Sen. Tom Carper Talks About State-Run Public Options

Filed in National by on October 11, 2009

This video from the Nightly Business Report is not embeddable, but click here and the player should come up for you. There is a transcript, too.

Sen. Carper’s interview with NBR focuses largely on his proposal for states to create their own Public Options until the reporter asks him about the plan to create a federal Public Option and let states opt out. He pretty quickly acknowledges that new suggestion and moves the conversation to a discussion of the CBO scoring. If you are looking at the video, this starts around minute 2:00.

One of our commenters here remarked that we’d have to watch Carper as he works to protect the interests of his insurance company funders and tries to water this down. I think that this interview is the “tell” that Carper may not be nearly as interested in the opt out initiative as in the states create their own plan.

Always worth watching — since you can usually win with a bet that Carper will vote with his funders than for his constituents.

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"You don't make progress by standing on the sidelines, whimpering and complaining. You make progress by implementing ideas." -Shirley Chisholm

Comments (7)

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  1. Two other places to look for informative positions on OptOut CopOut:

    Please Consider My Personal Plea On Behalf Of All Of Us Who Live In Red States: Reject Opt Out
    http://seminal.firedoglake.com/diary/8960

    The “States’ Option” Compromise Sounds Good, But It Could Backfire Badly
    http://seminal.firedoglake.com/diary/8869

    And at least seven more here:
    http://campaignsilo.firedoglake.com/

  2. Jason330 says:

    Tom Carper is on prescriptions for his “recovering governor” syndrome. He takes $150 million from big pharma every year.

    He gives that fucking stupid “recovering governor” line ever time he opens his bought and paid for yap. Someone should ask a follow up questions about when he plans to start acting like a Senator representing the interests of Delawareans.

  3. Frieda Berryhill says:

    Jason, he does not have to. HIs position as a lobbyist for the big boys he reptesents is assured by now.

  4. Geezer says:

    “The Baucus Plan is dead”

    By a “study” funded by the insurance industry? It’s already being debunked. Why do you hate Americans, Mike?

  5. Scott P says:

    Geezer is right. This study was commissioned by the health insurance industry, and it’s numbers are based on assumptions that favor the industry’s goals. PWC, who did the study, admits as much in the report. Jonathan Cohn has more:
    http://www.tnr.com/blog/the-treatment/breaking-the-insurance-industry-declares-war

  6. Is it wrong of me to think that if the insurance industry doesn’t like it then it must be o.k. for the populace?

    I think the parts the insurance industry specifically didn’t like was the easing of the punitive measures in the individual mandate. Insurance companies can give all they want to Congress but at some point Congresspeople will have to sell this to their constituents.