Indiana Republican Richard Lugar said Sunday that changing the nation’s health care might have to wait a while.
“What I would suggest is that we hang on now for a period of study so that we find, literally, what the alternatives are,” Lugar told CNN Chief National Correspondent John King Sunday on State of the Union.
Lugar said health care reform might not happen in 2009.
“Not this year, because the president is trying to solve the economic crisis in our country and the world. We already have a $1.8 trillion deficit projected quite apart from all of this,” Lugar said.
“To be candid with you,” California Democrat Dianne Feinstein told King, “I don’t know that [Obama] has the votes right now. I think there’s a lot of concern in the Democratic caucus.”
Last week on State of the Union, a bipartisan group of moderate senators also expressed reservations about the health care reform proposals favored by the White House and more liberal Democrats on Capitol Hill.
Updated: 3:13 p.m.
From CNN Politics
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Yes, it will!
Only, if we Americans stand up for ourselves, will healthcare reform happen. Other wise, the big healthcare involved compainies, will continue their huge profit centers and escalation of costs. If, Americans allow themselves to be frightened of change, like the current power structure in the healthcare system hope; and the neo cons and conservatives who only care about their own power and polical party, are hoping, healthcare reform will not happen. Take a look at the people of Iran, how they are standing up for their rights, I am in awe of their courage and determination. Americans need to stand up for their rights, to having a healthcare system devoted to providing good healthcare for all; and not to have the goal of America's healthcare system continue be profit for the big companies, their stockholders, and the wealthy owners.
It needs to happen but in a responsible way with a lot of studies and concepts on how; how much and to what extent. It does not need to happen the Obama wants; total gov. controll as he wants everything else and in a hurry without looking at what it cost the country in the long term. I'm in my mid 60's and still working in part due to health costs but I do not want the gov. to tell my what tests; what doctor; what hospital I can use. Wake up people this plan is not what it appears to be because no one what it is since it hasn't been thought out and spelled out.
I believe all members of Congress should seek their own health care insurance from private providers and pay for it out of their own pockets until they pass health care reform.
It won't be perfect, but it will help many of the marginalized citizens, probably those who need it most, significantly changing their quality of life...
And YES, I expect that it will be paid for, in large part by people who have the means to pay without significantly changing their quality of life.
Will REAL healthcare reform happen....it better! I for one would love to have the same health insurance plan available to me that congress has. After all I have been paying taxes for over 30 years, I deserve it just as much as they do.
Of course not. There is no time to work on US problems.
All their time is spent on foreign resolutions. And partisan bickering in front of TV cameras.
Before you worry about the $1 trillion plan that's spread out over 10 years, consider that the private health care industry is already taxing us for $2 trillion PER YEAR. We NEED a lower cost alternative. $2 trillion is immensely damaging to our economy, family finances, or business growth and the job market! We need reform now!
Dear President Obama please dont give up on healthcare reform i have health insurance but i think about the ones in my family and others that dont. I know that its hard to get done and some are giving you a hard time trying to oppose this but this is so much needed now. Some are complaining about government run healthcare but the truth be told healthcare is healthcare and some one have to pay for it. some say people need to go to work and get their own but jobs is hard to find as you know and sometimes even if you have one there is no guarantee that your job will even have it. So please just dont give up ands thanks for making this part of your agenda, for thinking about someone other than you and you family.
Private health insurance bureaucrats are already meddling in my health and deny me health care to make a profit! I'm not afraid of government bureaucrats. At least I can vote them out of power, and at least they aren't motivated by the profits that come from denying me health care! We need change! The privatized health care industry has clearly failed, and is far too expensive! It's ruining families and small businesses already!
Not as long as you have as many Republicans in the senate and house along with some turn-coat Democrats it's dead in the water.
John King is biased. He and the 'magic wall' have not credibility.
Yes it will. The country can not afford failure. Interestingly our elected DC offical have the best at a low cost to them.
Yes it will. The country can not afford failure. Interestingly our elected DC offical have the best at a low cost to them.Why not for all Americans?
Not if the republicans can stop it .
Not if the republicans can stop and they will use all available resources to do just that.
The American Public is fired up on this issue, and once the media starts really focusing on their stories it will become clear that substantive reform is needed, not more tinkering.
No. It taxes the working class to pay for the lazy class the media loves to prop up.
Oh for god's sake Democrats. Your chance is NOW. Not 2 years from now, not 8 months from now – N O W. Don't implode on yourselves like you did under Clinton. We HAVE to get this pushed through and the public WANTS a public healthcare option. Obama needs to get on TV do a Q&A and start taking polls which will show that a one option we want is public. When the Repugs continue their barking about gov't run healthcare, all the dems need to do is say right now we have Insurance-run healthcare. Insurance run healthcare is FOR PROFIT. Gov't run in not for profit. So who do YOU trust with your life? And for those 50 million (and climbing) without healthcare – at this point they'd probably take ANYTHING.
the problem with this policy objective is that it is heavy on overall goals, but lacking in details. you don't have to be a republican to be a little wary of this issue, in its current form, b/c there seems to be no real plan as to how to actually implement it or pay for it. i work in healthcare and i agree, there really must be some changes made. still, as large as this problem is, and with all the interlocking parts involved, this cannot be rushed and all the complications must be worked out before any step is taken. a half baked plan will result in more problems down the road. the president should resist the pressure of the special interst groups and actually work towards real healthcare reform.
the senators who raise doubts need to be removed from their government covering health benefits, so these crooks do know better what lack of health insurance means and what health care is....idiots...
So America can no longer call it such a "great" democracy when it can't afford to provide basic health care for its citizens.
Congress should immediately repeal every single member and former members' "socialized" health care and purchase their health care through the private system. Only in aristocracies do citizens allow a select group lavish benefits.
America no longer can afford the lavish health care these parasites feel they are entitled to. ....and good luck with the preexisting diseases all the 20 year plus members to this exclusive club will have..
Looks like Obama is in for a reality check. Just can't click his heels 3 times and make a wish.
it is the older Senators both the Repubicans and Democratic that is fighting change. It is time to voted the older Repubicans and Democratic out of Washinton if we won't change becasue these old fools are never going to change in come into the 21 centry.
TIME FOR TERM LIMITED IN ODER TO CHANGE WASHINGTON.
Why are they having doubts because it is for the People and not big business? We have a $1.8 Trillion (tax payers $) because of greed, 2 wars, eight years of spend,spend, still no HEALTHCARE, we want a healthcare package NOW, not later.
What will Mr. McCain say about Obama 7 months from now, then 7 months after that, and so on …? What will GOP presidential candidate, whoever they may be, say about Obama in 2012? I think they should wait until November 2012.
There is not a US senator or congress person that could not afford to pay for a private health care plan of their own. Any lawmaker that is against health care reform should be willing to give up what they get from the govt. and find their own coverage.
Sure – let's wait another 8 years. Is that all the Republicans have to say? Democratic senators should get a spine instead of playing politics and support President Obama – otherwise we will never get adequate health care. Why don't we just wait until America is seen as a third country regarding health care? It won't take long anyway, in parts of the world it is already seen that way.
Every US American, rich or poor, should have mandatory health insurance. There will be abusers who rather buy an electronic gadget instead of health insurance, this mentality costs the taxpayer and the health system too much. The US is too sophisticated to be living in the Middle Ages. Reform has to start now, with improvements along the way.
If they can't make headway on this issue they all need to go home. Term limits for both sides.
Health care should be a right, not a privilege. We've been studying the alternatives for years- the last thing we need to do is put off the decision any longer! As every other industrialized country knows, health care is not a commodity that can function in a free market. We need a public health care plan and we need it NOW!! Congress needs to acknowledge that this is what the people want, and work for them instead of the pharmaceutical and insurance companies for a change!
There is not much to comment.
US is behind all industrialised nation in health care and big bussiness tries to keep it this way.Without one payer health insurer this nation will become third grade nation with people paying the most and getting the least.
Health care as it stands will bankrupt this nation. We can't afford to wait. And, yes, government SHOULD be spending money in an economic downturn. They're the only ones who can! Throttle back and you deepen the recession and lengthen the time we'll spend there.
What don't these senatorial geniuses get about that?
Oh, I guess it doesn't matter when you have the (free, no less) primo Cadillac of health plans and Big Pharma and the insurance companies lining up to slip you a few hundred thou to kill single payer as an option.
Once again, money talks and the people get the shaft.
I know what would hurry the senators and the representatives on on this health care issue. Do away with health care, paid for by taxpayers for them, until they give all Americans the type of health insurance they have.
That would be very simple wouldn't it.....if the citizens of America don't get health insurance THEN THEY DON'T. And they make enough money to pay for it themselves. But see how hard it would be for them to get it.
FREE Healthcare for illegals but Americans don't get free health care. Thanks Congress for selling our futures away to get votes. Vote out all current Congress members in 2010 and 2012.
How Republican! When asked about health care refore, Indiana Republican Richard Lugar said Sunday , "No."
The senators need to listen to the people they represent and not just the well off ones! CNN you need to do a census on how many have lost their insurance recently. I think you will find more and more uninsured even though states are working like crazy to try and cover the newly unemployed. The states are going broke doing it! I know I have one daughter and one step-daughter who have lost coverage. One just had a child so she is covered but not the other one. She is on her own and we pray she does not get sick. These are working daughters also!!! Not the way the Republicans say these are not lazy people they are hard working but cannot afford insurance with cut hours and no raises.
Feinstein et al need to be voted out of office. How long will Americans be complacent and idle while our representatives serve only their corporate masters. They are there to srve us. Remember!!!!
Its time to get off out behinds and call for a national march on Washington for public health care plan.