GOP balking at health-care reform summit
Over the weekend, President Obama invited Republican leaders to participate in a public, televised summit to discuss health-insurance reform later this month.
“I want to consult closely with our Republican colleagues,” Obama said. “What I want to do is to ask them to put their ideas on the table. . . . I want to come back and have a large meeting, Republicans and Democrats, to go through, systematically, all the best ideas that are out there and move it forward.”
After initially embracing the idea, GOP leadership is now having clear second thoughts. In a letter sent to Obama Monday night, House Minority Leader John Boehner and Minority Whip Eric Cantor set what seemed to some strange conditions on the summit: Before Republicans would agree to participate, Obama must in effect unconditionally surrender. He must agree that the Democrats’ current health-care bill is dead, and he must promise not to try to revive it.
“If the starting point for this meeting is the job-killing bills the American people have already soundly rejected, Republicans would rightly be reluctant to participate…. As the President has noted recently, Democrats continue to hold large majorities in the House and Senate, which means they can attempt to pass a health care bill at any time through the reconciliation process. Eliminating the possibility of reconciliation would represent an important show of good faith to Republicans and the American people.”
The letter includes other apparent conditions as well. Some are reasonable; others seem designed to ensure that the summit never comes off. All in all, the GOP seems wary of allowing their plans to be compared in an open, transparent process in which talking points can be rebutted.
Meanwhile, in a possible sign of what’s to come if health-care reform is truly dead, a very large health insurer in California has announced rate hikes of up to 39 percent:
Reports that Anthem Blue Cross is raising premiums on some customers by 39 percent on March 1, have prompted the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, Kathleen Sebelius, to write a letter to the company, Golden State’s largest private insurer, asking the company to “provide a detailed justification for these rate increases to the public.”
“Additionally, you should make public information on the percent of your individual market premiums that is used for medical care versus the percent that is used for administrative costs,” Sebelius wrote, noting that the profits of Anthem Blue Cross’s parent company, WellPoint Incorporated, have soared.
The company earned $2.7 billion in just the last quarter of 2009. Quarterly sales went from $15.1 billion to $19 billion — a 26% rise.
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401 comments Add your comment
Scooter
February 9th, 2010
7:38 am
First?
USinUK
February 9th, 2010
7:39 am
but Jaaaaayyyyyyy … don’t you know that the US has the BESTEST healthcare money can buy … really and for true … so what if you can go bankrupt even if you HAVE in insurance, capitalimism is the Muricun way, so those insurers should be able to charge you whatever they want – and drop you if you forgot to declare that ingrown nose hair …
as they say on HeeHaw … SAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA-LUTE!
Scooter
February 9th, 2010
7:39 am
Granny Godzilla
February 9th, 2010
7:40 am
I can see the opening shot…..c-span camera panning the conference room at Blair House…..
Place cards that say President Obama, Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi the rest of the leadership, representatives from the healthcare industry…all with bright shining faces sitting behind them, pens in hand ready to work.
Pan to the other side of the table…..place cards for Boehner, McConnell, Cantor……seats empty.
Hell of a campaign commercial dontcha’ know.
joe matarotz
February 9th, 2010
7:45 am
Obama is right on this one. Put it on tv and let the fur fly! Too bad they didn’t televise the previous health care negotiations. It would have been entertaining AND enlightening to wath Ben Nelson put the screws to the rest of the country like the good little Lib he is.
Scooter
February 9th, 2010
7:46 am
USinUK, maybe we should buy some stock in the Ins. companies.
Peadawg
February 9th, 2010
7:47 am
We gave Obama and the Democrats a chance w/ healthcare(adding to the deficit, public option bs, etc.) and the people have rejected it. Let’s give the Republicans a chance and see how the people like it. Fair enough?
Mick
February 9th, 2010
7:49 am
The reality is that health care legislation has been botched. The lesson learned is that instead of one big all encompassing bill, legislators would have been better off taking it step by step.
Scooter
February 9th, 2010
7:50 am
There is just too much about the political process I can’t understand. Whew!
Granny Godzilla
February 9th, 2010
7:51 am
Peadawg
They are being offered their chance. Blair House 2/25
MAC
February 9th, 2010
7:51 am
A bi-partisan summit, done in good faith, requires a clean sheet of paper to start.
We still don’t have a final bill to debate so any suggestion that the opposition must win a debate starting with the current Democratic position is disingenuous.
Republicans would do better in November doing nothing than working around the edges of the Democrats’ incomprehensible proposal.
Having Pelosi, Reid and Obama smiling like chesire cats along side health insurance lobbyists and union activists with empty Republican seats would make a great campaign commercial……. for Republicans.
Peadawg
February 9th, 2010
7:55 am
“Peadawg
They are being offered their chance. Blair House 2/25″
So what’s all the hoopla about? What’s Jay’s article about? We tried the Democrats way…didn’t work. Let’s try the Republican’s way. End of story. Nothing to talk about until after the summit.
Granny Godzilla
February 9th, 2010
7:58 am
MAC
Nope, no GOP on the teevee machine for health care summit is a huge boo-boo…..but go for it.
pat
February 9th, 2010
7:59 am
” Obama must in effect unconditionally surrender” That’s not what the letter says at all. Read the whole letter.
Jay is just spinning this to pick on his enemy the GOP. He is being dishonest by omission in his blog. The link to the whole letter is there.
All they want to know is if he is being honest or playing politics as he shut them completely out initially. It is a valid concern.
At no point in his tenure so far has obama been even remotely interested in bipartisinship on any issue what ever.
They are suspicious and rightly so. I don’t blame them, obama has been less then forthright.
jt
February 9th, 2010
8:00 am
Below is a GOP senate and GOP house Bill. Where is the democrat’s?
http://coburn.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=HealthCareReform.Home&ContentRecord_id=5e3b30a4-802a-23ad-4b44-14f0219114c6
http://www.gop.gov/solutions/healthcare
It doesn’t take a summit to just say NO.
Granny Godzilla
February 9th, 2010
8:01 am
Peadawg
It’s transparency hoopla! Ain’t it grand?
A great big political put up or shut up.
Jimmy Carter
February 9th, 2010
8:01 am
Gotta love it.
http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2010/02/bush_miss_me_yet_billboard_is.html
Granny Godzilla
February 9th, 2010
8:02 am
jt
great! they can bring it with them on the 25th.
Jay
February 9th, 2010
8:03 am
Really Pat?
So your reading of the letter is that even if Obama insists on bringing up the current House and Senate bills, the GOP will go ahead and have the summit?
Is that what you’re saying, based on your reading?
Mick
February 9th, 2010
8:04 am
Insurance companies need to be stopped. It’s profiteering, greed and theft on the largest scale, truth is they own the congress – don corleone would be in awe..
Granny Godzilla
February 9th, 2010
8:04 am
jimmy carter
it is funny, funnier still is the part of the article that notes nobody
will admit to paying for it!
Jimmy Carter
February 9th, 2010
8:04 am
Granny Godzilla
Most Americans were against the liberal health care socialist package, but you continue to stick with your mantra. Just what do you know that more than half of the population doesn’t? Perhaps you should contact your Congressmen and enlighten them.
Jimmy Carter
February 9th, 2010
8:05 am
Granny Godzilla
February 9th, 2010
8:04 am
Nah. The funniest part is that many obama voters are actually starting to feel that way.
Granny Godzilla
February 9th, 2010
8:06 am
jimmy carter
socialist? racist!
Mick
February 9th, 2010
8:07 am
JC
The paint ballers will have a field day.
Jimmy Carter
February 9th, 2010
8:08 am
Mick
February 9th, 2010
8:07 am
Yes, the liberal juvenile delinquents, or their parents, will indeed have a field day.
Jimmy Carter
February 9th, 2010
8:09 am
Granny Godzilla
February 9th, 2010
8:06 am
Ah yes, the race card. I never think a lib would be able to make it through the day without their crutch when it comes to supporting an issue.
I scoop ;~] Uleak :>o
February 9th, 2010
8:09 am
There is a political fad catching fire now. It’s called show me. It’s the new Missouri Compromise. The GOP threatens filibuster? Then let them filibuster. Show the voters what time-wasting is all about.
It’s amazing to me that the democrats took this long to realize that they only had to call the bluff. In fact, I don’t believe it. I think there is bipartisan collusion to create gridlock so the money stays where it is.
Purdue’s idea to appoint government officials instead of electing them had to come from the money behind the governor’s office. They must have realized what a hell they could create for voters in Georgia if they could themselves force their puppet gubernatorial regime to annoint the different secretaries.
This “Sonny Do” idea stinks as far as the eye can see. I’m not turning my other cheek and coughing over this one. No sir.
Voters: Don’t be fooled just because it doesn’t take effect till long after Sonny is the ex-guv. The beneficiaries are old money cronies who will still be there.
Granny Godzilla
February 9th, 2010
8:10 am
jimmy carter
“The funniest part is that many obama voters are actually starting to feel that way.”
vs.
“Just what do you know that more than half of the population doesn’t? Perhaps you should contact your Congressmen and enlighten them.”
please break up into small groups and discuss the concept of irony amongst yourselves.
Jimmy Carter
February 9th, 2010
8:11 am
Granny Godzilla
February 9th, 2010
8:06 am
By the way, what was racist about my post. I was merely challenging you to explain why your thoughts on the socialist health care package weren’t accepted by more than half of the population. I also suggested you contact your Congressmen to enlighten them. Racist? How lame.
Mick
February 9th, 2010
8:12 am
**“The funniest part is that many obama voters are actually starting to feel that way.”*
Total conjecture on your part – stick with the facts.
MAC
February 9th, 2010
8:12 am
The huge boo-boo was the Democrats huge over reach on the unnecessarily bloated health insurance (not health CARE) bill(s) they tried to ram through and the lack of a coherent guiding proposal by our President. Anything done now is to try and save face from the disaster of their own making.
Without any concessions on the starting point, Republicans may still show up, at least to make a point on the disingenuous process on an all or nothing huge bill rather than starting with the common ground already there (portability, pre-existing conditions, interstate commerce, malpractice tort reform, etc.).
Jimmy Carter
February 9th, 2010
8:12 am
Granny Godzilla
February 9th, 2010
8:10 am
Your attempts to be clever are missing the mark. L e t m e a s k y o u s l o w e r…
Just what do you know that more than half of the population doesn’t? Perhaps you should contact your Congressmen and enlighten them.
Jimmy Carter
February 9th, 2010
8:14 am
Mick
February 9th, 2010
8:12 am
His numbers are tanking – an all time low. THAT is “the facts”.
http://hotlineoncall.nationaljournal.com/archives/2010/02/obama_hits_lowe.php
Jay
February 9th, 2010
8:14 am
So MAC, explain the GOP approach to pre-existing conditions. How is that handled?
Jimmy Carter
February 9th, 2010
8:15 am
In case you don’t want to click on the link:
The poll, conducted Feb. 1-3, showed just 44% of registered voters approving of Obama’s job as president. 47% disapprove. But among indie voters, Obama’s approval rating sits at a terrible 29%, while his disapproval rating is at 57%.
Obama’s 44% job approval rating is the lowest he has scored in any non-internet poll since moving into the WH, according to a review of data compiled by Pollster.com.
MAC
February 9th, 2010
8:16 am
Republicans should also insist that any bill passed applies to all without the multiple exclusions and concessions to Democrat (and/or Republican) special interests or states like in the prior proposals.
pat
February 9th, 2010
8:17 am
No sir, I am saying you are purposely mining the letter for talking points so you can purposefully blast republicans because you want to blast republicans.
Sarah Palin
February 9th, 2010
8:18 am
“How’s that hopey changy thing doin’ for ya?”
Granny Godzilla
February 9th, 2010
8:19 am
jimmy carter
please get your snark correct.
it’s the racist card not the race card, and it’s the correct play to the socialist card.
it’s called trump.
Granny Godzilla
February 9th, 2010
8:20 am
jimmy carter
your post was every bit as racist as the healthcare plan was socialist.
get it yet?
Disgusted
February 9th, 2010
8:20 am
Below is a GOP senate and GOP house Bill. Where is the democrat’s?
I read that summary. What a joke! No specifics–only statements of principle. So patients are going to get disease prevention by reading a Web site produced by CDC? That’s the health plan? And every American is going to get access to affordable health insurance by using a state insurance exchange, but there is to be no taxation or governmental subsidy to help citizens pay for it? That’s the health plan? Really?
Let’s face some facts. The GOP doesn’t want health insurance reform. It doesn’t want any exchange of views. It wants to sit on its hands and do nothing until dissatisfaction with the economy returns to the GOP to power. And then guess what will happen with health insurance reform. Wait for it–nothing! That’s the GOP healthcare plan. The party doesn’t want to do anything to disrupt the flow of campaign contributions from the health insurance industry.
And that 30+ percent increase in Blue Cross premiums in California? Look at it, readers. There’s your future under the GOP. There’s the “free market” in action. And before you get smug about it, start asking yourself how much longer your employer will be willing to pay most of those premiums for you.
Jay
February 9th, 2010
8:21 am
So you’re saying that I’m right, Pat?
Which is it?
Jimmy Carter
February 9th, 2010
8:21 am
Granny Godzilla
February 9th, 2010
8:20 am
Still refusing to answer the question? Typical liberal tactic.
Regarding the healthcare package – Just what do you know that more than half of the population doesn’t? Perhaps you should contact your Congressmen and enlighten them.
Peadawg
February 9th, 2010
8:22 am
http://gopleader.gov/UploadedFiles/a_tale_of_two_approaches.pdf
From reading that…the GOP bill sounds A LOT better.
I Report (-: You Whine )-: mmm, mmmm, mmmmm!
February 9th, 2010
8:23 am
Hell no!
david wayne osedach
February 9th, 2010
8:23 am
We will ultimately have national health care reform. Meanwhile we are wasting our time fighting it and paying more through the nose because of it.
FrankLeeDarling
February 9th, 2010
8:23 am
The American people want better health care and republicans are unwilling to help fix the problem
They have turned our health care into a political foot ball and you republican followers into Charlie brown,suckers!
iRun
February 9th, 2010
8:23 am
I just wanted to make a sad announcement.
“The US State Department and the HHS Disaster Mortuary Response Team has confirmed the death of CDC policy analyst Diane Caves in the Haiti earthquake. A dedicated public health professional, Diane was on a CDC 3-week assignment to improve Haitian HIV/AIDS programs when the earthquake struck.”
She was 31 years old.
Pennsylvanian
February 9th, 2010
8:24 am
JCs got GG pinned. Can she break the hold? One… Two…..