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Democrats Cautiously Embrace Obama Health Plan Posted on 2/23/2010
Congressional Democrats are cautiously embracing President Barack Obama's new health care plan.
Details of Plan The plan costs $950 billion over the next 10 years.
It extends coverage to 31 million people without insurance.
The proposal requires nearly everyone to be insured or pay a fine.
The plan puts new requirements on insurance companies and gives the federal government authority to block big premium increases.
Many Democrats said that despite all the bad-news polls and the loss of their filibuster-proof Senate supermajority in a special-election upset, it would still be better to pass a sweeping bill than make small changes or none at all.
Rep. Clybrun Comments House Majority Whip James Clyburn, D-SC, said, "I do believe that if what I have seen and what I've been hearing is close to being accurate, I do believe that we can get there in the House."
Clyburn said, "We got there with some people holding out for some things that we have now gotten in the Senate plan and in the president's proposal."
He said, "I do believe there is more fertile soil today than when we first took this up."
Rep. Rangel Comments House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charlie Rangel, D-NY, said, "This is the last time out. So this is it. This is it."
Rep. Waxman Comments Rep. Henry Waxman, D-CA, said, "We had a clear majority in both the House and the Senate that voted for this bill.:
Waxman said, "If Republicans do dig themselves in against it, Democrats ought to realize that they're going to be attacked for having voted for the bill, so we might as well get the job done."
Sen. Carper Comments Sen. Tom Carper, D-DE, said, "The President needs to say 'This is what I'm for', and it sounds like he's done that."
Repbulicans complained about the proposal.
Sen. McConnell Comments Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-KY, said, "Democrats in Washington either aren't listening, or are completely ignoring what Americans across the country have been saying."
McConnelll said, "Our constituents don't want yet another partisan, back-room bill that slashes Medicare for our seniors, raises a half-trillion dollars in new taxes, fines them if they don't buy the right insurance and further expands the role of government."
He said, "The longer Washington sticks with its failed approach to health care, the longer Americans have to wait for the real, step-by-step reforms that will actually lower costs and lead to a better system."
The White House even offered Monday to post the Republicans' plan on its Web site.
