Audio clip
Bob Corker
U.S. Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., said Friday that Democratic President Barack Obama would end up with a longer-lasting health care reform plan if Republicans are given a voice in the legislation.
"The final decision is probably going to be made by the president," Sen. Corker said. "What he's going to have to do is decide, 'Do I want to pass a bipartisan health care bill, or do I want to pass a partisan health care bill?'"
Sen. Corker spoke about health care and other issues to attendees of a Tennessee Press Association breakfast at the Sheraton Read House.
"Things that stand the test of time are done in a centrist way," Tennessee's junior senator said.
In a speech to the American Medical Association on Monday, Mr. Obama indicated that he wants both parties involved in the debate.
"This is a test of whether we, Democrats and Republicans alike, are serious about holding the line on new spending and restoring fiscal discipline," he said.
Sen. Corker said he would like to be able to vote for the health care reform bill that comes before Congress, but he expressed some reservations about the public option -- a government-run health insurance alternative to private insurance -- the president has proposed.
"What I hope we don't do is create a large public plan that basically snuffs out the private sector," he said.
Mr. Obama has argued in favor of the public option as something that will "inject competition into the health care market so that we can force waste out of the system and keep the insurance companies honest."
Sen. Corker said he believes the government's involvement in the health care system should be as "an organizer."
He suggested that Congress limit the tax exemption on health insurance benefits employees get through employers, and then use a voucher for those funds to help uninsured workers pay for health care.
"You create a pooling mechanism," he said.
Mr. Obama has said he is open to making health benefits taxable.
ON OTHER TOPICS
* Sen. Corker said Chrysler's bankruptcy was "100 percent driven by the (Obama) administration." He criticized Chrysler for forcing dealerships to close without taking back inventory and touted his bill that would force them and General Motors to do so.
* He called the way the Senate passed the so-called 'cash for clunkers' bill "one of the most abusive things I've seen." The bill was inserted into the supplemental war spending bill passed Thursday night. Under the bill, the federal government will provide vouchers for people to trade in older cars for newer, more fuel-efficient models.
WHAT'S NEXT
President Obama has said he wants a health care reform bill on his desk by Aug. 7, just before lawmakers go on on a monthlong recess.
If you would like to help pressure Congress to pass single payer health care please join our voting bloc at: http://www.votingbloc.org/Health_Bloc.php
Do US citizens know we have some of the worst health care in the world and are ranked 37th in healthcare worldwide.Do US citizens know that we pay the health insurance companies more than any other country in the world. Do US citizens know that the US has one of the highest death mortality rates for new born children in the world. Do the US citizens know that over 60% of their insurance premium goes directly to the insurance companies and their CEO's. Do the US citizens know that if we keep going down the same road we are on the insurance companies will be taking over 40% of the GDP within the next 25 years.
Healthcare in not a privilege, like Congressman Zack Wamp stated three months ago during a live TV interview.. Healthcare is a right unless we are considered a third world country. Find a small child with cancer and tell his or her parents that healthcare is a privilege.
We are all paying higher insurance premiums due to businesses not being able to afford health care insurance for their employees. Every company that refuses or can not afford health care for their employees raises the cost to the people who do pay for health care insurance. As a small business owner I know small business want to reform health care and kick the big greedy insurance companies out of the picture. Healthcare insurance companies should not take advantage of their customers by collecting multi-million dollar salaries and bonuses with OUR money.
We are ALL paying for the uninsured already, like it or not. Lets lower the cost to the tax paying citizens and businesses owners and pass a healthcare system that works and keeps greed out of the picture. Lets have a healthier America, one that does not pick and chooses who receives healthcare.
franksmith- well said and there's little I can add to such a good summary.
The employer paid and tax free insurance has benefits that the employee or retiree would definitely like to continue. However, it has sheltered these folks from the real world and inflated health care is making these lucrative benefits fewer and fewer. For all those who have these fat benefits- they are disappearing fast so don't sit on your laurels and ignore the real issues. You are just a heartbeat away from joining the ranks of millions of Americans who have no health care or who are paying ridiculous insurance premiums.
The Government has done a great job with VA Healthcare. Let's put them in charge of Healthcare for everyone.
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