RINGLEADER
08-18-2009, 09:33 AM
WASHINGTON — White House spokesman Robert Gibbs insists the Obama administration has not shifted its goals on health care reform or distanced itself from a government-run public insurance option.
He said in a meeting with reporters Tuesday morning that news stories suggesting that the administration was ready to abandon the public option as it battles to push health care reform through were overblown. The rash of reports began after Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius (seh-BEEL'-yuhs) appeared to signal the president was open to health care cooperatives as an alternative.
Gibbs said there was no intention to indicate a change in policy. He said, "If it was a signal, it was a dog whistle we started blowing weeks ago."
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jdIOrJQWRsFj21RqHyaA16KhlB7gD9A5BIP00
Plus we get this from seh-BEEL'-yuhs herself this morning:
HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today says nothing has changed; the Obama administration still supports a public option in health care reform.
She delivered that message in a DC speech on Medicare fraud. Over the weekend, administration officials appeared to soften support for a public option. That provoked a furious response from liberal Democrats.
Sunday, Sebelius said a public option is not the essential element in overall health care reform.
She argued that the most important element is choice and competition.
Clarifying her remarks in the Medicare speech, Sebelius said, quote, "Absolutely nothing has changed; we continue to support the public option." She insisted that it will help lower costs, promote choice and keep private health insurance companies honest.
Republicans and some moderate-to-conservative Democratic lawmakers are opposed to a public option.
The idea has generated a firestorm of controversy among conservatives.
Critics charge it would lead to a government takeover of the U.S. health care system.
Supporters of aggressive health care reform accuse critics of fueling opposition with misinformation.
http://ozarksfirst.com/content/fulltext/?cid=177091
He said in a meeting with reporters Tuesday morning that news stories suggesting that the administration was ready to abandon the public option as it battles to push health care reform through were overblown. The rash of reports began after Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius (seh-BEEL'-yuhs) appeared to signal the president was open to health care cooperatives as an alternative.
Gibbs said there was no intention to indicate a change in policy. He said, "If it was a signal, it was a dog whistle we started blowing weeks ago."
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jdIOrJQWRsFj21RqHyaA16KhlB7gD9A5BIP00
Plus we get this from seh-BEEL'-yuhs herself this morning:
HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today says nothing has changed; the Obama administration still supports a public option in health care reform.
She delivered that message in a DC speech on Medicare fraud. Over the weekend, administration officials appeared to soften support for a public option. That provoked a furious response from liberal Democrats.
Sunday, Sebelius said a public option is not the essential element in overall health care reform.
She argued that the most important element is choice and competition.
Clarifying her remarks in the Medicare speech, Sebelius said, quote, "Absolutely nothing has changed; we continue to support the public option." She insisted that it will help lower costs, promote choice and keep private health insurance companies honest.
Republicans and some moderate-to-conservative Democratic lawmakers are opposed to a public option.
The idea has generated a firestorm of controversy among conservatives.
Critics charge it would lead to a government takeover of the U.S. health care system.
Supporters of aggressive health care reform accuse critics of fueling opposition with misinformation.
http://ozarksfirst.com/content/fulltext/?cid=177091