Sen. Ben Nelson Expresses Support For Public Plan ‘Trigger’
Sen. Ben Nelson Expresses Support For Public Plan ‘Trigger’
Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE) has long opposed a public health insurance option. In May, he expressed concern that “the public plan would be too attractive and would hurt the private insurance plans.” A Nelson spokesman even suggested that the senator would be “building a coalition opposed to the public plan.” And this past week, Nelson said health care reform “implodes” if a public option is included.
But this morning on CNN, Nelson moderated his stance ever-so-slightly. He indicated to host John King that he would support a so-called “trigger” (which would establish a public plan after a certain period of time if the private market fails to control costs):
Well I think he [Obama] has to say that if there’s going to be a public option, it has to be subject to a trigger. In other words, if somehow the private market doesn’t respond the way that it’s supposed to, then it would trigger a public option or a government-run option. But only as a fail-safe backstop to the process.
When I say trigger, out here in Nebraska and the midwest, I don’t mean a hair-trigger. I mean a true trigger — one that would only apply if there isn’t the kind of competition in the business that we believe there would be.
Watch it:
The Obama administration is reportedly in talks with Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME) on a possible compromise that would include the “trigger.” The Atlantic’s Marc Ambinder reported that White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel has been pushing the “trigger” idea internally.
Earlier this week, Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) reiterated her strong commitment to a public plan. She “warned insurance companies that they should accept the Senate health committee proposal that would create a public plan because ‘if they want no public option but a trigger, you can be sure that the trigger will bring on a very robust public option.’”
Topic Cloud
ArchivesBlog Roll
If you were an insurance company and you knew you were fu(king over the consumer and the system by which you were profiting was not sustainable, but you wanted to milk it as far you could before it crashed, wouldn’t a “trigger” sound like a pretty good idea to you?
Ben Nelson is just one more Senator beholden to the insurance industry.
‘Nuff said.
September 6th, 2009 at 10:32 amDole was just talking about the trigger idea on This Weak, pushing the idea to have a trigger kickstart a public option after FIVE YEARS if the health insurance industry doesn’t ‘clean up its act.’ FIVE FREAKIN’ YEARS? And what would define ‘cleaning up [their] act’?
This trigger thing is total bullshit. And if some crap like that passes, you know damned well that 5 years from now, the idiots in office will make sure that there’s another big debate and the goalposts will get moved again.
September 6th, 2009 at 10:41 amThey need 5 more years to PROVE they be good corporate citizens and bring their prices down? I wonder which of the executives is going to forgo their astrnomical bonus to help THAT cause…
Private insurers don’t need time. Corporations are NOT citizens, not humans, and don’t deserve to be protected from competition. We, the people, DO need to be protected from corporate greed and apparently also from government ineffectiveness and graft.
September 6th, 2009 at 10:50 amThe years since “Hillary Care” was looked at was plenty of “trigger period”. As a devout capitalist, these companies offend me greatly. If you want to prove Marx wrong, don’t prove him right!
September 6th, 2009 at 10:50 amI agree, “the trigger” is just a cop-out, a face-saving measure for those beholden to the insurance industry to claim they’re doing something while maintaining the status quo.
September 6th, 2009 at 10:55 amAfter all, the insurance companies are already controlling costs – for the benefit of their shareholders! It’s the rest of America that’s getting screwed.
September 6th, 2009 at 10:56 amDoes anyone wonder anymore why Dean was left out in the cold by the Obama administration? The White House is overrun by corporate shills! I pray to God that the progressives in the House don’t roll over for this obvious sellout to the Health Care Megalopoly.
September 6th, 2009 at 11:02 amSen. Ben Nelson (D-NE) has long opposed a public health insurance option. In May, he expressed concern that “the public plan would be too attractive and would hurt the private insurance plans.”
What Ben Nelson really meant to say was: “the public option would be very successful, would be a God send for millions of Americans but would threaten the profits of the health insurance industry and we will never allow this to happen.”
September 6th, 2009 at 11:08 amAgreed Jane, the trigger is total bullsht.
September 6th, 2009 at 11:08 amIf healthcare doesn`t have a public option then theres no point in passing it. I voted for Obama and change. The repugs will never work with the Obama administration on getting healthcare passed,or anything else.
If Obama doesn`t get this done with the public option then I will have a hard time supporting him in 2012.
Just Say No to a “trigger.”
I have been trying to give Obama the benefit of the doubt, but if he falls for this idea, that’s pretty much it for me.
I voted for Obama. I did not vote for Rahm Emanual and all the other former Clinton Dems who put survival of the party (and themselves) above good policy.
September 6th, 2009 at 11:12 amWhy do I get the feeling that this so called trigger is more like a toilet bowl handle and the US citizens are the ones they are trying to flush. It’s time to cut the crap. No more profiting from impeding or otherwise limiting access to medical and health related services. Why is something so simple that most everyone else in the world gets so difficult for us to achieve. It really is way past time to cut the BS.
September 6th, 2009 at 11:14 amCould we please just get Democrats to stop stabbing us in the back???
At this point, ignorance on Nelson’s part is no excuse.
September 6th, 2009 at 11:15 amcandide says:
Does anyone wonder anymore why Dean was left out in the cold by the Obama administration? The White House is overrun by corporate shills! I pray to God that the progressives in the House don’t roll over for this obvious sellout to the Health Care Megalopoly.
—————————————————————-
That and Howard Dean and Rahm Emmanual are bitter enemies. It’s really a shame how the democratic party has treated Howard Dean. He is why they are the majority party with his 50 State strategy plan.
I hate to say it but with every passing day President Obama is looking more and more like the same old same old. How a President and a party with a strong majority in both houses can be so impotent is beyond me. It’s business as usual in Washington DC.
President Obama has failed us by “looking forward” instead of investigating the Bush administration, he failed us with the continued bank bailouts, he has continued many of Bush’s controversial laws and policies, we are still in Iraq, we are sending more soldiers into Afghanistan, he’s bailed out Wall Street and has done nothing for Main Street and now he is going to turn his back on the left by taking a public option off of the table.
Where is the Obama is heard on the presidential campaign trail?
September 6th, 2009 at 11:16 am“President Obama has failed us by “looking forward”…”
I’m really starting to wonder what he’s looking forward to.
September 6th, 2009 at 11:20 amUncle Fester, the Obama that we heard on the campaign trail is nowhere to be found. I just hope that he comes back before its to late.
September 6th, 2009 at 11:21 amThe public is truly confused. When the people have a clue, then maybe government will get the backbone to do the right thing.
Polling Report
September 6th, 2009 at 11:22 amNelson is opposed to the public option because it might be too attractive and hurt private insurance plans? What kind of crap is that? What it WILL do is force them to make themselves more attractive and affordable if they are hurt by a public option.
They got themselves into this mess by gouging people. Let them pay the price just like the rest of us have to do. This crap that they are “too big” to fail is just — crap.
September 6th, 2009 at 11:24 am” “the public plan would be too attractive and would hurt the private insurance plans.””
Uh YEAH!!!! That IS the point.
I sent my message to Obama. If there is a co-op, a trigger or any other BS holding off the timetable, and if there is no PUBLIC OPTION, I am out. I will no longer support this administration.
September 6th, 2009 at 11:24 amDone.
I find it very interesting that the main supporters for a public option are no where to be found on the morning political talk shows.
Where is Bernie Sanders? Where is Anthony Weiner? Where is Dennis Kucinich? I imagine the corporate media has been given a list by their health care industry buddies on who to have and not have on their programs.
We can’t allow the facts get into the way in regards to our health care system or a public option, the American people couldn’t handle the facts.
After 8 years of Bush, the republicans, Limbaugh, Hannity, Beck, Coulter, Dobbs and Savage our country has officially changed from a democracy to an idiocracy
September 6th, 2009 at 11:25 amThe thing is, this crap will not help the Democratic Party survive. It’s not in the interests of the Democratic Party as “the protector of middle class interests”, as Bill Kristol feared they would become fifteen years ago.
It’s a strategy for survival in the dysfunctional political landscape we have allowed corporate interests to fashion.
What would really help the Democratic Party — and Republicans know this — is to pass meaningful health care reform that covers every American effectively and efficiently.
Republicans know this. Why don’t the Democrats?
September 6th, 2009 at 11:29 amEarth to Ben Nelson…You were elected to represent the people of your State and this country NOT the private health insurance industry.
I guess my brother wasn’t fooling when he disgustedly proclaimed that corporations have more government representation and rights than the average American citizen does.
Hail to the United Corporations Of Amerika, land of much greed, home of the naive…
September 6th, 2009 at 11:30 amWhere is Bernie Sanders? Where is Anthony Weiner?
They are on MSNBC…with Olberman and Maddow.
And I can’t help but notice that these programs are Not brought to you by Viagra.
September 6th, 2009 at 11:34 amIf insurance companies weren’t screwing their consumers, there would be no need for intervention.
September 6th, 2009 at 11:34 amIf insurance companies wanted to actually help people, there would be no need for intervention.
Ergo, insurance companies have no intention of either helping consumers or changing their practices of screwing consumers.
Ben Nelson – you are a miserable Dem in Name Only and I despise you. I despised you when you were the governor of Nebraska when I lived there and I despies you now. Why not show your real colors and switch parties and put an R behind your name. That is who you really are. Cheney-you, Ben
September 6th, 2009 at 11:35 amI guess you guys think Obama should just drop health care reform and work on passing an anti-flag burning law.
September 6th, 2009 at 11:35 amJane E. Schneider says:
“President Obama has failed us by “looking forward”…”
I’m really starting to wonder what he’s looking forward to.
“““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““
One term as President and than pass the torch off to Hillary Clinton in 2012. And some in the media will gush about how great our country is because we’ve created history by electing the first black man and woman as POTUS and we the sheople will feel so proud, expecting great things and than we will get the rug pulled out from under us….again.
Anybody else getting fed up with our one party political system?
September 6th, 2009 at 11:35 amWe need to also remember that Ben made his personal fortune through the insurance industry. AND, look at where the bulk of his campaign funds come from….not from the $1 billion a year corn industry in Nebraska. From health care conglomerates. Ben….I hope you are run over by a Metro bus on Independence Avenue some day soon.
September 6th, 2009 at 11:37 amFred says:
I guess you guys think Obama should just drop health care reform and work on passing an anti-flag burning law.
““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““
No Fred we don’t but we don’t want Obama to just pass a health care bill just for the sake of passing a health care bill. We don’t need a weak bill, one that appeases the republicans, the blue dogs and the health care and health insurance industries!
For cripes sakes, Obama has royally screwed up on this. He took away all leverage by first dropping a single payer plan and the republicans and blue dogs have been chipping away ever since.
If not health care reform now, which at least includes a public option than when? We have a majority in both the house and senate. If they wanted the democrats could play hard ball just like the republicans did for 8 year and use reconciliation to get health care reform but NO!!!!!
September 6th, 2009 at 11:41 amReally? I’ve been attending pro-reform rallies and we have been outnumbered 3 to 1 at every event.
You guys are so busy here whining that you are losing that you don’t get out and be counted. Do something! Be heard!
This is not all on Obama. He put it out there and it’s up to you to make it happen, not Obama. If it fails then it is not Obama who failed by making it an issue, it is you who failed to make it happen when you had the chance.
This is your fight too.
September 6th, 2009 at 11:49 amSilly me, I thought the “trigger” was electing a Progressive Democratic President.
Live and learn…
September 6th, 2009 at 11:51 amI just Don’t get it!
Obama ran a nearly perfect, masterful campaign, When the Republicans came up with a Bogus Issue, the Obama Campaign resonded in a nanosecond with an articulate and convincing rebuttal.
Why has he let the Republicans Frame this issue???
Is he waiting for the American People to Pay Attention??
Well… they Are Paying Attention.
September 6th, 2009 at 11:52 amThis sounds like the same silent lot that sat quietly while Hillary fought for health care with no support. Funny how history repeats itself.
September 6th, 2009 at 11:55 amFrom Vans statement on the Van Jones thread:
September 6th, 2009 at 11:59 am
Fred you are assuming you know what I have or not have done. It seems Obama is letting the crazy right wing town hall protesters influence the health care debate, while ignoring those who support a public option.
I’ve attended a town hall meeting in my area, I’ve sent countless e-mails to White house.gov and to my representatives, what else can a person do?
President Obama must be aware of all the support for a public option, I’m sure his e-mail is flooded with supporters of a public option. This is not on the American people, this is on President Obama and the democratic party, who were put in power because they promised health care reform. It’s time for them to follow through, we did our job, it’s time for them to do theirs!
September 6th, 2009 at 12:05 pmThe trigger idea stinks. The “option” isn’t even a great idea. Single payer is and always has been the best bet.
However, I wonder if Obama has considered permitting “Medicare buy-in.” What many of us want is to get out from under the control of insurance companies. Much of the public worries about who would pay for the “option.” I don’t blame them. Let the insured pay for it directly. I would LOVE to pay for my own Medicare coverage by just moving my money from insurance premiums to Medicare payments.
September 6th, 2009 at 12:07 pmYou are assuming I am making this personal and I am not.
I am just reporting the facts from the field. If you want health care reform then you need to get off your a$$es and make some noise.
There is always more you can do and this is the battle of the century, literally.
As long as the anti-reformers outnumber us at every event by huge margins their message will be the one that is heard. It is as simple as that.
September 6th, 2009 at 12:14 pmNelson and the other Dems on the committee need to talk to Senators from states with large urban populations and see what they think. Nelson, et al, do not see the scale of the insurance problems and are trying to find a solution that is palatable to states with small populations without regard to urban areas. This should not have happened.
Howard Dean is correct. The insurance companies will do the minimal amount and wait for when the Dems are not in power and get the Republicans to repeal it at the first chance. These triggers will do little to reduce health care costs.
September 6th, 2009 at 12:15 pm.
If Nelson only knew that the current legislation being offered contains a “TRIGGER” maybe he wouldn’t sound so ignorant.
NO?
Well, to be honest, maybe he does know yet still is ignorant, anyway.
.
September 6th, 2009 at 12:25 pmI’m beginning to wish that we had elected a fighter like Howard Dean or Hillary Clinton instead of Obama. Is it too late to have a do over?
September 6th, 2009 at 12:33 pm1 second after any “trigger” kicks in, the million-dollar a day big-PHARMA lobby will get into high gear and we’ll start the whole death panel, kill grandma BS all over again. Face it, those in the hands of the powerful insurance lobby and all Republicans do not want affordable insurance for you and me.
September 6th, 2009 at 12:35 pmFred says, “If you want health care reform then you need to get off your a$$es and make some noise”.
I was at a health care reform rally last weekend in downtown Milwaukee. There were about 400 people there including some of our State and local Democratic politicians. We made a lot of noise.
I now wear a “Health Care Reform Now” sticker on my jacket at all times. You should see how people’s eyes pop out when they see the sticker.
What we really need is leadership from Obama. If he’s not really interested in Health Care Reform then everything we do is meaningless.
September 6th, 2009 at 12:42 pmGet back with me in a week.
September 6th, 2009 at 12:45 pmMuch of the healthcare debate is focussed at the wrong end of the spectrum. I am reminded of one tenet of the Obama administration — “let science inform public policy”. Instead, we are diddling around over the insurance/financing structure and arguing that a public option is the litmus test for an acceptable solution.
The sad fact of the matter is that even the best insurance reform bill may be necessary . . . but it will not be sufficient. Even if the structure of healthcare financing is improved, it will in and of itself do little to rectify the process of delivering healthcare. That’s because there is nothing in the proposed legislation that provides essential incentives to fundamentally reduce the variability of care, the disparity of costs and the incidence of bad outcomes in the health care system itself.
I would like to see this addressed by charging the medical professional associations, the NIH and the CDC to promulgate “clinical pathways” and guidelines that can at least begin to define effective protocols. There are too many “free-lancers” in the cottage industry that is our health care system and there are too many conflicting incentives between components of the systems (e.g., hospitals versus physicians). We don’t need to ration care so much as we need to rationalize the way in which it is prescribed and delivered.
This could be achieved by a concerted on the part of the scientific community. And such guidelines could be used as a means to reduce the practice of defensive medicine and lessen the punitive element of malpractice awards in cases where the provider abides by the guidelines.
September 6th, 2009 at 12:48 pmFred says:
delafield says:
What we really need is leadership from Obama.
Get back with me in a week.
One of the basic essentials of leadership is to be out in front, leading. Bypassing a strong advocate who also was greatly responsible for building the structure that President Obama was able to capitalize on to get elected because of a personality conflict isn’t leadership.
Remaining quiet while the majority of the debate is going on, isn’t leadership.
Not strongly and repeatedly calling on Democratic members of Congress to stand up publicly and refute deliberate lies, isn’t leadership.
We all know President Obama understands the concepts of leadership. He used them during his campaign to great advantage. He built up a lot of hopes. Next week doesn’t cut it.
September 6th, 2009 at 1:02 pmIn all due respect, FU Ben Nelson. And I mean this will all the respect YOU are due.
September 6th, 2009 at 1:14 pmHope Nelson has triggered his own primary defeat!
September 6th, 2009 at 1:15 pmDFNP: “Silly me, I thought the “trigger” was electing a Progressive Democratic President.
Live and learn…”
First of all, Obama has NEVER sold himself to the American public as anything other than a moderate. Secondly, it would be nice if we had a little better understanding for the complexity of the situation and the slowness inherent in our legislative system. Again, we are working with a system in which farm states have a disproportionate amount of power with their two Senators representing a tiny percentage of the American people – the system was designed that way. Should we change it? Absolutely. But, that’s the way it is today and Democrats can’t get to 60 votes without including some farm state senators and reps from farm state districts.
I fear that you’re “learning” the wrong lesson. The lesson is NOT to reject progress because because you want perfection. That’s the lesson corporatists and conservatives would love you to take away from this. The challenge continues to be to move the Democratic party to the left. It’s happening slowly, but it’s the only way we have to move forward with progressive ideas. Third parties have no chance at this time.
September 6th, 2009 at 1:20 pmIf this thing goes down with some kind of lame trigger and ends up representing marginal progress, but not very satisfying, I think liberals should begin immediately with a much simpler message:
Medicare for all citizens.
It’s a simple message. Conservatives have a hard time saying it’s socialism because their best demographic loves it. And it’s the best solution for our country – a national single-payer government-run insurance program.
September 6th, 2009 at 1:28 pmNinerFan, we really should make it optional. If the health insurance supporters really want to keep supporting that industry, they should have that right.
The other 80% of America can be rational.
September 6th, 2009 at 1:50 pmThe obstacle to the public option is a group of Dem Senators who refuse to allow a public option. The only way the US can get a public option is by the triggers. If the public had pressured these Blue Dogs and some Republicans early on, we would not be in this situation. Obama can ask for a public option but it is still in Congress’s hands. It is questionable if the Dems could even do this by reconciliation but it would be worth a shot. These Senators will regret not backing a public option when the Republicans dismantle a good portion of the health care bill.
September 6th, 2009 at 2:09 pmHoodathunk: “NinerFan, we really should make it optional.”
I agree. No reason to force people to do anything. I don’t, however, see too many senior citizens choosing private plans over Medicare. I’m not sure the insurance industry can capture 20% of the market with Medicare for all being offered, but they’re welcome to try. I mean, government can’t do anything well, right conservatives? Private insurance companies ought to easily be able to compete against Medicare since it’s government-run. Bring on the choice and competition!
September 6th, 2009 at 2:09 pmpage2: “The obstacle to the public option is a group of Dem Senators who refuse to allow a public option.”
Well, yes, them and the almost 100% of republicans who are blocking it as well. That’s why the only way this gets done is through reconciliation.
I actually think they can get to 50 with a couple retiring Repubs and have Biden be the deciding vote.
September 6th, 2009 at 2:14 pmLast night, at a restaurant, I looked around and noticed at least 75% of the people in this crowded place were in poor physical condition. Too fat. Big belly. Fat legs. Blubber arms. 3 chins. Smoking cigs outside. Drinking booze. Eating big sugary desserts. My first thought was, everyone needs to pay for their own health care insurance. Why should I pay for their health care? They don’t seem to care at all about their health. Why should they pay for my health care? We need incentives for those that live a healthy lifestyle. Those that don’t care about what they eat and are in lousy physical condition due to their lifestyle need to pay more for health insurance. No different than a poor car driver pays more for car insurance. Same theory.
September 6th, 2009 at 2:47 pmThis is why I won’t contribute any more money to the DNC.If they are going to support people like Mr. Nelson count me out.By the way, the president is in deep trouble if he isn’t firm and calls out those Dems and Reps. who are against his plan.They already think he is a pussy.This will have repercussions on his foreign policy initiatives as well.
September 6th, 2009 at 2:57 pmkwsventures,
Where I work, If you test positive for Nicotine, you pay an extra $10/month for health insurance.
Fair enough. But let’s not throw the baby out with the bathwater.
America leads the developed World in PREVENTABLE Deaths. Health Care Reform that deals with this abysmal track record by INCENTIVES has my support.
But Many Americans get sick thru NO Fault of their own. People get injured thru No fault of their own.
These people are falling thru the cracks, because the system is Broken.
Maybe if it happens to someone YOU love, you won’t be so smugly self concerned.
September 6th, 2009 at 2:58 pmAren’t we already living with a “trigger” — ever since the insurance companies started their profit-driven practices, decades ago?
September 6th, 2009 at 3:06 pmkwsventures@#7–There are students who don’t study as hard as I think that they should,kick them out of school.As a matter of fact we could engage Taliban type vigilantees and have them round up people and force them to do what I say.(actually,you make a good point but I’m not sure how to accomplish what you suggest.)
September 6th, 2009 at 3:10 pmLet’s see—I’m 71,5′10″tall and weigh 202lbs. For over 23 years I ran 6 times a week and averaged 42 miles per week.I ran 3 marathons,the last when Iwas 50(3hr.and 30min.)I don,t smoke but I drink some.I stay away from sugar fatty foods etc. but I’m still over weight by 15 lbs. How would Ipay more for Medicare for the extra lbs? Do I get credit for the running ? I cycle now,does that offset the 6 oz.of booze that I drink a week? Each person decides what they want to do.Unfortunately,we have to take the good with the bad because what you see as a vice some one else will see as a virtue.
September 6th, 2009 at 3:31 pmThe self-righteous believe that less fortunate people are the self indulgent ones.
September 6th, 2009 at 3:42 pmHeredity plays a large role in one’s physical size.
In addition, when people have fewer dollars to spend on food, they tend to eat more starches and fatty foods – not cookies and donuts – but foods that stretch farther for less cost.
Vegetables and fruits, lean meats and the like, all cost more than peanut butter sandwiches and macaroni and cheese.
Funny how people who call themselves conservatives are often thinking of ways government can have more control over people.
September 6th, 2009 at 3:45 pmthe personal responsibility ethos is just a crock designed to keep smug people from lifting a hand to better our society as a whole. It wouldn’t be as galling, kwsventures if you kept the personal responsibility talk to those who have made bad choices, but your kind extends that to people who get sick through no fault of their own, but never to corporations and the health care industry.
September 6th, 2009 at 3:50 pmMarie says:
The self-righteous believe that less fortunate people are the self indulgent ones.
Heredity plays a large role in one’s physical size.
In addition, when people have fewer dollars to spend on food, they tend to eat more starches and fatty foods – not cookies and donuts – but foods that stretch farther for less cost.
Vegetables and fruits, lean meats and the like, all cost more than peanut butter sandwiches and macaroni and cheese.
oh yeah, which compassionate conservative was the one who stated that we didn’t have a hunger problem because the “so-called” poor were fat? Oh yeah, Phil Gramm…
“We’re the only nation in the world where all our poor people are fat.” — Gramm, 9/6/81
That’s compassionate conservatism for you…such compassion I could just cry…
September 6th, 2009 at 3:52 pmFreedom to conservatives is only freedom from taxes and the freedom to profit off others…Typical of a conservative. Their religion is money masquerading as moral values…
September 6th, 2009 at 3:55 pmNinerFan says:
I actually think they can get to 50 with a couple retiring Repubs and have Biden be the deciding vote.
No Republicans aside from the two from Maine are likely to support the bill and that would only be with triggers. This fiasco is Reid’s fault for letting the committee of six to come from just rural states. If a Senator or two were from large states, the bill would have come out with a public option. I am not sure the Dems can get to 50 with a public option; I don’t think they can because of the 12 Blue Dogs.
September 6th, 2009 at 4:11 pmThe health insurance companies got their “trigger” 15 years ago with the Clinton health care plan. If they did not see that as a “public” not happy with their motus operandi, then they are as “stoopid” as the screamers in the town halls who can’t see the “public option” as a move that will benefit 99.9% of them.
September 6th, 2009 at 4:14 pmHere is another hog who got all the kick backs for his back pocket. We dont need people like him in office, he got his insurance paid the hell with american people.
September 6th, 2009 at 6:27 pmThe only trigger I would support would be one where, when the health insurance industry can insure 100% of Americans cheaper than the government can, with no pre-existing conditions or the ability to cancel anyone’s insurance, the public option would be cancelled.
Anything else is just a fascist corporate orgasm.
September 6th, 2009 at 7:30 pmI can not figure out how people can stand up and say the health industry is looking out for their constituents? How they can want a long period of time for the insurance industry to re -configure their profit model.Even Ron Reagan who opened the flood gates for executive compensation would be turning over in his grave if he could see the greed. Ben Nelson is in a right to work state with deep conservative roots. I wonder how well the ranchers are being treated by the insurance companies?
September 6th, 2009 at 8:05 pmCare delayed is care denied.
September 7th, 2009 at 12:44 amI think the way to address Dr. Dean’s concern is to write what amounts to an automatic (ie, no additional executive or congressional action needed) trigger, and have it be reviewed by an expert commission every two years, and, if the insurance industry fails a single one of those reviews, then a robust, medicare-esque public option automatically becomes the law of the land.
I don’t prefer a trigger, and think that a public-option-less mandate is nothing but a boondoggle for insurers, but if a proposal like this can get passed (and a pure public option currently looks dead in the Senate), then I would rather look for ways to make it workable than simply scream “sell-out” at the top of my lungs. “The art of the possible,” and whatnot.
September 7th, 2009 at 1:17 pm(the public plan would be too attractive and would hurt the private insurance plans.) – tuff sh**. The insurance companies care NOTHING about the people they insure, they only care about profit, so we the American people really do not give a damn if it hurts independent insurers or not.
September 8th, 2009 at 11:27 amThank you for your sharing.!
September 11th, 2009 at 2:35 pm