He’s not in favor of the public option at all:
“We’re trying to do too much at once,” Lieberman said. “To put this government-created insurance company on top of everything else is just asking for trouble for the taxpayers, for the premium payers and for the national debt. I don’t think we need it now.”
[...]
Lieberman said that he’d vote against a public option plan “even with an opt-out because it still creates a whole new government entitlement program for which taxpayers will be on the line.”
[...]
“I’ve told Sen. Reid that if the bill stays as it is now I will vote against cloture,” he said.
“I can’t see a way in which I could vote for cloture on any bill that contained a creation of a government-operated-run insurance company,” Lieberman added. “It’s just asking for trouble – in the end, the taxpayers are going to pay and probably all people who have health insurance are going to see their premiums go up because there’s going to be cost shifting as there has been for Medicare and Medicaid.”
Snowe doesn’t sound like she’ll support it either. Looking like they’ll have to drop it to get it out of the Senate.
BTW, no one is fooled by Reid’s attempt to make the public option more acceptable since we all know that only places like Texas have the votes to opt out of the plan. States like California, NY, and NJ would be stuck with it.
Update: The House doesn’t have enough for a “robust” public option.
posted October 27, 2009 at 8:38 pm
Heh, heh, heh!!
posted October 27, 2009 at 10:02 pm
I like Lieberman. He would make a good Republican. I guess the public option is dead. Probably a good thingqqse2c
posted October 27, 2009 at 11:07 pm
lieberman is a good republican, what are you talking about? oh, you were confused by the “independent” label. yeah, that happens.
“He’s not in favor of the public option at all”
uh, again, your comprehension sucks. that’s not what he said.
by the way, republicans, what happened to cries of an “up or down vote”? funny thing, isn’t it? only now you’re opposing the will of the majority (typical of republicans). i’m okay with that. you will be solidifying the independents and reasonable republicans against your party.
posted October 28, 2009 at 6:32 am
Joe’s a Democrat when it suits him. Which is only when it increases his power, or perceived power.
But his heart follows the worst of the Republican party.
Joe’s already using the public option for seniors. Maybe he should show his courage and give up Medicare, and trust to the free market for his health care insurance just like he expects his subjects to do.
posted October 28, 2009 at 1:17 pm
When someone is against something that is simply another option, with a clear provision to opt out, you have to wonder about their motivatiions. Who are they trying to protect? Even if the public option fails (though I don’t think it would or should, considering it would provide insurance to many who now have none), participating states could bail out of it.
Polls show a majority of the public and a majority of physicians want a public option. Ya think Lieberman and the others opposed to a public option just might be protecting vested interests and their own power? Just maybe?
posted October 29, 2009 at 9:01 am
Lieberman is an American hero.
Standing against the hordes of Marxists now proudly and brazeningly puffing up in Democrat garb, is awe inspiring to watch.
Lieberman joins the list of patriots that include some of the founders.