Blue Dogs Backsliding On Health Care

[Bozita]

Source: HuffPo

Ryan Grim
Blue Dogs Backsliding On Health Care
First Posted: 06- 8-09 04:58 PM | Updated: 06- 8-09 07:46 PM


Conservative House Democrats agreed to a set of health care principles late last week that angered advocates of a overhaul of the health care system.

The Blue Dog Coalition issued a statement that said it would only support the public health care option as a fallback measure that would be triggered sometime down the road if private insurers don't meet a particular set of goals.

The backsliding took advocates of reform by surprise because 20 members of the coalition had previously signed a pledge expressing their support for a public option without a trigger. The statement was written and organized by the reform coalition Health Care for America Now (HCAN), which strongly opposes a trigger and sees it as an industry plot to strangle a public option in the crib.

Blue Dogs, by their charter, need two-thirds of their 51-member caucus to approve a position before it can be officially adopted. With 20 Blue Dogs backing a public option, they would be short several votes if everyone stuck to their pledge in the closed-door meeting.

Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/06/08/blue-dogs-backsliding-on_n_212730.html

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Just look at the size of those donations!

[aquart]

1. Why not? THEIR healthcare is safe.

I hope they itch.

[PNutt]

6. Someone PLEEZE Explain To Me.........

Why in the Hell do we need a "for-profit" organization standing between us and our healthcare providers? Think of all the money that would be available for actual healthcare, if we just did away with the crooked-azz health insurance companies.

Geez, Louise.........I am not smart at all, and even I can see this clearly.

[Psychic Consortium]

17. Crooks can become billionaires denying care to sick people.

And the billionaires buy off congress.

[SammyWinstonJack]

14. Take their health care plan away! They would squeal like stuck pigs.

:evilgrin:

[msongs]

2. looks like obama better dig up LBJ, a president who knew how to get it done lol nt

[No Elephants]

12. Lots of things were very different then. I wonder how LBJ would fare in today's atmosphere.

[steelyboo]

3. Should rename them BlueCrossBlueShield Dogs

[Pushed To The Left]

5. I like that! n/t

[Pushed To The Left]

4. These Blue Dogs are supposed to be Democrats. It's time for them to act like Democrats!

If they can't bring themselves to represent the people rather than insurance companies, perhaps they should face a primary challenge. The Democratic leadership needs to start putting the pressure on these guys.

[bertman]

7. I prefer Blue Dogshit Democrats for the likes of these closet Republicans

[downindixie]

8. If I were Obama I would

have every last one of these swinging dicks investigated.

[PassingFair]

9. They're stepping up to take the heat....where do the "New Dems" stand?

The DLC don't want a public option
any more than the Blue Dogs do...

Where's Rahm?

Where are his legendary "arm twisting"
skills on this issue?

[Bozita]

10. Signed, sealed, delivered. I'm yours.

Stevie Wonder warned us about these bastards a long time ago.


from the link in the OP:

The 20 Blue Dogs have taken a combined $6,849,273 from various segments of the health care industry, according to data from the Center for Responsive Politics.

Individually, they've taken a good chunk of change from the industry, but money isn't always the decisive factor. Murphy, in fact, has taken nearly $300,000 from health care interests but still reiterated his support for the public option with out a trigger. Here are the rest:

Jason Altmire: $405,279

Michael Arcuri: $103,547

Joe Baca: $159,250

Marion Berry: $536,917

Sanford Bishop: $356,496

Leonard Boswell: $304,680

Chris Carney: $167,664

Ben Chandler: $223,300

Jim Cooper: $894,414

Jane Harman: $292,694

Stephanie Herseth Sandlin: $323,924

Tim Holden: $386,278

Frank Kratovil: $86,556

Mike Ross: $833,670

Loretta Sanchez: $183,162

Adam Schiff: $380,708

Zach Space: $144,125

Charlie Wilson: $138,724

Mike Thompson: $631, 532 (His take from the health care industry, was second only to beer/wine/liquor business, which gave him $1,009,370)

[ProudDad]

11. Our blue dog had better be careful

we put her in and we can take her out...(of office)

And we will if she doesn't join the Progressive Caucus and vote for a viable public option...

[No Elephants]

13. Let her know, early and often.

[marmar]

15. The Dirty Dawgs.....up to their usual antics.

Somebody call animal control.

[Wednesdays]

16. K&R

:kick:

[KoKo]

18. Of Course...! They never wanted it...and they are the foils for those

"So-Called Liberal Dems" who will allow the "Blues" to shoot it all down while they still get vots for being "so liberal" they are always in power. At some point won't someone hold Harry Reid accountable?

After all if the Dems are in power and we have VERY INFLUENCIAL LEFT WING DEMS sitting on Commmittees and in positions of power...why is it always the Blue Dogs in both House and Senate who can defeat bills?

The 'Lieberman Wing' of the Democratic Party HOLDS THE POWER and will forever....until we manage to find candidates who will be true to Progressive Issues and hold FIRM!