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White House Reassures Allies on Health Plan ‘Public Opiton’
The White House sought Monday to reassure allies that its enthusiasm for a government-sponsored insurance plan remains strong, following an uproar over comments by Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius.
The White House sent an email to members of Congress and other supporters saying that President Barack Obama wants a public insurance option as part of health-care overhaul. Ms. Sebelius seemed to suggest otherwise on Sunday, saying a public option isn’t an “essential element.”
Monday’s message took the form of a Q-and-A. One question said, “It is pretty clear that you are backing away from the public plan. Right?” The answer: “Nothing has changed.” Another asked, “The White House is saying that Secretary Sebelius misspoke. Did she?” The response was, “No. The secretary said what many people in the administration have been saying for months.”
The flap illustrates the difficulty of communicating Mr. Obama’s position on a public option — he believes it is the best way to lower costs and increase coverage, but he is also open to alternatives.
That message is designed to appease two constituencies. Liberal activists say they will oppose any overhaul without a public option, while moderates worry it will pave the way for a government-run health system. The White House is trying to keep both factions at the table.
Some liberals were alarmed by Ms. Sebelius’s comments, and leaders of the Congressional Progressive Caucus and Congressional Black Caucus sent her a letter Monday in protest. “We stand in strong opposition to your statement that the public option is ‘not the essential element’ of comprehensive reform,” it said. “We cannot rely solely on the insurance companies’ good faith efforts to provide for our constituents.”
Other progressives said they were placated by the White House’s message. “I wanted a clarification, and feel confident that that’s what we got,” said Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D., Ill.). “I’m going to take them at their word that the administration still believes that this is the best way.”
Republicans said that even if the public option is dropped, other aspects of the Democrats’ plan — such as the cost, estimated at close to $1 trillion over 10 years — make it unworkable.
“It doesn’t make a difference to us,” said one House Republican leadership aide. “This plan is so bad that changing this one particular provision is not going to fix it.”
The public option has emerged as the most contentious issue in the health-care debate, spurring heated exchanges at town-hall meetings this month. The House and Senate are taking different approaches.
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