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GOP Lacks Focus, Leaders on Health Care

Dems' organization on issue towers over Republicans'

By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff

Posted Apr 20, 2009 1:02 PM CDT
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(Newser) – While Democrats build up serious steam on health-care reform, the GOP has been left behind, with no firm message, no plan, little funding, and no clear leaders on the issue, writes Carrie Budoff Brown for Politico. Republicans fear the lag could make opposition to President Obama’s plans difficult. “If you wait to get started until there is a bill you don’t like, you are going to have a tough time,” says one health-care mogul, Rick Scott, who's put up $5 million to push a plan of his own.

While Scott has been talking up his free-market approach on the Hill, three House GOP groups and a team of 13 Republican physicians are reviewing the matter and Republicans say they'll have a "solid" plan soon. But the alliance of Democrats, labor unions, and business groups poses a serious challenge. “We are playing catch up. We are running against the wind,” says a GOP aide.

President Barack Obama makes a statement in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Monday, March 30, 2009, before signing the Omnibus Public Lands Management Act of 2009 . From left are, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of Calif., Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nev., Interior Secretary Ken Salazar...
President Barack Obama makes a statement in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Monday, March 30, 2009, before signing the Omnibus Public Lands Management Act of 2009 . From left are, House...   (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
U.S. Rep. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., is head of the House Republican Health Care Task Force.
U.S. Rep. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., is head of the House Republican Health Care Task Force.   (AP Photo/Kelley McCall)
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich thinks Americans won't like a health care plan that favors strong government.
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich thinks Americans won't like a health care plan that favors strong government.   (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 5 comments
Snowleopard
Apr 24, 2009 6:39 AM CDT
single payer will help, and is a step in the right direction, but will only drive down some of the administration costs, which at most are only about 10%.
Snowleopard
Apr 20, 2009 10:32 AM CDT
HOW TO DRIVE DOWN MEDICAL COSTS: let canadan drugs be shipped to the U.S. ....computerize the medical records ....deregulate some of the strict requirements of hospitals (ala milton friedman) and implement an internet based rating/review system to ensure quality ....give tax breaks to hospitals, and college grants to those going into medicine in order to increase competition and drive down prices.
woodyTX
Apr 20, 2009 8:34 AM CDT
Little funding ? Where are all the drug companies, HMO's and hospital networks who want to maintain the status quo with 24 cents of every health dollar spent on red tape ? Are these guys rolling over ? I expected more of a fight.

 
health care • Democrats • health care reform • momentum • organization • President Obama • Republicans • Rick Scott

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