CA Republicans, Democrats firmly split over public option
| Monday, Oct 26 2009 08:00 AM
Last Updated Monday, Oct 26 2009 08:00 AM
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BY UMAR HUSSAIN AND YESSENIA ALVAREZ
California News Service
Washington - In an ominous sign for congressional leaders trying to fashion a bipartisan compromise, not a single House Republican from California intends to vote for a health care bill that contains a public insurance option.
A survey by the California News Service found that all 19 of the state's Republicans in the House - including Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Bakersfield, - oppose a public option, with most indicating there are no circumstances under which they would vote in favor of a bill that included one.
By contrast, all but two of California's 34 Democratic House members and both U.S. senators unequivocally support a public option, with most indicating there are no circumstances under which they would vote in favor of a bill without it.
Rep. Jim Costa, D-Fresno, is one of only two California congressmen who have not yet taken a public position.
Costa's position will be closely watched as House leaders try to round up the 218 votes needed to pass a public option measure. His support could be critical as Democrats roll out their plan as early as next week.
The survey, which included interviews and a review of speeches and other public statements, provides fresh evidence of the partisan divide that has made consensus on health care seemingly impossible.
"It would be dumb luck if Democrats can fashion a bill that has bipartisan appeal,'' said Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Vista, who noted that neither Congressional Democrats nor the White House have reached out to Republicans for a compromise.
A BIG OBSTACLE
Disagreement over whether to include a public option -- the name given to a proposal to create a government-run insurance plan to compete with private insurers -- has emerged as the single biggest obstacle to advancing a health care bill to the floor for a vote.
Congressional leaders are trying to blend together legislation passed by five separate committees, four of which contain versions of a government-run alternative and one - passed last week by the Senate Finance Committee - which has no public option at all.
Most Democrats argue that providing competition is essential for keeping the insurance industry honest and premiums down. Republicans warn it will drive private insurers out of business and lead to a government-run health system.
"We need to improve health care, but we don't need another Washington "solution" that creates a new trillion dollar spending program paid for by new taxes and cuts in Medicare to replace and control the health care that Americans currently have,'' McCarthy said following President Obama's address on health care to a joint session of Congress last month.
Costa, who represents a district that is more conservative than most of his Democratic colleagues, has yet to declare either his support or opposition to a public option. He says he will not support a plan unless he is convinced it will cut costs and improve health care in rural San Joaquin Valley.
There have been conflicting reports on Costa's stance. The Hill, a Capitol Hill newspaper, reported last month that Costa opposes a public option. Costa told The Californian in August that he prefers incremental health-care reform, not a total overhaul at this point, and he doesn't think a public option would be needed under that approach.
It could be looked at later, he said.
Democracy for America, an advocacy group founded by former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean, reported that Costa supports it.
Costa's office did not directly respond to queries about the public option, and the congressman declined to be interviewed for this story. However aides said health care legislation he supports must address catastrophic care, portability, pre-existing conditions and preventative measures.
STRONG HOUSE SUPPORT
Roughly 7 million Californians lack health insurance, including more than 125,000 in Kern County. More than 60 percent of the county's uninsured are Latinos, according to a study by the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research.
It is not clear how many Californians would be eligible for a government-run insurance plan. The plans under discussion would only be available to those who do not receive insurance from their employer, and would not be available to undocumented immigrants.
If the entire Congress mirrors California's delegation, Democrats will have no difficulty winning passage of a public option measure in the House.
President Obama supports a public option, but has made clear he is open to other ideas that might attract broader support and some Republican votes.
California's partisan divide suggests there is little middle ground. In interviews with House members and their staff, there was no hint of bipartisan discussions or compromise proposals that might lead to a common agreement.
"For all the talk President Obama and congressional Democrats have made about being open to bipartisan ideas, there hasn't been any outreach from the White House or congressional leaders to me about meeting to discuss my proposal or other ideas to create truly bipartisan reform,'' Issa said. "Most Republicans have received the same treatment for the ideas they've put forward.''
The behind-the-scenes negotiations in the House appear to be among liberal and centrist Democrats negotiating how strong a public option they can pass.
"We will have a bill that will go to the floor, and it will have a public option in it,'' House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-San Francisco, told reporters Thursday.
Support is strong even among five of seven California Blue Dogs, a coalition of fiscally conservative Democrats who are regarded as the most likely to break from their party's leadership on the issue. Costa and Rep. Dennis Cardoza of Fresno are the other two Blue Dogs.
TOUGHER IN THE SENATE
In the Senate, Sens. Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein were among 30 Democrats to sign a letter imploring Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-NV, to include a public insurance option in the legislation he brings to the Senate floor.
"The best way to keep costs down for those who have insurance is to have a public option available,'' Boxer said.
However it is not clear that Democrats can muster the 60 votes needed to force a vote on the public option in the Senate.
One scenario that appears increasingly likely is for the House to pass a bill containing a public option and for the Senate to pass one without. The issue would then be resolved by a conference committee consisting of House and Senate members. A unified version would be sent back to each chamber for a vote.
Members of both parties predicted that the other side may buckle when it comes time for a final vote. Some Republicans asserted that Democrats will not jeopardize passage of Obama's top domestic priority if the only choice before them is a measure without a public option. Democrats held out hope that a compromise containing a public option will eventually win some Republican support.
"Politics is an art of compromise," said Rep. Sam Farr, D-Santa Cruz. "They know it's the right thing to do."
The California News Service is a journalism project of the University of California's Washington Center. To contact, please e-mail CNS@ucdc.edu.
