The public option, that is, government-run health care, is back on the table for the Democratic health care reform proposal. Do the Democrats remember the town halls of August? The Senate GOP has collected a timely (but not for the Dems) collection of quotes that haunt some Democratic senators.SEN. EVAN BAYH (D-IN): "If It Was A Public Option That Was Just Kind Of A Stalking Horse For A Government-Run Health Care System, I Don't Think That Would Have A Very Good Chance." ("Senator's Take On Health Care Is Short On Specifics," Evansville Courier & Press, 8/10/09)
SEN. BLANCHE LINCOLN (D-AR): "For Some In My Caucus, When They Talk About A Public Option They're Talking About Another Entitlement Program, And We Can't Afford That Right Now As A Nation." ("Lincoln: Public Option Too Expensive," Arkansas News, 9/1/09)
SEN. TOM CARPER (D-DE): "Medicare Is A Public Option And Honestly, It Isn't Very Good … Medicare works, it's just very expensive." ("Carper Shares His Views On Health Care Reform," The [Hockessin, DE] Community News, 8/26/09)
SEN. KENT CONRAD (D-ND) On Government-Run Plan: It "Is Just A Wasted Effort." "'The fact of the matter is, there are not the votes in the United States Senate for the public option,' Mr. Conrad said on 'Fox News Sunday.' "There never have been. So to continue to chase that rabbit, I think, is just a wasted effort.'" ("'Public Option' In Health Plan May Be Dropped," The New York Times, 8/17/09)
SEN. JOSEPH LIEBERMAN (I-CT): "There Will Be No Shot At 60 Votes, Because I'm Not The Only One." ("Lieberman: Without Public Option, Health Reform Would Pass," Connecticut Post, 9/4/09)
SEN. BYRON DORGAN (D-ND): "I've Indicated I Won't Vote For A Bill That's A Government Take Over Of Health Insurance, Or The Healthcare System." (“Dorgan Holds Town Hall Meeting,” KXNET, 8/20/09)
SEN. MARY LANDRIEU (D-LA): "When Asked After Her Speech If The Senator Would Support A Public Option Under Any Circumstances, She Said, 'Very Few, If Any. I'd Prefer A Private Market-Based Approach To Any Health Care Reform That Would Extend Coverage.' 'I'd like to cover everyone — that would be the moral thing to do — but it would be immoral to bankrupt the country while doing so,' Landrieu said." ("Landrieu Says She Would Likely Oppose Government Insurance Option," [Monroe, LA] Star News, 8/26/09)
SEN. BEN NELSON (D-NE): "It's A Deal-Breaker For Me If There's A Government-Run Plan To Replace Existing Insurance Plans." ("Nelson Open To Public Role In Health Reform," Lincoln Journal Star [NE], 5/31/09)
SEN. BILL NELSON (D-FL): "I Want Consensus So That We Can Have As Many People As Possible With Health Care Coverage And We Cannot Get The 60 Votes In The Senate With Any Public Option." ("Sen. Nelson Answers Ledger Readers' Questions," The [Lakeland, FL] Ledger, 9/1/09)
SEN. MARK WARNER (D-VA): "Listen, A Government Insurance Option That Doesn’t Change The Financial Incentives Isn't Going To Get The Job Done." (CNBC’s "The Kudlow Report," 9/9/09)
SEN. MAX BAUCUS (D-MT): "I Don't Know That A Public Option Could Get 60 Votes." "A public option also could hold back health care reform, the state's senior senator said. 'I don't know that a public option could get 60 votes,' Baucus said. 'I want to get good health care reform fast that can pass — that can get 60 votes in the Senate.'" ("Baucus Hits Billings Talk-Radio Show, Answers Questions On Health Care," Great Falls Tribune, 8/27/09)
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