition versus 26% strongly in favor, according to the Rasmussen Report.
Kathleen Sebelius
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