Republican Leaders Say “No” To Public Option

By Leah Valencia – University of New Mexico/Talk Radio News Service

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) spoke out against a public option Wednesday saying that a government-owned and operated insurance plan would create debt and put private insurers out of business.

“It is not a time for a trillion dollar experiment in government health care, now is a time to buckle down financially and to find common sense reforms in the areas of health care,” McConnell said.

He said that including a public option, or government-run health insurance plan, will make it impossible for private insurers to compete.

“The option [Democrats] are advocating will soon be the only option, the others will simply fade away,” McConnell said. “Private health plans would fade away because a government-run plan would use the deep pockets of the federal government to set artificially low prices.”

Republican opposition to healthcare reform has stiffened since Monday when Senate Majority leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) announced that the Senate health care bill would include a public option with an opt-out provision.

GOP leaders have said they will filibuster the bill, leaving Democrats with the challenge of coming up with 60 votes.