Saying it’s not logical to complain that the government ‘can’t run anything’ but will put them out of business, he also leaves room for compromise on a public plan as Congress tackles the issue.
By Noam N. Levey and Peter Nicholas
Reporting from Washington — In an effort to maintain control of the healthcare debate, President Obama on Tuesday ridiculed critics of his government-run insurance proposal, saying private insurers have nothing to fear if they are efficient and consumer-friendly.
“If private insurers say that the marketplace provides the best-quality healthcare — if they tell us that they’re offering a good deal — then why is it that the government, which they say can’t run anything, suddenly is going to drive them out of business?” Obama asked. “That’s not logical.”
t the same time, the president left the door open to compromise with the private insurance industry as Congress begins the process of tackling one of the most complex and politically sensitive issues on the national agenda.
In a news conference Tuesday, Obama framed his proposal as the only way to break the cycle of ever-higher medical costs that has sapped the financial stability of families and the government.
At the same time, however, he refused to rule out the possibility that he might sign a healthcare bill that did not include a public-plan option. More Here
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