Research Briefing

While Reid’s “Compromise” Reduces His Ability To Keep Dems, It Increases Power Of Government To Take Over Health Care

IF REID SAYS THERE’S A DEAL, WHY ARE SO MANY MODERATE DEMS RUNNING AWAY FROM IT?

Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV) Claims “Some Of The Most Moderate And Most Progressive Members … Have Come To A Consensus. (Sen. Harry Reid, “Statement On Health Reform Consensus Between Moderates And Progressives, Press Release, 12/8/09))

But Moderates Like Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE) Backing Away, Saying He Hasn’t “Signed On To The Proposal.” (Don Walton, “Nelson Still Withholding Cloture Vote,” The Lincoln Journal Star, 12/9/09)

• Sen. Mary Landrieu Says “There’s No Specific Compromise. There Were Discussions.” (Jeffrey Young, “Landrieu, Lincoln: No 'Compromise' Made On Health Bill,” The Hill, 12/9/09)
• Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) Says “Sending The Bill To The CBO Was About All The 10 Senators Agree To Do.” (Jeffrey Young, “Landrieu, Lincoln: No 'Compromise' Made On Health Bill,” The Hill, 12/9/09)
• Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) Says “Opposition To A Government-Run Insurance Option, Including Any Option With A Trigger, Has Been Clear For Months And Remains My Position Today.” (Sen. Joe Lieberman, “Lieberman Statement On Health Care Negotiations,” Press Release, 12/9/09)

MAYBE THEY KNOW THAT EVEN THOUGH LIBERAL DEMS UNHAPPY WITH “COMPROMISE” …

Liberals Like Sen. Roland Burris (D-IL) Unhappy With Compromise, Saying If “It Does Not Have A Public Option In It, I Will Not Vote For It.” (Jeff Muskus, “Burris Threatens To Filibuster Health Care Without Public Option,” The Huffington Post, 12/9/09)

• Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI) Says “I Do Not Support Proposals That Would Replace The Public Option.” (Sen. Russ Feingold, “Feingold Statement On Negotiations On The Public Option, Press Release, 12/8/09)
• Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) Says While “Leadership Wants To Move This Bill Forward As Quickly As Possible … In My View, We Have A Lot Of Work In Front Of Us …” (Sen. Bernie Sanders, Congressional Record, S.12698-9, 12/8/09)

House Progressive Caucus’ Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-AZ) Says Senate Dems’ Deal “Would Be Unacceptable Alternative To A Government-Administered Plan.” (Eric Zimmermann , “Progressive Chairman Slams Public Option Compromise,” The Hill, 12/8/09)

HCAN Spokesperson Says “The Latest Non-Compromise Compromise Is Absolute Crap And Totally Unacceptable.” (Ben Smith, “Schechner: Health Care Compromise 'Absolute Crap And Totally Unacceptable',” Politico’s “Ben Smith” Blog, 12/7/09)

IT WOULD LEAD TO A BIGGER, FASTER GOVERNMENT TAKEOVER OF HEALTH CARE

Senate Dems’ Compromise Empowers U.S. Office Of Personnel Management To Select Insurance Plans In Government Exchange. “[A] senior Senate Democratic leadership aide ‘described the proposal by saying the Office of Personnel (OPM), which currently negotiates the federal employees' plan, would negotiate a plan to be put on the healthcare exchanges.’” (Suzanne Kubota, “Linda Springer: OPM Not Up To Task Of Running Public Option Health Program,” Federal News Radio, 12/8/09)

• OPM Would Negotiate Creation Of “National Health Plans.” “[T]he federal Office of Personnel Management would negotiate with insurance companies to offer national health plans to individuals, families and small businesses.” (Robert Pear and David Herszenhorn, “Liberal Senators Press For Expansion Of Medicare,” The New York Times, 12/8/09)

Senate Dems Want To Allow Americans 55- To 64-Years Old To Buy Into Medicare. “Democrats would allow older Americans starting at age 55 to buy into Medicare … The proposal would in effect create a public health insurance option for older Americans, since Medicare is government-funded and government-run.” (Carrie Budoff Brown and Patrick O’Connor, “Reid: Dems Reach ‘Broad Agreement,’” Politico, 12/8/09)

• Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-NY) Supports “Expanding Medicare” Because It’s “An Unvarnished, Complete Victory For People Like Me Who Support A Single-Payer System … Never Mind The Camel’s Nose – We Got His Head And Neck In The Tent.” (Alex Wayne, “Liberals See Medicare Buy-In As A Good Deal,” CQ Today, 12/9/09)
• And Democrat Strategist Paul Begala Says “Medicare Buy-In” Takes Us Closer To Single-Payer System. BEGALA: “There’s an interesting development that’s come up … it’s expanding Medicare … it is socialized health insurance … but it’s only for people age 65 years and older … Democrats look like they’re moving towards lowering that age to 55 … I think that’s great … I would open Medicare up to everybody.” CNN’S WOLF BLITZER: “That’s a single-payer option.” BEGALA: “Absolutely it is.” (CNN’s “Situation Room,” 12/8/09)