As Obamacare Falls Apart, Dems Demand More Obamacare

President Obama, Senate Democrat Leaders, And Liberal Groups Call For Even More Government In ‘Obamacare 2.0’

“Obamacare 2.0: ... President Barack Obama is laying out a blueprint for addressing unsolved problems with his signature health law, including a renewed call for a ‘public option’ to let Americans buy insurance from the government.” (“Obamacare 2.0: Obama Calls For Revisiting The Public Option,” The Associated Press, 7/11/2016)

• “Hillary Clinton, President Obama, and most Senate Democrats coalesce around a government-run insurance agency as part of the solution to Obamacare cost woes...” (“When It Comes To A Public Option, It’s A Battle Of Wills,” Morning Consult, 10/03/2016)

• “Adding a government-run insurance option... has long been a goal of liberals.” (“Senate Dems Unveil New Public Option Push For Obamacare,” The Hill, 9/15/2016)

“Senate Democrats and liberal groups are unveiling a new push to add a public option on ObamaCare ... The effort is led by senators including Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), on track to be the next Democratic leader, and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.)...” (“Senate Dems Unveil New Public Option Push For Obamacare,” The Hill, 9/15/2016)

• SEN. DICK DURBIN (D-IL): “I signed on to ... a provision for us to consider a public option when it comes to health insurance.” (Sen. Durbin, Congressional Record, S. 5916, 9/21/2016)

• “Thirty-three mostly liberal Democrats, including all the Senate leadership, have signed onto a ... Senate resolution introduced last Friday to add the public option to Obamacare...” (“Democratic Liberals, Moderates Feud Over Public Option,” Politico, 9/22/2016)

‘Democratic Senators Made It Clear That They Remain Uncomfortable With A Government-Run Health Program’

“A liberal attempt to revive the so-called public option — a government-run insurance plan to shore up gaps in the Affordable Care Act — is opening old wounds between the Democratic Party’s liberal and moderate wings.” (“Democratic Liberals, Moderates Feud Over Public Option,” Politico, 9/22/2016)

• “[M]issing from the list [of public option supporters] are vice-presidential nominee Tim Kaine and a half-dozen other moderates who face reelection in 2018 ... Kaine’s absence is especially striking since Hillary Clinton embraced the public option in July.” (“Democratic Liberals, Moderates Feud Over Public Option,” Politico, 9/22/2016)

“[M]oderate Democratic senators made it clear that they remain uncomfortable with a government-run health program.” (“Democratic Liberals, Moderates Feud Over Public Option,” Politico, 9/22/2016)

• “Sen. Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.) ... called the public-option debate a ‘distraction.’ ‘We’ve had a whole lot of discussion about what’s going to happen to Obamacare but … we aren’t having discussions [about how we deliver higher-quality care at lower costs] because we keep discussing how we’re going to fund it,’ she said.” (“Democratic Liberals, Moderates Feud Over Public Option,” Politico, 9/22/2016)

• “Sen. Jon Tester, a moderate Montana Democrat up for reelection in 2018, said the focus should be on working ‘on a bipartisan basis to fix Obamacare.’” (“Democratic Liberals, Moderates Feud Over Public Option,” Politico, 9/22/2016)

There Wasn’t Enough Support From Democrats To Pass A Government Plan In 2009, Either

“During hard-fought negotiations in Congress before Obama signed the law in 2010, liberals pushed vehemently for a public option, in which Americans could opt for a government-run plan ... It was scuttled to secure enough votes from moderate Democrats to pass the bill.” (“Obamacare 2.0: Obama Calls For Revisiting The Public Option,” The Associated Press, 7/11/2016)

• “[A] public option is ... deemed unrealistic by many moderate Democrats. It was originally included in the Affordable Care Act, but removed under the opposition of centrist Democrats who wouldn’t vote for it.” (“When It Comes To A Public Option, It’s A Battle Of Wills,” Morning Consult, 10/03/2016)

FLASHBACK: Democrat Senators In 2009: ‘A Government Insurance Company … Is A Radical Departure’

Then-SEN. JOSEPH LIEBERMAN (ID-CT): “One last word on the public option -- I understand that some who have advocated say we need to have a government insurance company in the market to keep the insurance companies honest. This is a radical departure from the way we have responded to the market in America in the past.” (NBC’s “Meet The Press,” 11/22/2009)

• LIEBERMAN: “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, 11/9/2009)

Then-SEN. BEN NELSON (D-NE): “It’s a deal-breaker for me if there’s a government-run plan to replace existing insurance plans.” (“Nelson Open To Public Role In Health Reform,” Lincoln Journal Star [NE], 5/31/2009)

Then-SEN. BYRON DORGAN (D-ND): “I've indicated I won't vote for a bill that's a government take over of health insurance, or the healthcare system.” (“Dorgan Holds Town Hall Meeting,” Kxnet, 8/20/2009)

Then-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,” 12/4/2009)

Then-SEN. MARY LANDRIEU (D-LA): “Count Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.) as a ‘no’ vote on the public insurance option.  ‘I am not open to a public option, however I will remain open to a compromise - a full compromise,’ Landrieu told reporters Tuesday. ‘A public option is not something I support I don't think its the right way to go.’” (“Landrieu Nixes Public Option,” Politico, 6/9/2009)