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Oct 22 2009, 4:40 pm by Chris Good

Snowe Suggests Health Care Can Wait

Health care reform maybe shouldn't happen by the end of the year, Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME) suggests in an interview with Bloomberg's "Political Capital with Al Hunt," which will air this weekend. "Christmas might be too soon," Bloomberg quotes her as saying. "We should give it the time it deserves." Needless to say, Democrats do not want to wait that long, but Snowe is in a uniquely influential position as the only Republican who supports Democratic reform plans at this point.

And, just in case public-option supporters thought things might have changed as more polling shows the public in favor of a government-run insurance plan, Snowe says she won't support it--meaning it'll be up to Democrats to pass a public option without GOP support, if such a provision is in the cards.

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Comments (16)

hillary1

Oh, fuck Olympia Snowe. She is doing everything in her power to gum up these works. I would like to see a bill passed that is 100% public option just to spit in her face.

Paul in Athens (Replying to: hillary1)

Tell me what you expect will be covered under your "public" government run health insurance policy, and tell me what you expect the monthly premiums to be.


Almatt

I'm tellin' ya, Snowe is a genius. She's working with Rove to drive the Dems. nuts. See what I said a could days ago: http://politics.theatlantic.com/2009/10/progressives_vote_against_reid_if_we_dont_get_a_public_option.php

Senator Snowe, give this all due deliberation. Take your time thinking this through. Forget about Christmas - it's fine if the vote is Valentine's Day, or just after Easter, or wait 'til next July 4. Take it slooooooooooow. Don't let those crazy Democrats wait -- they've been saying the number of uninsured Americans is a problem since, what, 1992? It's been 17 years, and still no health reform -- what's their gripe if people need to wait a few more years before they get health insurance?

Thorley Winston (Replying to: Almatt)

That’s actually good advice. Obama made a point of saying that the plan wouldn’t go into effect for four years anyway so it makes sense to spend more time on the front end when they’re writing the law to make sure it’s done correctly and they’ve ironed out these problems rather than rushing to pass something and saying “we’ll fix it later.”



William Neuhauser

Hm, yes. 60+ years since it was originally proposed. Ted Kennedy spent his entire multi-decade Senate career trying to do this ... and died in office still working on it. Republicans did nothing when they controlled the Congress and Presidency and won't if they can stop it, so "timing" isn't the issue. This House, Senate and President were elected on a platform to do this.

This is the time. It is long overdue, not premature.

PorkBelly

There was no way Snowe was going to vote for the final version anyway.

In no way was the conference bill going to be exactly like the Finance bill.

Democrats have to stick together for cloture & then the Nelsons. Landrieus, and Lincolns can defect.

Buzz Feedback

Ok, Sen. Snowe, we'll wait. And while we're doing it, you can give up your government-funded health care, yes?

kadzimiel

Good. We now have Snowe on record as another GOP obstructionst, against the will of her constituents. Time for Democrats to move on without her and the senile dementia of Grassley, Enzi and co. We can put a really good strong bill before the Senate and see which Dems dare to vote against cloture. No wonder that globulous fraud Baucus is having a conniption.

Almatt (Replying to: kadzimiel)

"GOP obstructionist"?? She's not obstructing, she just doesn't want to rush this. She's taking the time she needs to give it adequate thought and deliberation.

Why do you Democrats yell "obstructionist" whenever people want to take more time to think things through and get all the facts?

kadzimiel (Replying to: Almatt)

Because you are obstructionists, standing in the way of the American people getting decent healthcare. We've seen this game before, with Grassley and Enzi. You don't care about the facts - you just want to continue kissing health insurance cartel ass and raking in the big bucks, while keeping that industry uncompetitive and screwing over the American people. Did you notice that your party ID is at historically low levels? Did you notice that your unfavorables are skyhigh? Maybe you should start getting those facts, and think about what they mean.

Paul in Athens (Replying to: kadzimiel)

Please spell out the level of coverage you expect from a public/government insurance program, and spell out what you anticipate the premiums to be.

kadzimiel (Replying to: kadzimiel)

Paul, since you are asking a generic question, here's a generic answer: improved coverage and lower premiums. I don't expect instant perfection, and I assume there will be kinks to work out over time. A question for you: do you approve of the current healthcare situation in the US, under which 44,000 people die for lack of coverage every year? If not, what do you propose should be done about it?

TycheSD

Too bad the health care reform being formulated by the Dems doesn't resemble the plan that Members of Congress have. Only a small portion of Americans is going to have the option of choosing the "public option" currently under discussion.

The Dem bills are so lame it's pathetic. Douglas Holtz-Eakin is right. The Dems need to reboot! I don't blame Snowe for not wanting to be associated with this mess!

kadzimiel (Replying to: TycheSD)

That's some quality incoherence there, Tyche. Why don't you reboot - and fix your logic function while you're at it.

Pineview1997

Thanks, President Snowe!