Dems backtrack on single-payer bill

[babylonsister]

Dems backtrack on single-payer bill
By David Shalleck-Klein
Posted: 08/30/09 02:31 PM


Some House members who have previously backed a single-payer healthcare reform bill say they will not vote for a similar measure when it hits the floor this fall.

Of the 12 serving House members who co-sponsored Rep. John Conyers’s (D-Mich.) single-payer bill (H.R. 676) in the last Congress but not in this Congress, four have indicated they will vote no on a single-payer bill to be offered by Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.).

The four members are Reps. Joe Baca (D-Calif.), Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-Texas), David Scott (D-Ga.), and Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.).

“It’s a whole new ballgame,” said Baca spokesman Mike Trujillo. “ supports a public option and not a single-payer system at this time.”

In an interview with The Hill, Scott said, “I support a public option. It’s an excellent compromise and the best vehicle to garner enough votes to pass….Single-payer isn’t going to get the votes. A public option is the best shot we have to lower costs and provide coverage to most Americans.”

Johnson adopted a similar tone in a statement to The Hill: “I have supported legislation like H.R. 676 in the past, but this year I support America’s Affordable Health Choices Act because it has a much better chance of becoming law.”

more...

http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/dems-backtrack-on-single-payer-bill-2009-08-30.html

[Eric J in MN]

1. Why did Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.).change his position? (NT)

NT

[babylonsister]

2. Maybe because he thinks the public option has a better chance of

passing?

[Eric J in MN]

3. He could vote for both bills. NT

NT

[Laelth]

10. Exactly. This is cowardice.

It's bowing to pressure from someone. Why not show that there's strong support for single payer, even if you know the bill isn't going to pass?

Why piss off your base like this?

:shrug:

:dem:

-Laelth

[lefthandedlefty]

11. Maybe they are still being blackmailed by the pukes

[Laelth]

12. Perhaps, but the Republicans have no power.

The only people who could blackmail them are the House Leadership, the White House itself, or the insurance industry. Perhaps the insurance industry threatened to never give these representatives any more campaign cash if they voted for single-payer because the insurance industry wants to make it look like no Americans support it--not even the most liberal members of the House.

Perhaps. I don't know, but I want answers.

:dem:

-Laelth

[quiller4]

14. He said he doesn't want to dillute the focus on public option.

[BattyDem]

4. Why can't they support both?

They're saying single-payer won't pass. Fine. But Pelosi promised a floor vote, so why can't they vote for it anyway and then vote for the public option when that bill is voted on?

Is there a reason they can't support both? :shrug:

[LWolf]

6. No good reason. nt

[ProSense]

5. This is laughable

“It doesn’t represent lack of confidence in single-payer, but more of what kind of assault will come from the extreme right wing,” said Quentin Young, national coordinator for Physicians For A National Health Program.

In late July, Weiner offered a single-payer amendment during the Energy and Commerce Committee markup but withdrew it after both panel chairman Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) and Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) promised that his amendment would get a floor vote.

Of the three House committee chairman with jurisdiction on health reform -- Waxman, Rangel and George Miller (D-Calif.) -- only Miller is a current co-sponsor of the Conyers measures.

Waxman cosponsored the measure in the 109th Congress.

It is unclear how Waxman will vote on the single-payer amendment, but hinted he would vote no.

“I will support the bill with the best chance of passing and reaching the president’s desk,” Waxman said when he was asked on Aug. 1 how he would vote on the Weiner amendment.

So he's saying they're afraid of the RW? That's a piss-poor excuse. Did he think it was going to be easy?

[joeycola]

8. Pres. Obama should have LEAD with SP!! The WH started

this excuse and the cowards in the Congress repeat the mantra.

[ProSense]

13. Waa, Waa, it's Obama's fault.

Ludicrous.

[joeycola]

15. No, not entirely. The Dems had no spine either.

[hootinholler]

7. I was hoping that by backtrack

You meant it was gaining support.

-Hoot

[Laelth]

9. This is infuriating. Eddie Bernice Johnson?

I would have never accused her of triangulation or of being susceptible to White House bullying. So what if she supports the Public Option. If she knows single payer isn't going to pass, she could still vote for it ... just to show that there's strong support for it.

I hardly know what to say here. Sounds like Rahm is hammering the Progressive Caucus, again. The President needs to know that we will hold him responsible for Rahm's actions.

:mad:

:dem:

-Laelth