Sen. Blanche Lincoln’s (D-AR) position on the public option for health care reform has been “
difficult to pin down.” On July 8, she wrote in an
op-ed that reform options should include “a quality, affordable public plan or nonprofit plan.” But a month later, she
told the Tolbert Report that she “would not support a public government-funded plan,” later walking that back in another interview, saying that she was “open to a public plan as long as it’s competitive.” Now, Lincoln tells the New York Times that she is holding out the option of
voting against health care reform:
Ms. Lincoln, the wife of an obstetrician and the mother of twin 13-year-old boys, might feel the consequences more immediately than her counterparts. Not only is she running in 2010, but she sits on the Finance Committee, which is struggling to draft a health care bill capable of winning bipartisan support.
If that effort fails, Ms. Lincoln may be left to vote on legislation crafted by more liberal committees in the House and Senate. She said she had problems with key components of those bills, but would surely face intense pressure in her party to back them.
Might Ms. Lincoln actually vote no? “I wouldn’t preclude myself from that, no,” she said in an interview, adding, “I know I’ll be held accountable for that vote.”
Guess Sen. Lincoln missed the point of the last election and Obama's campaign promise:
DO YOU HAVE A PLAN TO MAKE HEALTH CARE MORE ACCESSIBLE TO AMERICANS? IF SO, HOW WOULD YOU DO IT?
Every American has the right to affordable, comprehensive and portable health coverage. My plan will ensure that all Americans have health care coverage through their employers, private health plans, the federal government, or the states. My plan builds on and improves our current insurance system, which most Americans continue to rely upon, and creates a new public health plan for those currently without coverage. Under my plan, Americans will be able to choose to maintain their current coverage if they choose to. For those without health insurance I will establish a new public insurance program, and provide subsides to afford care for those who need them. My plan includes a mandate that all children have health care coverage and I will expand eligibility for the Medicaid and SCHIP programs to help ensure we cover all kids. My plan requires all employers to contribute towards health coverage for their employees or towards the cost of the public plan. Under my plan a typical family will save $2,500 each year. We will realize tremendous savings within the health care system from improving efficiency and quality and reducing wasted expenditures system-wide. Specifically, these savings will result from investments in health information technology, improvements in prevention and management of chronic conditions, increased insurance industry competition and reduced industry overhead, the provision of federal reinsurance for catastrophic coverage, and reduced spending on uncompensated care.
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