Target Dems Could Back Path to Single Payer System

October 28, 2009

FYI, a version of the release below went out to the following districts: John Adler (NJ-03); Jason Altmire (PA-04); Michael Arcuri (NY-24); John Barrow (GA-12); John Boccieri (OH-16); Rick Boucher (VA-09); Allen Boyd (FL-02); Bobby Bright (AL-02); Dennis Cardoza (CA-18); Chris Carney (PA-10); Travis Childers (MS-01); Kathy Dahlkemper (PA-03); Joe Donnelly (IN-02); Steve Driehaus (OH-01); Chet Edwards (TX-17); Brad Ellsworth (IN-08); Bill Foster (IL-14); Bart Gordon (TN-06); Debbie Halvorson (IL-11); Martin Heinrich (NM-01); Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (SD-AL); Baron Hill (IN-09); Ann Kirkpatrick (AZ-01); Larry Kissell (NC-08); Suzanne Kosmas (FL-24); Frank Kratovil (MD-01); Betsy Markey (CO-04); Jerry McNerney (CA-11); Walt Minnick (ID-01); Harry Mitchell (AZ-05); Glenn Nye (VA-02); Ed Perlmutter (CO-07); Tom Perriello (VA-05); Earl Pomeroy (ND-AL); Ciro Rodriguez (TX-23); Heath Shuler (NC-11); Ike Skelton (MO-04); Vic Snyder (AR-02); John Tanner (TN-08); Harry Teague (NM-02); and Dina Titus (NV-03).

Teague and Co. Could Back Path to Single Payer System

Senior Dem: ‘Moderate’ Bill Will Lead to Government-Run Healthcare for All

 

Washington- Did Harry Teague cut a deal with Democrat leaders to support a government healthcare takeover that one longtime advocate of the single payer system called “progress” toward a fully socialized healthcare system? From the way that leading Democrats are discussing the matter, it appears that Teague is ready to jump on board with his party’s reckless healthcare agenda.

 

As news comes out today that Democrats are ready to introduce a bill favored by the party’s more ‘moderate’ wing, one senior liberal was quick to remind his colleagues that this version of his party’s government healthcare takeover still paves the way for government-run healthcare for all.

 

“But there were signs Tuesday that at least some prominent advocates of a left-leaning reform package were ready to deal in the interest of moving a bill. Rep. John Dingell (D-Mich.), who has introduced a measure to create a single-payer universal health care system every Congress since he was elected, pressed a closed-door huddle of House Democrats on the urgency of swift action…‘I want single payer, but I’m smart enough to know what we have here is progress.’” (Tory Newmyer, “House Leaders Ready to Unveil Moderate-Favored Plan,” Roll Call, 10/28/09)

 

“Harry Teague has been coy about supporting his party’s government healthcare takeover but it finally appears that he’s ready to walk the plank for higher taxes, fewer jobs, and devastating cuts to Medicare,” said NRCC Communications Director Ken Spain. “Nancy Pelosi and company have tailor-made this bill to win Teague’s support for their government-run healthcare plan. Now that Democrat insiders have made Teague an offer he can’t refuse, it looks like it’s only a matter of time before he throws his support behind the latest disastrous piece of his party’s big-government agenda. Teague could have spoken up against his party’s latest reckless proposal, but with the pieces of the plan coming together, that time has clearly passed.”

 

Will Teague follow through with his support for Nancy Pelosi’s government-run healthcare agenda, or will he surprise everyone with a last-minute change of heart? New Mexico taxpayers probably aren’t holding their breath.

 

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