Friday, August 14, 2009

Senator Kent Conrad (D-ND) says, "NO" to health care public option (UPDATE)

Well, is anyone surprised here?

Really, he is touting a co-op plan which caters specifically to the insurance companies and don't hold their feet to the fire for consumers. But again, when you take heavy money from the insurance lobbyists, as we saw with Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), we see who really pull the strings around here.

Sen. Kent Conrad, D-N.D. presented his cooperative health care proposal here Thursday and told an audience of 100 that he would not vote for a government-run health care program.

Conrad stopped in Carrington as part of his a statewide tour touting the Senate Finance Committee’s cooperative health care proposal.

The proposal has received bipartisan support for several reasons, he said. The cooperative would offer a non-profit insurance option to compete with private health care. It would not be government run, he said.

Individuals, families and small business owners could stick with their current provider, or they could opt for the cooperative plan.

Health care issues are a concern in the country and North Dakota, Conrad said. A North Dakota family of four currently pays more than $11,000 for health insurance. By 2016, Conrad predicted health insurance costs could almost double to more than $20,000 for a family of four.

“The government itself cannot afford the direction we’re going,” he said.

[UPDATE]

Conrad Backpedals

Source