Dem vs. Dem on government-run health care

The threat of a public option, that is, government-run health care, looms over the health care reform debate in the US Senate, as the Senate Republican Communications Center tells us.

“Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), One of the leading proponents of the public insurance option, warned Friday evening that he is "done" compromising with moderates and will not accept any further changes to the provision.” (“Sen. Brown: I’m ‘Done’ With Compromising On Public Option,” Roll Call, 12/4/09)

SEN. BLANCHE LINCOLN (D-AR): “I don't support a public option that is government funded or government run, and that puts the taxpayers at risk in the long run.” (“Lincoln Talks Health Care, Public Option,” MSNBC’s “First Read,” 12/4/09)

·LINCOLN: “If it's government run or government funded, I'm going to have some tremendous troubles with being able to support moving forward on something like that.” (“Lincoln Expresses Reluctance On Health Care Bill,” The Associated Press, 10/27/09)

SEN. JOSEPH LIEBERMAN (I-CT): “If the public option plan is in there … as a matter of conscience, I will not allow this bill to come to a final vote.” (“Obama Presses Senate To Act Quickly On Its Health Bill,” The New York Times, 11/9/09)

· “Among those in the meeting was Sen. Joe Lieberman, a Connecticut independent, who has said he would filibuster the bill if a government option was included. He left the meeting early and said his position hadn't altered. "Generally speaking, I didn't hear anything that changes my mind,’ Lieberman said.” (“Dems Seeking Compromise On Public Insurance Option,” The Associated Press, 12/4/09)

SEN. MARY LANDRIEU (D-LA): “I don't favor a government-run national public option … I could be open to either a fallback or a public option that plays on the same playing field as private business....Something like that I could maybe consider if it meant a deal at the end." (“Democrats Pose Health Bill Hurdle,” The Wall Street Journal, 11/6/09)

SEN. BEN NELSON (D-NE): “I don't want a big-government, Washington-run operation that would undermine the ... Private insurance that 200 million Americans now have.” (“Senate Democrats At Odds Over Health Care Bill,” The Associated Press, 11/22/09)

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