Posted on 11/01/2009 10:49:50 AM PST by jazusamo
Sen. Joe Lieberman said Sunday it's worth defeating a healthcare overhaul in order to prevent the creation of a government-run health insurance program.
Interviewed on CBS's "Face the Nation," the independent member of the Democratic Caucus said doing "nothing" is better than a so-called public option.
"'Nothing' is better than getting that," Lieberman said. "We ought to follow the doctors' oath and say, 'First, let's do no harm.'"
The Connecticut lawmaker said fixing the economy and creating jobs is a higher priority than healthcare, and a government-run insurance plan would damage the economy by hiking premiums, raising taxes or increasing the national debt.
Supporters of the public option say that it would help drive down premiums and lower healthcare costs by competing with private insurance companies who often dominate their markets.
The House bill to be debated next week in the House has a public option. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has indicated that he will include a public option in the Senate version, despite doubts about whether it can get enough votes to pass.
Those doubts grew last week when Lieberman announced he would join a Republican filibuster to prevent a public option. Lieberman is one of the 60 votes that Senate leaders count on to get the 60 votes they need to end Republican filibusters.
"I'm not going to filibuster to stop the debate on healthcare reform from beginning because I want to have that debate," Lieberman said Sunday. "I want to have healthcare reform. ...But I feel so strongly about the creation of another government health insurance entitlement, the government going into the health insurance business, I think it's such a mistake that I would use the power I have as a single senator to stop a final vote."
Supporters lashed out at Lieberman's announcement last week, saying he was catering to the insurance companies headquartered in his state. One liberal Democrat, Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-Ariz.), tied it to the campaign contributions Lieberman has received from the industry.
Lieberman has gotten $2.6 million from the health sector during his time in the Senate, according to Opensecrets.com, ranking him 15th highest in Congress.
Lieberman rejected that idea Sunday, saying he filed anti-trust cases against companies when he was Connecticut attorney general and supports ending the industry's anti-trust exemption.
"I have never hesitated to get tough on insurance companies when I thought they were wrong," Lieberman said.
He said it was his critics who insist on a public option who threaten the prospects for passing a bill.
"By having a litmus test, they're stopping us from getting anything done," Lieberman said.
Also Sunday, House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) outlined how he plans to offer an alternative healthcare proposal in the House. He has previously said he will have an alternative and Democratic leaders have said they will allow a vote on it.
Boehner said the Congressional Budget Office is currently "scoring," or drafting a cost estimate, for a bill that takes "eight or nine" of the principles Republicans have espoused.
"We do not increase taxes, we do not cut Medicaid or Medicare, and do not have mandates on individuals or businesses," Boehner said on CNN's "State of the Union."
"I'm hopeful that Speaker Pelosi will allow us to offer an alternative."
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) has indicated she may not allow amendments by Republicans or her fellow Democrats. But House Democratic leaders have said Republicans will get a vote on their proposal. Asked last week if the Republican proposal will be available to the public for three days prior to the vote, as he and others have demanded for Pelosi's bill, Boehner was noncommittal.
Amen.
For Congress doing nothing is better than doing anything!
An honest liberal with a conscience! Is nice to see but they are becoming extinct these days... Democrats are trending further left (left of Socialist). Seems that more Republicans are becoming liberal Democrats though so the loss is still on the Republican side. Not a lot of hope...
I agree with him! Why ruin 80% of American’s healthcare in favor of the 20% without? It makes no sense at all to do that. Reform can come in small increments at a much smaller cost than this monstrosity will cost us. I should not have to foot the bill for my healthcare as well as those who won’t buy their own.
You’re right...I respect him for his honesty and his strong defense stance for the country and he’s dead on the money with this issue.
“The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, or one”
Well said and the health care industry can be reformed in a way to benefit people but the leftists are going to have to step back, take a deep breath and start over working with everyone, like you say, a bit at a time.
Excellent graphic!
We should do nothing.
We have the best healthcare system in the world.
Obama wants to ‘change’ that.
Big talk from Lieberman... but will he stick by his guns? Lots of talk that the administration and the Democrat leadership is going to be beating him up, and taking away his earmarks... How much backbone does he have?
Thank You!
You are nit-picking sir...
Sorry, Lieberman has many decent views that relate to the Republicans... You’re trying to put him into a Conservative coat - that’s not him... He does have liberal beliefs but they are honest and honorable (thinks that they would be best for the people - (misguided yes, but honest). Yes, he might have voted for the health care reform without the government option, but at least that is an honorable position.
He is one of the last honorable liberal politicians and you should honor him as such. It is okay to disagree with him (I do of course) but respect him for his positions - many of them agree with the Republican consensus. Actually, if you take a consensus of Republican views these days - I would belong with those that would disagree. So..., I guess that makes me a maverick heh...
ATTENTION FELLOW TEXANS:
Governor Rick Perry may invoke the 10th Amendment over
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2299225/posts?q=1&;page=51
.
Get after Perry, Texans. Burn up his switch board and fax!
Let him know we don’t want Obama DeathCare.
Say no to Obama’s DeathCare.
Send a message; DON’T MESS WITH TEXAS healthcare!
No! NO you don’t, you muzzie pos.
You’re not denying our seniors deserved health care while insuring millions of illegal aliens and while Demorats are REJECTING Obamacare for themselves and their families!
.
.
.
Join organizations who fight ObamaCare.
This is a good organization:
The Alliance of Texans Against Government Controlled Healthcare:
http://www.notintexas.org/
office (972) 466-2915
fax (972) 466-2965
toll-free (866) 377-1300
From the website:
We are currently contacting Governor Rick Perry by fax and mail!
We have made it easy for you to help. Click here to display the letter and contact information.
http://www.notintexas.org/Letter_rick_perry.htm
Petition to STOP government controlled healthcare in Texas
Read and sign the petition
http://www.notintexas.org/Letter_to_Reps.htm
.
Print and sign the letter
(feel free to make changes if you wish)
Fax the letter to the fax numbers
Mail a hard copy to the addresses
Call their offices
Dear Governor Perry,
On March 30, 2009 the Texas House of Representatives passed HCR 50 affirming that the State of Texas claims sovereignty under the Tenth Amendment.
You have publicly supported this bill, and stated that attorney generals from all over the union could be getting ready to sue the US Government.
We are asking you to take the lead.
We are asking you to order the Texas Attorney General to publicly begin working on a law suit under Article IV, Ninth, and Tenth Amendment of the Constitution.
We are asking you to protect the citizens of Texas that we will not stand for government controlled healthcare in our state.
Under your leadership we can effectively kill the proposal of this administration and allow Texas to be a state free from socialism and collectivism.
Be the voice of reason in the national debate and allow Texans the ability to solve the problems of our state.
Thank you,
(Signature Date)
.
Lookup your state representatives
FREE FAX SERVICSES:
http://www.gotfreefax.com/
http://faxzero.com/
or google ‘free fax’
Contacting Rick Perry
Office of the Governor
P.O. Box 12428
Austin, Texas 78711
Phone: (512) 463-2000
Fax: (512) 463-1849
Washington Office:
122 C St., NW, Ste. 200
Washington, DC 20001
Phone: (202) 638-3927
Fax: (202) 628-1943
Contact Budget Planning and Policy
Address:1100 San Jacinto
Austin, Texas 78701
Phone: (512) 463-1778
Fax: (512) 463-1975
Gregory S. Davidson
Constituent Communication Division Director and
Executive Clerk to the Governor
Phone: (512) 463-1873
Office of the General Counsel
Department Mailing Address
P.O. Box 12428
Austin, TX 78711
Phone: 512.463.2000
Fax: 512.463.1932
Press Secretary
Allison Castle, Press Secretary
P.O. Box 12428
Austin, Texas 78711
Phone: (512) 463-1826
Fax: (512) 463-1847
Contact Texas Health Care Policy Council
P.O. Box 12428
Austin, Texas 78711
Phone: (512) 463-1778
Fax: (512) 463-1975
Sign up. Become a member.
Sign petition against Obamacare!
See member interview with Cavuto!
____________________
From Texans Against Government Controlled Health Care
Facts about the 10th Amendment:
The Tenth Amendment (Amendment X) of the United States Constitution, which is part of the Bill of Rights, was ratified on December 15, 1791. The Tenth Amendment restates the Constitution’s principle of Federalism by providing that powers not granted to the national government nor prohibited to the states are reserved to the states or the people.
HCR 50 HAS PASSED THE HOUSE 99-36!
Affirming that the State of Texas claims sovereignty under the Tenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States over all powers not otherwise enumerated and granted to the federal government by the U.S. Constitution, serving notice to the federal government to cease and desist certain mandates, and providing that certain federal legislation be prohibited or repealed.
Take Action! Before it is too late!
.
.
__________________________
REMEMBER THIS,TEXANS:
Feds Have Built Only 32 Miles of 700 Mile Double-Border Fence Originally Mandated by Congress
“One reason DHS has been able to do this is an amendment that Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R.-Texas) slipped into an omnibus appropriations bill that Congress passed on December 18, 2007. Hutchison’s amendment put a loophole in the fence law that allowed the secretary of Homeland Security not to build the fence Congress had mandated the year before.”
http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/43422
REMEMBER THIS WHEN YOU VOTE FOR GOVERNOR
Amendment I
Congress shall make no law......
When in doubt, do nothing !
Good. I was concerned Lieberman was paid off. For months Sibelius at HHS was claimed Connecticut would have half a million doses of H1N1 vaccine by the end of October. The state got 178,000. Last Thursday Lieberman paid her a visit and she said CT would have 100,000 doses in a few days. Sure seemed like the fix was in...and maybe it still is. We’ll see.
Yes, you may be right but at least if he believes something, he says so and will vote that way. Most Democrats and many Republicans speak out of both sides of their mouths.
Lieberman was against the public option for the right reasons - it would eventually increase the debt to unmanageable amounts and create future problems. He just was sincerely worried about helping those that had no insurance (my belief of course).
You of course can disagree and it is actually understandable - it remains a difference of intent (helping) or control which is what most Democrats are after.
Unless one is an anti-American Fascist politician with an attitude.
Finally, someone puts what is right for the country ahead of politics as usual. The typical Dem. is simply looking for more power.
Yes, agree - Lieberman as least wants what is right for America. That makes him a patriot in my eyes...
I think Lieberman knew about Obama’s dangers a year ago when he supported McCain.
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