Posted on 03/10/2010 8:47:12 PM PST by Libloather
Woolsey retreats from public option demand for health care
By GUY KOVNER
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
Last Modified: Tuesday, March 9, 2010 at 6:28 p.m.
In an acknowledged turnabout, Rep. Lynn Woolsey said Tuesday she is prepared to vote for a health care bill that lacks a government-funded insurance plan, known as a public option.
“I'm not going to throw the baby out with the bath water,” Woolsey said, underscoring the need to get health care legislation through Congress. “We cannot stop health care from going forward.”
Woolsey, a Petaluma Democrat and co-leader of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, insisted last year that the health care overhaul must include a “robust public option.” As recently as Monday, she reiterated that a public insurance plan is crucial to reining in the “skyrocketing costs” of health care.
“We need to reform our health care system, and the public option must be included,” she said in a commentary Monday in Roll Call, a newspaper that covers Capitol Hill.
Asked if her willingness to vote for a bill without the public option amounted to a retreat, Woolsey said, “Well, it probably is.”
But, she added, her North Bay constituents want results. “Everyone I run into says, ‘Woolsey, we have to have health care reform,'” she said. “The worst thing we could do is have nothing at this point.”
Rep. Mike Thompson, D-St. Helena, agreed that health care action is essential. “Doing nothing is not an option,” said Thompson, a member of the fiscally conservative Blue Dogs faction.
Thompson said it was “premature” to comment on how he would vote until the bill's final language emerges. But if the only choice were the Senate health care bill, which does not include a public option, Thompson said: “I'm for doing that.”
Heard that straight from Lynn tonight on PMSNBC's Countout w/o Olberdork. (Don't ax why I watch...)
“We have to pass the bill so that you can find out what is in it, away from the fog of the controversy.” __ Nancy Pelosi, March 9, 2010
Every Democrat who voted against the original House bill on the basis it wasn’t Socialist enough will flip, except maybe Kucinich - crazy as he is, he is willing to stand on his principles
Didn't the McCain-Feingold scam start out like this?
These are very stupid people. More stupid than ever imagined.
They should be in jail.
Any politician who fails to oppose this monstrosity will be unable to get elected to any office whatsoever in the future. Charles Manson could run against someone who voted for this terrible destructive bill and he would win by declaring that his opponent supported Obamacare.
Now shes calling for it.
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