CNN

Thanks to the republicans for looking out for the 'little guys' like the health insurance industry to ensure they will continue to make huge profits at the expense of the American people.

She is out of touch. She sounds like she is falling in line with the GOP. She should remember what state that she is from.

It seems we also need to make public what every American has for a retirement plan. I may what the same even know that I did not work for it. This is what I am reading anyhow. If you have worked somewhere for 30 or 40 years, and have great benefits, I deserve them too, I want the same. I want to sit on my A$$ and do nothing, and collect the same benefits as the people who join the Military and Put their lives on the line for this country, and not do a darn thing for it. In fact, I want the same as the ones that end up disabled fighting for our country. And again, I don’t what to do a darn thing. I want union benefits, but I refuse to be in a union. You pay the dues and I will just reap the benefits. Sound familiar?
Exactly what country do you want to live. I prefer to live where my choices in life can drive what I have and don’t have. Do some of you realize who you are calling free loaders, and who you are talking about when you say take away services that some people have earned? Some of you really are sick people.

considering that Susan Collins has collected $392,169 in political contrubutions from healthcare lobbyists (opensecrets.org), I would not be surprised at her position.

We all know that the "public option" will end up being better than what private health insurance offer since over 95% of what is taken in as premiums will be paid on claims as opposed to 55% – 85% currently from private companies.

The compromise I would accept would be a "non-profit co-op" which will accomplish the same thing of spending over 95% of premiums on claims. The private companies know that they have to adjust their "marginal loss ratio" if there is a major non-profit and they will do anything to kill that idea.

Without the Public Option, there will be little competition and there will be no cost reduction for health care. Can you afford it?

The tea partiers are crying out loud about spending and more spending. Would you rather give your hard earned money to private corporations or to pay for a self-sustaining Public Plan?

If the Middle Class wants to have the least expensive Public Plan for their health care coverage, why do you want to take it away for special interests? What do you gain from it?

The Public Plan is not for the rich nor the poor. They are already covered. The Public Plan is for the Middle Class, who earns an income more than the qualifying income for Medicaid.

The Public Plan can reduce the number of beneficiaries of Medicaid as the poor people no longer fear losing their coverage when they get a better paid job. The Poor are not stupid. We are stupid enough to assume so and encourage them to stay in Medicaid. We need the Public Plan to size up the disappearing Middle Class for a healthier democracy.

Unless they can come up with something else to lower insurance premiums, the public option is essential. I personally prefer single payer, but that's already off the table, looks like. I agree with Senator Collins. And I'd like to add the trigger has already been squeezed. When 60% of the bankrupticies are the result of medical costs, we need to change the system. When top insurance execs are making an average of $11M a year, with tens of millions in golden parachutes, where's the justification? They're killing people, and they know it.

Why not put it to a public referudum....let the voters decide what they really want in the privacy of a voter booth.

Personally, the only way to lower cost, get efficency in the medical field, and accomadate the masses is through co ops.

Good luck Collins, your support of the "Porkulus" bill will haunt you in your next election bid. Here is a prediction, the bulk of stimulus funds will not be released until slightly before election time. This will be done in a manner to support the Democratic campaign machine with claims from Smokin' Joe Biden of how much this money has saved our economy from an economic crisis of biblical proportion. Only the all knowing, all masterful manipulators of our Constitution could have ever prevented this disaster, praise Salinsky and his elitist followers!

The only thing that will get the attention of the Corporate Gangsters is the Public Option, and will offer a – real option- to corporate health care monopolies!

I am a lower level, middle class single mom. I do NOT mind one bit contributing $25 a year more in taxes to help my fellow Americans (I am my brothers and sisters–no matter the skin color–keeper). I also perfer a $25 per year increase in taxes than giving more money to greedy people who are already filthy rich and only want more (insurance CEOs).

Great idea, from reading this post, and other stories, why not just let the Democrats and President Obama, design a panel that will decide; what is a fair wage for every occupation in the United States. Let the people who you accuse of being a fraud on one day and a hero on the next, depending on the entitlement that is, decide how much a person can make in this country. After all, what is good for one is good for all correct? Sounds fair to me, after all, maybe I think that some of you are being paid too much to do the work you do, it does not have to be a couple million to be too much. We could save so much money that way. And all of the tax dollars that those people pay with those huge salaries, well we can just add that to everyone else, and spread the burden as well as the wealth.

TO Bj ....... post office , medicare , medicade , soc sec , fannie , freddie, DOT , pic any gov run ORG and show me the cost effective well run stats.? you are right . This is not about doing something for us , it's about doing something TO US.

There are a number of Steves here with which I do not want to associate. I am in favor of universal health care, but am against everything in the current proposals. I am against the public option because it is keyed to MediCare. The literature almost universally shows that MediCare uses its monopolistic power to reimburse medical providers at less that their cost. It thereby forces everyone else to make up the difference. driving up the cost of private health insurance. By antitrust theory, the public option will be anti-competitive. Also, while I understand the frustration with dealing with private insurers, you at least have leverage there. Not only are you paying premiums, you can sue. What leverage do you have against government? None. The idea that private insurance is denying claims all over the place is not logical. A reason that private insurance premiums continue to rise is that basically, they approve anything. The "pay for anything" is also a fact of Medicare. Therefore, on an economic basis, doctors are encouraged to order anything, driving up the cost of health care even more. The limitation on copays and deductibles encourages this bad conduct. So too do the employer mandates. The pending bills are also not paid for. All of you out there who are in favor of universal health care, are you willing to contribute your fair tax share on a progressive basis. If not, you are a total something for nothng freeloader and have no ethical right to speak in favor of universal health care. The pending health care bills are the worse thing I can imagine; They do everything wrong.

These companies are like tapeworms sucking the life blood out all Americans.

Health insurance and heath care are NOT one in the same. Health care comes from doctors, nurses, clinics, and hospitals. Insurance is a middle man industry that pools assets and risks. Health care providers pay huge insurance premiums. Eliminate that cost. Lawyers collect huge huge huge fees, let's eliminate that expense. Let's force the competition by making all insurance companies operate from a unified pool of their enrollments and prohibit them from denying coverage to anyone. If one company gets too expensive, people will change carriers and be allowed to do so without any restrictions. Eventually the cost pools will be equal. But no forced enrollment. That's a communist concept.

I must really be stupid as I clearly do not understand the many comments on this subject as just saying everyone should just get a job and pay for there on health insurance – Let me see here – just get a job – what about the 9.7% unemployed? what about the minumum wage earners who clearly could not afford to pay? what about those who are em plyed whoes employers who do not offer? these are just a few questions that I need answer by those who think that it so simple to just get a "JOB" Finally, what about those who cannot buy the insurance because the insurance will not sell to them? This was the case with my mother – for all of life she could not get health insurance at any price – when she past away it cost the taxpayers over 150,000 in the final month of her life – what about this? If only it were so simple to just get a "JOB".

Collins has seen the light,Now to convince Snowe,That if Pelosi is for it it is not a good idea.

These healthcare have a monopoly going and set prices.There is no free enterprize,its all smoke and mirrors.Lets bring them down to size.

The real question that people should be asking is not whether this will add to the deficit, but how much are the policies going to cost under a public option, and how much are the democrats going to raise taxes on the middle class, because this plan can't happen without a substantial tax increase, and it won't be just on people making over 250,000 a year. Everyone is going to pay more for premiums, and higher taxes.

1. The name-calling from extreme right and left is becoming very tiresome. If you cannot think of anything to say without getting personal and calling people names, you are admitting you have lost the argument.

2. Several people on various sites say things like "old racist white people." While I tend to believe that if President Obama were not bi-racial and brown-skinned, the invective against him would drop by at least half, I just want to point out that a great many "old" people like me - 66, white, and on Medicare - are not ill-informed and blindly reaching for our tea-bags. A great many of us understand very well how important health care reform is for everyone. I am indeed very sorry to see so many middle-aged and older people shouting down their representatives so that no one else can get a word in, but please do not let reform opponents succeed at more divide-and-conquer tactics by driving a wedgle between older and younger populations. I believe that is part of the plan to bring down President Obama at all costs.

Looks like Susan hit the big time.She waited to see who could fill her bag with the most money, for her vote.Money sure can buy anything cant it?

Roger- I have said the exact same thing regarding my own health care. I honestly don't see how public health insurance could be any scarier than the private insurance bozos I've had to deal with- and I'm only 22 years old!

The republicans want to drop gov restrictions for insurance between states, That in itself would "lower costs and increase competition " ( you know ... what obama says ) and they could do it with out gov take over . But after all ... it is about take over , isn't it ?

The uninformed continue to rant about the obscene profits made by the health care industry, yet the fact is the major Health insurance companies in this country make on average 3% profit. How is this in any way "huge".

Lydia September 13th, 2009 11:21 am ET

What's wrong with a public option??? I want a public option. Why does that make me a horrible hater of my country?

March and picnic for a public option today in NYC.
-------------------------–
If you had read it, you would know what is wrong with it. You sheeple need to learn to read and think rather than just follow along like lemmings.

Its CLEAR Republicans DO NOT WANT TO BE BI-PARTISAN They do not want to work with the President they have one goal only TO DESTROY PRESIDENT OBAMA AND THE DEMOCRATS They dont care if your denied coverage they dont care if you cant get Health Insurance they are only caring about their party right now and regaining power PARTY BEFORE COUNTRY !!!!

Ignorance of how markets work in a capitalist country is an indictment against our public education system. They are teaching our kids to be socialist and anti-capitalist. I am appalled that the simplest facts about economics go so misunderstood by so many. Ignorance is not bliss. The liberals are so against monopoly yet they would allow the government exactly that in the "public option".

The only governance to control the federal government is the people. If we want societal warfare and chaos, let BO have his way. That's his goal. All the while the sheep are led to slaughter. His tactics are so sneaky. He pits us against each other with these radical proposals that the left buys sight unseen and the conservatives abhor. While he sits back and watches the chaos develop. When we have chewed each other up he'll declare an emergency and then look out.

Government is held accountable to the public every two years by an election. Insurance companies are accountable only to the share holders, who care most about their dividends. I hope the public option is passed.

The people at the rallies were paid company shills,they are worse than the overpaid union workers,making blood money from average Americans.

Pres. Obama has bent over backwards (and the some!) to get Republicans involved in this health care process, but in the end he'll only receive accusations that he "wouldn't work with them." I doubt that he'll get a single vote from any of them when it comes down to it. Bill Clinton didn't get a since Republican vote for his tax plan in the early 1990's – it barely passed and was considered to be critical to the economic boom of that decade. Later, Republicans would try and claim credit for it anyway.

Most intelligent folks know the ulterior motive of the Democratic Party and their desire to gain control of Healthcare. 20 percent of the economy, higher taxes,more Americans dependant on the Federal Government to ensure votes and everlastic power, support of socialistic ideology etc.

I understand why those unwilling to work or wanting handouts support more government entitlements but why in the World would ANY self-responsible American support this Agenda?

And if you watched the show as I did - you also saw her position was dismantled factually and piece by piece by the other guests becuase the only reason she gives is her constituents are opposed. well, that may be true but that's because they don't understand that without the provision of a public plan to introduce competition into monopolized markets, you would push more people into paying monopoly rates rather than pushing more people into a system that pushes costs of premiums down. the point was also made that individuals and small businesses can get pooled to increase leverage with the public option. if they're going to a large monopoly insurer with 15 employees, what rate do you think they're going to pay? we need to do what works here and the public option will work to create competition where large insurers have swallowed the smaller ones whole.

AMERICANS want the public option,.. the insurance companies and their paid political servants do not. Enough said.

I just don't understand the BIG rush to get something through. No matter what passes they all have it so it doesn't take affect till 2013, after the next presidential election. If the plans are so good and Obama wants them, enact them immediately and lets see how they succeed or fail. It is purposely after the election so it has no affect on the election other than " I passed health care reform.

roflmao

-"New Hampshire Democrat Sen. Jeanne Shaheen,
“I think we’re going to have a bill that has significant bipartisan input regardless of how the votes come out,” Shaheen told King."

And what the heck does THAT mean? Now every Democrat, like Obaa, talking out of both sides of their mouth.

....regardless that the vote will be party lines, it will have both parties support?

Once again the REPUBLICANS show that they are not able to face sthe facts that reform must happen now. Shame on those that would seek to prevent the average Amreican health care just to score points against Obama.

Health Care is more importnt than political posturing.

It should be clear to anyone paying attention that the republicans have *no intention* of accepting a compromise. The only goal of their party, now, is pure obstruction.

Just last night I say four different advertisements from separate law firms soliciting clients to sue the pharmaceutical companies of side effects of their drugs. Now I know these firms are after millions in fees for themselves at the expense of the drug companies, which will no doubt increase costs for all of us. We need to put an end to the endless lawsuits over drugs and instead sue the FDA for not doing their job of properly testing and reviewing drugs before they are allowed on the market. But more importantly we need to eliminate the incentive for lawyers to sue so frequently and cap their fees at $500,000 per case or per class action. Defense expenses need to be limited to $500,000 per case or per class action as well. Level the playing field and CAP THE COSTS.

Before people talk about health care reform why isn't there a national effort to combat type II diabetes, reduce obesity and get people to quit smoking? No matter which political party you side with, we all would benefit from the savings associated with preventing these types of conditions. Perhaps, our president could stand up in front of the nation and promise to quit smoking and lead by example

So Senator Collins, exactly how will you make health insurance "affordable" for those who can "afford" it?

People like me are not asking for a free ride. I just want to be able to pay the same amount per month that everyone else who works for a large company or the government pays every month. Why is it that you and so many others think that YOU deserve 'affordable" health care, and that others who are willing to pay do not? Why can't I keep my insurance that I have had for 10 years and still pay a group rate, even though I was recently "reorganized" out of my job? Why should my estimated costs of our wonderful "private" insurance be 5 times what I have been paying?

Get real, Senator Collins, please. If not, you will just continue to be "part of the problem" and reflect the total selfishness of so many of your GOP colleagues.

The problem here is that health care does not work as a market based commodity. We all saw how deregulation of utilities didn't work in California in 2000, prices went up exponentially and people could not afford to have electricity. With health care people don't have the option of not buying if the price is too high. If they don't buy they die. And the insurance companies are charging too much with too much overhead, CEO's salaries and having to answer to shareholders. It should be regulated like our utilities have always been regulated in order to work. That is why the single payor system run by government in UK and Canada and France work well for the people and that is what we need. Unfortunately the HMO insurance lobbyists have too much control to let go of any of the health care business, they want it all.

A dear Republican friend of mine is now faced with life threatening liver cancer. His private insurance company has denied him access to a new procedure that is showing great promise in treating his type of condition. This has been an eye-opener, to say the least. Sarah Palin's "death panels" are alive and well and walking the halls of the nation's insurance companies.

The Public Option is dead. All of the parasites who are waiting for another government hand out need to go get a job and pay for your own insurance like the vast majority of us do.

I think as well as I can remember to the finishing of the presidents address of congress, there was reports that Mr. Wilson had apologized to the man. This is more than I heard of the president issuing such for a policeman that was called stupidly for doing a job that he was well trained for and doing his job. Sitting down to a beer doesn't spell apology for me. I would like to hear it out of the mouth.

Also if you think Ted Kennedy wanted the social medicine that his state of Mass. has, then why did he go to Duke Medical Center to have his brain surgery? I don't think he liked the idea for him self, may be just for the rest of us peons.

Eddie M, CNN views every senator as a KEY senator. If you haven't noticed, the word "key" is found before "senator" in a headline almost every time on the political ticker. CNN really posts some crappy stories. I've realized CNN always has articles on things that people will maybe think is debatable, but not on things that are important. I think that's why CNN always posts stories about Palin and Cheney......because those are names that people have strong emotions towards one way or another. But none of the articles about those people are actually important. (Such as the win a dinner with Palin article).

If the Republicans believe that thier ideas will reduce cost and want them included int the bill, then they should be 100% behind the trigger. Either costs will come down after taking other measures and we wont need the public option or the insurance companies will not do thier jobs and stop stealing from thier policy holders and cost will come down and we won't need the public option. If thier is no cosequece for failing to lower the cost to consumers they won't do it.

Ins. Co. & CEO With 2008 Total CEO Compensation
Aetna, Ronald A. Williams: $24,300,112
Cigna, H. Edward Hanway: $12,236,740
Coventry, Dale Wolf: $9,047,469
Health Net, Jay Gellert: $4,425,355
Humana, Michael McCallister: $4,764,309
U. Health Group, Stephen J. Hemsley: $3,241,042
Wellpoint, Angela Braly: $9,844,212
What could these people possibly do every day that makes them worth this much money? What value do they add to society that they are rewarded with millions and millions of dollars? Nobody doing any job is worth this much
Thses are the people you opponents to health care reform are defending. These are the people you would pay to makes decision about what gets convered. Do you think they care about providing good affordable health care to those who pay premiums or do you think they are trying to rip you off? No body needs that much money to live on and nobody does a job that is worth that much. They did not earn that money, they stole it.
Can you afford to defend these people? Aren't you just as angry at them as bankers getting large bonuses?
Come on, get real!!!!!

Too many of our friends (becoming more and more less friendly) have enjoyed the targeted benefits of socialist policies and programs for so long, they cannot conceive or will not apply the common sense logic which leads to an irrefutable conclusion that unlimited socialism will not be forever possible. Resources are not infinite. Desires for health care services are unlimited. Some wish to equate "desire" for economic "demand", but that is a profound error. Economic "demand" is necessarily funded with resources. Desire, on the other hand, needs nothing more than the wish – or even in many opinions a "need". Even needs cannot be met without resources. Unlimited health care not be made possible for everyone. No more so than unlimited food, housing, education, etc. etc. Unlimited health care is not sustainable, with our without the masquerade of insurance.

Why all the secrecy?My neighbors both work for a large Insurance Company and went to Washington to march on the White House.They were told not to use the Companies name or logo,or tell others who they were.They both make huge six figure salaries as middle managers and make death panel decisions.

A person would have to be a fool to think the insurance industry would voluntarily cut their profits. Let's face it. Insurance companies could have solved this problem ages ago if they really wanted too. It's so sad that people still want to give them all the control and actually think by competiting in all states would solve the problem. I just don't buy that myself. I'm for the Public Option, because it seems the only serious way to actually reduce costs. The Public option will be the only thing that will force insurance companies to cut their costs and reduce their profits.

wake up congress....the american public does not and i repeat does not want a public option. those who vote for one will be replaced in their next election.

To hell with the republicans. Pass the public option under reconcilliation. They will scream and cry and stomp their feet, no matter what the democrats do. The republicans are lying and many fools have fallen for it. The republicans don't care about Americans. They would rather kill ant democratic propsal then let the democrats have a win on anything. They would rather more Americans die from lack of insurance, than get anything passed. This proves republicans are anti-American and unpatriotic.

The wishy washy Collins is just expressing the majority's views. It was generally agreed on This Week that there are 15 Democrat Senators opposed to the public option. i hope they're right. I have no interest in a plan like the public option that is designed to drive up health insurance costs considerably and having the government make our health care decisions for us. RIP, public option! Worst idea ever.

It is always interesting to see those who have forever health care at reasonable prices make decisions for most of the rest of us that do not have that luxury. Also it is interesting to listen to those that are against any change ignore or are ignorant of the fact that if they lose their job they lose their health insurance and under existing conditions would probably not be able to get insurance again. They also have not noticed that every year their health insurance payments go up astronomically or their options go down. If their company changes insurance companies their choice of doctors change too – so that the statement if you like your doctor you can keep your doctor has an IFFFY meaning. HMOs INSURANCE companies are not interested in your health, they are only interested in their profits. We are the only country that has FOR PROFIT HEALTH INSURANCE so that makes the word HEALTH an oxymoron in describing the insurance that is offered in our country. SHAME SHAME SHAME on those people who are dumb, dumber and dumbest and the corporations who are taking advantage of their ignorance.

It is truly a shame that the democrats have to pick up a republican senator to pass what is so desperately needed in order to get to 60 votes.

Is there anything that will satisfy these Republicans? They have shown no willingness to compromise on just about everything and only confirm the shameful dishonor of the Party of No.

The Democrats continue to make concessions in respectful efforts to build consensus–from single payer to public option to including Republican amendments to malpractice considerations to the trigger, etc. What are these Republicans willing to compromise?? Nothing!

I cannot believe I was a lifelong Republican at one time with this deplorable nonsense. It certainly does not make me ever want to return. Forget them...

Here's an idea. Let the trigger go the other way. Institute the Public Option immediately. When the for-profit insurance company brings its premiums and practices into compliance, then end the public option.

To Steve in Kentucky,
Use the racism claim all you want. The country is starting to realize that the word is used by liberals to oppress conservatives.
Here is a clue for you. White people are no longer afraid to be called racists. And, no offense intended, we are not afraid of African Americans/Blacks/ other minorities or gays.
We simply do not want socialism under any circumstances. You and I will be less free if socialized medicine is allowed to be realized. Why don't you attack the Democrats for protecting the profit loving lawyers who are a part of this mess? Or the union mob bosses that line thier pockets from the hard labor of the blue collar worker?
Al

My only question is why does the administration keep playing with these clowns? The republican party has been completely high-jacked by some weird force. They offer nothing, but attempt to influence everything. Just pass the bill with public option, ...get it done!

If a public option as a plan choice alternative is so bad then why not just do away with Medicare and all the other government socialistic programs that so many people have and seem to like just fine?? Equal protection under the law means that these options must be available to all or to none. I don't think that would fly to well with some people. The attitude is "I've got mind, I don't care about anyone else". Truly sad.

Well, Dan of Texas, that's a pretty interesting solution.

Eliminate Medicare and kill off a LOT of elderly and disabled people.

For anyone who can't afford to buy insurance, refuse to treat them, even for life-threatening illnesses, if they don't have hundreds of thousands of dollars to pay for a procedure and let them die too.

That will pare down the US population to healthy young and middle aged people with plenty of money; everyone else dies under your plan, some faster than others.

I have a better solution. Quit dithering and put together the best bill that will serve the largest number of people as affordably as possible, and pass it.

For those who vote against the bill, their constituents will be exempt from having to pay for any of its provisions AND they will *not* be allowed to benefit from ANY provision of the plan.

So if your Senator and Representative vote against the bill, you won't have to pay for it. But you, your family and your neighbors will also NOT be able to participate. That's probably fine with you as long as your money holds out and you have a job with an employer who provides good insurance coverage. But if the day comes when you lose your job and your insurance, you'll be up the creek without a paddle, so to speak.

A perfect example of Democratic political double talk from Ms Shaheen; "we’re going to have a bill that has significant bipartisan input regardless of how the votes come out."

I fail to understand how something can be bipartisan if only one side votes for it. If that kind of thinking had been applied to women's suffrage, they still won't have a vote because their input at home to their husband over the kitchen table would have been considered sufficient regardless of whether he listened or not.

One of you pro-public plan liberals please address this: The premise of the Public Plan is to force the for profit insurance companies to keep their prices low.

In California the two largest health care insurance companies are Kaiser and Blue Cross/Blue Schield. Both are non-profit. No nasty profits.. not dividends paid to their greedy shareholders (many of those greedy shareholders on wall street include CALPERS).

The reason the Public Plan can and will put these two insurance companies out of business is as follows:
1. The public plan will use the power of govenment to dictate provider payments equal to medicare or medicare +5%.
2. It is generally accepted that this payment schedule is minimum 20% below cost.
3. If I can set the price I pay my vendors, and set the rules you have to play by, including accepting pre-existing conditions, pay restrictions, etc. without any increase in rates.. I will put you out of business quickly.

Two additional but salient points..
1. Does anyone out there think that a SEIU staffed beaurcracy that administers a health care plan is more efficient or less costly than a staff operating within Kaiser or Blue Cross? Who, do you think, will have a better benefit package or higher salaries or security of employment?
2. Let us assume, since there is a Democratic Majority and all this that we talk about will be ignored, that the Public Plan and HR 3200 passes as it is. How exactly will this stop Medicare from going broke in 2017?

Please try to answer with some specificity, not just sling invectives such as More from the Party of NO etc.

I am going to be on medicare soon, so much of what is happening won't affect me. You young folks are the ones who will be shouldering the billfor all of this.

It is amazing to see the fools who continue to vote against there best interest. The ignorant masses are easily manipulated by Corporate America and then they complain that they can't get ahead. People get what they deserve.

Di: You're right. Seatbelts are a crime against the American people! An absolute hoax! Ask any police officer! And of course, how could we attend public rallies naked, without our guns?!

To say nothing at all about GAY MARRIAGE!! Obviously it's Government's objective to stop reproduction. Hey, wait a minute. Why would they stop the births of new taxpayers??

So what she is saying is that the insurance industry is incapable of operating in a fee market competative environment.

What's wrong with a public option??? I want a public option. Why does that make me a horrible hater of my country?

March and picnic for a public option today in NYC.

The opponents of real health care reform are a pack of immoral cretins. This must happen.

The glibness of even Sen. Collins' assumptions that a "trigger" would be inevitably "pulled" by the bureaucrats in charge is typical GOP nonsense: Obviously, the "trigger" will require evaluation of hard data of insurance costs, etc. It would be pretty hard for some "wolf in sheep's clothing" bureaucrat to look at data showing real cost reductions and call it grounds for "pulling" the "trigger" for a public option.

But I have to say, why does anyone, other than the officers and shareholders of the private insurance companies, CARE about the fate of private insurance? "Rationing?" Really? There isn't rationing NOW???????!??! And if I had to make a choice between a government bureaucrat and an insurance company operative deciding whether my daughter gets necessary care for her cancer (not a hypothetical) I would MUCH rather have the government bureaucrat make that determination: I don't want to leave that decision to someone who gets a bonus based on how many procedures he/she rejects.

If this is a "moderate Republican" we just ought to forget about any of them. Move on and plow the party of racist old white people into the ground!

If anything is actually passed it will be something that will have both sides crowing, "Victory!" They'll be happy and we'll still be screwed. Little to nothing will change except, perhaps, the insurance industry will be better protected from the people.

The problem with trigger is it just delays the government takeover. This is how the government operates. They take or allow a little at a time. This way no one will notice their objective. With seatbelts, gun control and gay marriage each state have passed laws, soon all states will have the same laws. In the end the government has their agenda passed. Wake up America!

Republicans just want to keep their lobbyist insurance companies making huge profits and giving them $.

Republicans are going to reject everything except letting Insurance companies continue to rob the American people.

Brava, Senator Collins!
The trigger is NOT a compromise, as another comment asserted: the trigger is a trick to sneak the public option in at a later date.

Public Option is the only plan that will make the insurance companies competitive and perhaps, bring back some integrity and honor.
Trigger gives the insurance companies four or five years to get their act together. They do not need another day to do so. The medical related institutions have raped the American people long enough.
It has to stop.. Health Care Reform has to be put in motion
now. Regardless of what merits any plan has the republicans will
vote against it. We need to show the party of No that their lack
of concern for us and our country is unacceptable.
We need to say NO to the party of NO.

Senator Snow was the one who first put up the idea of a public option trigger, not Senator Collins. It's sad CNN is misleading the public like that, they should know better.

John Smith ... you are 100% right. The insurance companies will never cut their profits unless they have REAL competition, not the collusion they have now!!!

Why can't these politicians come out of the closet and take a stand in favor of the public option? We just keep getting these toothless mumbles about the "big picture." Congress and the president are both out of touch with what the public wants. We want a public option because we don't trust the insurance companies to be there for us when we need them. Despite how much we pay in premiums. Big surprise! Why would we feel that way? I hope the Democrats in Congress insisting on the public option stick to their guns. Why should we be forced to pay money to the industry that brought us to this crisis? It's immoral. I want to band with other Americans in a public system for the public good. Let's not have so much damn focus on profit in a system that should promote health for its own sake, not investment.

Come on, when will the rest of us, the 70 percent, the sentient majority, the non-Whacko wings of the Republicans and Democrats, be listened to??!

The Dems will have to forget trying to compromise with the Cons...its like trying to argue a labor contract with a large corporation, you can argue for years, but they want it all their way. This is headed for 'reconciliation'!

Death panel the Cons!!!

This is going to turn out just like the Medicare Drug benefit.

The Democrats and Republicans will make a big show of posturing and bickering but, in the end, Wall Street will get everything it wants.

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“The problem with trigger is it just delays the public option".

In other words, Sen Collins admits that the for-profit insurers are never going to lower costs and become affordable and accessible to all Americans. And that's exactly why Americans need the choice of a public plan.

Of course she does. The Repulicans want nothing more than a couple of band-aid fixes that will improve the bottom lines of health insurance companies, investors and perhaps some cardiologists.

They simply do not want to introduce change on the scale that is needed to bring true health care reform to a chronically ill system.

For this reason, they did not win the presidency, the house or the senate. Those who did win, ran on change – real, meaningful change. That's what the people want. Not 100% obviously, but a strong enough majority to have elected officials who wanted to do that.

So, let's get to the change part now.

Let's get this cleared up NOW! There is no other way to keep the health insurance companies from gauging people and earning huge profits than with a public option. Just like Wall Street, health insurance companies have proven they cannot regulate themselves. The GOP is bought and paid for by these companies. A "trigger" is a good compromise because it gives these companies time to clean up their act or take the consequences. Susan Collins has become a total disappointment. The Dems need to move on and get it done!

Eliminate Medicare.

Make it Illegal to a charge different price for the same plan regardless of age/health.

Make it a requirement that people can retain their insurance plan after they leave their employer.

Make everyone buy insurance or if they refuse make them sign a waiver allowing the hospitals and Doctors to deny treatment – even life-saving treatment – if they don't have the money to pay for the procedures. No proof of payment – no treatment.

Confusing little blurb. So she is in favor of a public option? She says the public wants the public option.

Republicans prove every day they have no intention of bipartisanship.

Democrats should just pass a strong bill without the GOP.

A Public Option will save the most money, and isn't that the goal anyway?

Republicans claim they care about taxpayers, but their actions here are more about supporting the insurance industry.

Right now the only people who care about the public option are those who do not have health insurance. The major resistance from seniors ironically stems from the fact that they have Medicare (a public option). Just try to get rid of Medicare and see how quickly they will support that public health insurance option. The government will only "take over health care" if the private insurance companies refuse to operate at reduced profits. So the question is, are we willing to let the costs of health insurance and medications continue to rise at your expense? Does ANYONE out there really believe that they will voluntarily cut their profits? If so, why are they fighting the reform effort? Come on folks!

Good for Sen Collins. She finally saw the trigger as nothing more than a political trick.

How is a moderate Republican a "key senator" when the Dems hold a 60 seat majority? Just sayin.

Senator Collins is absolutely correct. The "trigger" thing was always intended to be a back-door way of tricking Americans into a "public option" a majority of us do not want.

If nothing else, it demonstrates how thoroughly contemptuous the far Left is of the intelligence of American citizens. Did they really think no one would notice their intended trickery?