Posted on 09/04/2009 2:06:05 AM PDT by Libloather
House Liberals Write Directly To Obama: No Public Option, No Support
In a letter delivered to the White House moments ago, the two leaders of the bloc of House progressives bluntly told President Obama that they will not support any health care plan without a public option in it — and demanded a meeting to inform him face to face.
The not-yet-released letter — the first joint statement from progressives since news emerged that Obama might not address the public option in next week’s speech — is their sharpest challenge yet to the president, given the extraordinary sensitivity of this political moment. The letter urges him to mention the public option in his speech.
“Any bill that does not provide, at a minimum, a public option built on the Medicare provider system and with reimbursement based on Mediare rates — not negotiated rates — is unacceptable,” reads the letter, which was sent over by a source. It was signed by Reps. Lynn Woolsey and Raul Grijalva, the two leaders of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.
“A health reform bill without a robust public option will not achieve the health reform this country so desperately needs,” the letter continues. “We cannot vote for anything less.”
“We look forward to meeting with you regarding a robust public option in any final health reform bill and request that that meeting take place as soon as possible,” the letter says.
Last month, five dozen House liberals wrote a letter to Nancy Pelosi ruling out support for any bill without the public option. While today’s letter doesn’t bear all those signatures, it signals that House progressive leaders intend to try to maintain a united, potentially confrontational front even as the president prepares to make his case in a major, make-or-break address to Congress.
Should Obama jettison the public option, progressives will come under tremendous pressure to back the plan anyway. White House advisers will likely insist that liberals mustn’t deny the president a historic victory and enable a defeat that could cripple the first African-American presidency.
Dear President Obama:
Thank you for continuing to work with Members of Congress to draft a health reform bill that will provide the real health care reform this country needs.
We look forward to meeting with you regarding retaining a robust public option in any final health reform bill and request that that meeting take place as soon as possible.
Public opinion polls continue to show that a majority of Americans want the choice ofa robust public plan and we stand in solidarity with them. We continue to support the robust public option that was reported out of the Committees on Ways and Means and Education and Labor and will not vote for a weakened bill on the House Floor or returning from a Conference with the Senate.
Any bill that does not provide, at a minimum, a public option built on the Medicare provider system and with reimbursement based on Medicare rates-not negotiated rates-is unacceptable. A plan with negotiated rates would ensure higher costs for the public plan, and would do nothing to achieve the goal ofproviding choice and competition to keep rates down. The public plan with set rates saves $75 billion, which could be lost ifrates are negotiated with providers. Further, this public option must be available immediately and must not be contingent upon any trigger.
Mr. President, the need for reform is urgent. Every day, 14,000 Americans lose their health care coverage. We must have health care reform that will effectively bring down costs and significantly expand access. A health reform bill without a robust public option will not achieve the health reform this country so desperately needs. We cannot vote for anything less.
We look forward to meeting with you to discuss the importance of your support for a robust public plan, which we encourage you to reiterate in your address to the Joint Session of Congress on Wednesday.
Lynn Woolsey
Raul Grijalva
http://theplumline.whorunsgov.com/letter-from-house-progressives-to-obama-on-public-option/
I wonder if they need any ketchup?
Fixed it.
This ISN'T about "race".
Because the whole damn point is to destroy medical care. Everything else is window dressing.
As long as the bill get defeated one way or another, that’s fine with me.
Get what you can, while you can, because he is going to be the first and last African-American President for a very long time. Bank on it.
I’m banking on the fact he is a one-termer.
Well ok then. Let's just call the whole thing off.
I don't even see him completing that first term. That's not a threat, just an observation. I don't see how the people of this country are going to tolerate such incompetence for another three plus years.
LOL. Perfect.
the first joint statement from progressives since news emerged that Obama might not address
Why are people that want to keep repeating the mistakes and downfalls of Communism over the past several hundred years called “progressives”
Should they not be called regressives?
Because if they called themselves “repressive redistributionist fascist dictators”, which more realistically describes their agenda, it's just not catchy enough for sound bite tv.
A public option would cause employers to drop their plans and the associated administrative costs. Easier to pay the proposed fee/fine and just force their employees into the public option. Of course, that would soon bankrupt the public option.
bttt
Or less. Back in the Watergate days a local merchant had a bunch of "Help Nixon Out" bumperstickers made up. The message was obvious. Maybe we need a "Help Obama Out" movement.
Rat fight!!
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