Lieberman Digs In on Public Option

WSJ ^ | 11/23/2009

[GVnana]

Sen. Joseph Lieberman, speaking in that trademark sonorous baritone, utters a simple statement that translates into real trouble for Democratic leaders: "I'm going to be stubborn on this."

Stubborn, he means, in opposing any health-care overhaul that includes a "public option," or government-run health-insurance plan, as the current bill does. His opposition is strong enough that Mr. Lieberman says he won't vote to let a bill come to a final vote if a public option is included.

Probe for a catch or caveat in that opposition, and none is visible. Can he support a public option if states could opt out of the plan, as the current bill provides? "The answer is no," he says in an interview from his Senate office. "I feel very strongly about this." How about a trigger, a mechanism for including a public option along with a provision saying it won't be used unless private insurance plans aren't spreading coverage far and fast enough? No again.

So any version of a public option will compel Mr. Lieberman to vote against bringing a bill to a final vote? "Correct," he says.

[GVnana]

Rather, his objection is based on fiscal risk: "Once the government creates an insurance company or plan, the government or the taxpayers are liable for any deficit that government plan runs, really without limit," he says. "With our debt heading over $21 trillion within the next 10 years...we've got to start saying no to some things like this."

The adult half of the Gore-Lieberman ticket.

[samtheman]

Not bad. So far. We’ll see where it goes.

[Danae]

Well, seems that being Independent suits Mr. Lieberman.

[bennowens]

Give me a break...now that Reid has this passed for consideration, he intends to pass it by reconciliation...50 votes only. So spare me the tedious analysis and count to 60 votes. The deal is already lost!

[Ann Archy]

He’ll cave like he did on impeachment.

[South40]

His opposition is strong enough that Mr. Lieberman says he won't vote to let a bill come to a final vote if a public option is included.

That means nothing if a liberal Republican signs on.

[martinidon]

he should have said no on Saturday. The dems don't need him; after Saturday's vote they will debate this and then ram it through with the nuclear option of 51 votes. This was their plan all along. They will give some of the dems cover that voted for it to move forward by voting no. The dems know this is the last opportunity to get this through and they will do it before Christmas. They know they are losing seats in 2010 but there is no way to turn this back once it passes unless the Republican can get a super majority which is unlikely.

[amihow]

Tax credits to individuals to purchase health insurance.

Support for charitable, non-profit health insurance companies to eliminate shareholder dividends and huge CEO
salaries.

Encouragement of larger social groups self insuring.

Keep the government out of the business of medicine.

[Zhang Fei]

Lieberman is pretty solid on defense issues. I don’t think he has any principled objections to socialist health care, but does see that if we implement it, we can kiss the defense budget goodbye.

[jveritas]

Lieberman is standing great on the issue of public option aka socialized medicine and he will continue to do so.

Now I believe that the socialists are going to save face here and re-do their healthcare bill with the so called Trigger Public Option and get Snowe on board and hence get the 60 votes enough to overcome a filibuster and move their bill to a final vote.

The Trigger Public Option means that the public option will never be triggered. I know almost all on our side believe that the trigger public option is only a delay of the public option but the political reality says otherwise. Triggers never get activated.

The socialists and their President want to just pass anything now just to claim that they achieved a victory but indeed it is a pyrrhic one. The public option will drive the left wing base insane because they know very well that it will never be activated. If you think that the current infighting among liberals is a great thing to watch then you have seen nothing yet.

[Frantzie]

Three words: Aetna, Hartford, Connecticut.

$31 billion in revenues and $1.4 billion in net income with almost 36,000 employees. Aetna and other insurance companies in CT are not just gonna roll over and die.

Also I doubt the twins in Maine are going to want to screw with Unum Group (they offer forms of health insurance). They used to be HQ in Maine but moved HQ to TN but still have a lot of their ops in Maine with lots of employees. They employ just under 10,000 people.

One wrong vote and a lot of jobs could leave Maine.

This is hardball time. Keep calling and faxing. Businesses, insurance companies and doctors are also getting out their brass knuckles. They are not going to just roll over and die.

[JimWayne]

Yes, but what about the Maine sisters? LIEberman is already guilty of helping the Dims take one step towards socialism. When socialism is thrust upon us, he has to take responsibility for his actions and cannot give the excuse that he voted against the vote to end the debate.

[ExTexasRedhead]

How about digging in on the Death Panels too.

How about trashing the entire Hitler-style DeathCare designed to do in as many Americans as Pelosi, Reid, Zero, and the Liberals can legally get by with.

Hussei, Pelosi, Reid, et al. do Mengele proud. Same ole, IMO, same ole.

Capos one and all.

[Pistolshot]

Bidding starts at 300 million , Joe.

What's your price?

[vamoose]

And if the Democrats don't like Joe's opposition to the public option jamdown, what will they do? Oppose him in the next election?

[incredulous joe]

I think old Joe is having some fun kicking these guys in the shins. However, he has got to really stick it to them once, or the jig is up and he will have no more fun kicking them in the shins.

I think this is the time.

[nutmeg]

.

[Conservativegreatgrandma]

I don’t trust him one bit.

[GVnana]

Very interesting...

[Canadian Outrage]

My reaction is : Oh bull$hit!! Don’t trust a single one of them. CO