Sen. Susan Collins: "The problem with the trigger is it just delays the public option"

[jefferson_dem]

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/09/13/key-senator-rejects-trigger-for-public-health-insurance-option/

So she concedes that "free market" solutions will be unable to contain costs and expand coverage but that's just fine.

[3waygeek]

1. Delay?

More like prevents -- previous experience strongly suggests that the trigger will never be pulled.

[georgian style]

2. What Collins means is she doesn't want the public option AT ALL

This is the explanation that followed Collins concern for the delay of the PO:

"The problem with the trigger is it just delays the public option," Collins told CNN's "State of the Union," "because the people who are going to be making the determination about whether the market's competitive enough want the public option."

So in essence, Collins is making the typical "the government can do no right" by saying that we can't trust those in charge of determining whether the health industry are keeping costs down or not, because they want a public option.

By that logic we might as well go anarchist then.

[Kahuna]

4. Roiiiight. nt

[georgian style]

5. Sorry. Can't figure out whether you agreeed or disagree with me

Can you please clarify?

[Kahuna]

15. Agree...

:applause:

[high density]

3. I emailed Snowe that question the other day

I asked her how we could possibly just wait for things to get even worse with her "trigger." Haven't heard back yet and I'm a constituent. Collins I see is completely hopeless.

[Maine-ah]

6. meh, don't expect to hear back either.

It's been a month since I sent her a letter, and I've not heard a peep.

[Cha]

7. If olympia doesn't care what her constituents say

how does she keep getting elected?

[eShirl]

9. In my experience, she answers a lot quicker than Collins

IF Collins answers at all.

[robo50]

13. So sad that these Republicans don't know how to be heroines

for the American health care system.

One question:
Is Maine getting any more moderate or liberal like NH is??

[Touchdown]

8. Why do a public option if they don't want anybody to have it?

I say just open up Medicare for everybody and get the insurance companies to repair rail lines instead. They'll still have a job.

[mascarax]

11. It's just lip service..."see? we gave you a public option...we're so wonderful & giving"

I detest them.

(And I agree with you - Medicare for All is and should be the goal.)

[Hepburn]

10. Public Option ... PERIOD.

And do it now ~~ fuck the Pubbies. Their opinions do not count.

JMHO

[McCamy Taylor]

12. Dems are under no obligation to write a health care bill Collins can sign.

Let her vote against it...and answer to the voters of Maine.

The thing about Collins and other New England Republicans, they need to vote for a health care bill more than they need to kill the public option. Sure, the GOP can threaten to shut them out of their own primaries. But in NE, they can run as independents and win. Or they can run as tea baggers and lose.

[BzaDem]

14. No, but they are under a sort of obligation to write a health care bill that Snowe can sign.

The procedural hurdles to reconciliation mean any bill coming out of that process will be far worse than the best bill Snowe will sign on to. We need Snowe to get 60 votes. Luckily, Snowe is open to a trigger (and maybe a trigger with teeth).

Snowe is not going anywhere regardless of how she votes on this. If she goes back to her state and makes arguments against the proposal, she will win re-election easily. After all, if it does not pass, the proposal will be quite unpopular.