Republican lawmakers fail to strip government-run option from health care bill

September 26th, 2009 Republican says Dems ignoring health care concernsWASHINGTON — Republicans say Democrats have ignored the public's concerns in drafting new health care legislation under debate in the Senate Finance Committee. Democrats are giving the public anything but an "open, honest and bipartisan debate," Sen.

September 17th, 2009 GOP head calls co-ops 'backdoor' to public optionWASHINGTON — Republican Party Chairman Michael Steele says he fears the health insurance cooperatives envisioned in the bill the Senate Finance Committee is promoting amounts to a "back door to a public option." Interviewed Thursday on CBS's "The Early Show," Steele also said he doubts Republicans will embrace the legislation produced by committee Chairman Max Baucus and the "Gang of Six," — Baucus, two other Democrats and three Republicans. Steele said he believes that the "co-ops in this bill represent government control.

September 16th, 2009 Baucus calls health care bill commonsense measureWASHINGTON — A prominent Democratic senator is calling his 10-year, $856 billion health care bill a common sense measure that can win broad support. Sen. Max Baucus, chairman of the Finance Committee, unveiled his much-awaited legislation Wednesday after months of bipartisan negotiations that failed to win visible Republican support.

September 14th, 2009 Harkin: 'Silent majority' back health care reformINDIANOLA, Iowa — Iowa Sen. Tom Harkin predicts Congress will approve a health care reform bill this fall that includes a public option, saying a "silent majority" of Americans favor such an overhaul.

September 4th, 2009 Obama talks to House liberals about health careWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama discussed health care in a conference call with House members, including liberals wary of his next move on the issue. Obama, who is at Camp David, spoke to leaders of the Congressional Progressive Caucus on Friday.

September 1st, 2009 Hoyer maintains support for public optionWALDORF, Md. — House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer told cheering and jeering constituents Tuesday he still supports a public health insurance option as part of a health care overhaul.

August 31st, 2009 Sen. Grassley hopeful on limited health reformDES MOINES, Iowa — Iowa Republican Sen. Charles Grassley said Monday he remains hopeful a limited health care reform measure can be negotiated but a small group working on the issue agrees a government-run public option won't be part of a package.

August 31st, 2009 Trumka warns lawmakers on health care overhaulWASHINGTON — The man expected to become the AFL-CIO's next president said Monday that lawmakers would pay a political price if they abandon a government-run option in any health care overhaul. "We need to be a labor movement that stands by our friends, punishes its enemies and challenges those who, well, can't seem to decide which side they're on," said Richard Trumka, currently the AFL-CIO's secretary-treasurer.

August 30th, 2009 Kerry: Compromise may be necessary but not yetWASHINGTON — A leading Democratic senator says backers of a public option in President Barack Obama's attempt to overhaul health care may need to compromise on the issue but adds that such a point hasn't been reached yet. Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts suggested that compromise on the public option could become necessary if and when Democrats get to the point where they are not going to get there.

August 23rd, 2009 McCain: Obama must drop health care public optionWASHINGTON — Sen. John McCain says President Barack Obama will have to drop proposals for a government-run health insurance option if he hopes to reach congressional agreement on health-care reform.

August 23rd, 2009 Senator: Single health care bill a better approachWASHINGTON — A key Democrat in the health care debate says separating out the various issues and putting them in different bills isn't likely to work. Some lawmakers have suggested that a separate bill with changes that are supported by Republicans and Democrats would be one route toward progress on the health care overhaul.

August 17th, 2009 Dean: Public option a must for health care reformWASHINGTON — Former Democratic Party Chairman Howard Dean is arguing that there can be no meaningful overhaul of the health care system without a public option for coverage. A leading player in the party's liberal wing, Dean said in a nationally broadcast interview Monday he thinks providing a government role in insurance coverage is fair.

July 30th, 2009 GOP senator says health care bill not readyWASHINGTON — A key Republican senator involved in bipartisan talks on health care says there's no way a breakthrough will happen before lawmakers' August recess. Wyoming Sen.

July 24th, 2009 Hoyer suggests delay in House vote on health careWASHINGTON — The second-ranking Democrat in the House says lawmakers may not be able to vote on a health care bill next week but might remain in Washington in August to complete President Barack Obama's top domestic priority. Rep. Steny Hoyer of Maryland told lawmakers Friday that it might not be possible to finish the legislation, now bogged down in the Energy and Commerce Committee.

July 15th, 2009 Obama praises progress on health care overhaulWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama says his administration will push through an overhaul of the nation's health care system and is urging Congress to finish the work before leaving for an August recess. Obama on Wednesday praised House and Senate versions of a bill to expand health care coverage to millions of Americans.