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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2009
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35

I'd Vote for Health Bill: Frist

Obama's reforms are a step in the right direction, former Senate majority leader says

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(Newser) – Health care reform legislation has the unexpected support of a prominent physician: former Senate Republican leader Bill Frist. If he were still in politics, “I would end up voting for it," Frist said. The surgeon also blamed some Republicans for not engaging seriously in the health care debate: “Clearly, the death panels and public plan arguments have been overblown."

Frist said he specifically supports the mandate for individuals to purchase coverage and the ban on denial of coverage based on pre-existing conditions. But he noted that the measure in its current multiple forms does not address the incentives that lead doctors to provide more procedures rather than more effective care. "There is really nothing to bend the cost curve," Frist told Time.

Former U.S. Sen. Bill Frist, from Tennessee, speaks at the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minn., Thursday, Sept. 4, 2008.
Former U.S. Sen. Bill Frist, from Tennessee, speaks at the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minn., Thursday, Sept. 4, 2008.   (AP Photo/Ron Edmonds)
In this Sept. 4, 2008 file photo, Bill Frist speaks at the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minn.
In this Sept. 4, 2008 file photo, Bill Frist speaks at the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minn.   (AP Photo/Ron Edmonds, File)
Former U.S. Sen. Bill Frist, from Tennessee, gestures to the crowed from the stage at the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minn., Thursday, Sept. 4, 2008.
Former U.S. Sen. Bill Frist, from Tennessee, gestures to the crowed from the stage at the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minn., Thursday, Sept. 4, 2008.   (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
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I would end up voting for it. As leader, I would take heat for it. That's what leadership is all about.
- Bill Frist, former Senate Majority Leader

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35 comments
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Robert_Dada
Oct 2, 09 6:24 PM CDT
Uh oh, Don'tLikeYou is going to have to hate yet another republican. If this keeps up, he'll be fresh out in no time. Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
+14
IN RESPONSE:
ronimaca
Oct 2, 09 6:41 PM CDT
goodie it makes my heart race thinking of Don'tLikeYou having a fit over this
Vote up! Vote down!
+4
IN RESPONSE:
rajanKazhmin
Oct 2, 09 6:51 PM CDT
please, you should know by now that "dontlikeyou" isn't a bot and not a person. His code scans for keywords in articles and cobbles together right wing catchphrases.
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+5
IN RESPONSE:
ezrider
Oct 2, 09 7:32 PM CDT
He can't reply yet he just pooped in his pants
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+6
IN RESPONSE:
odowd80
Oct 2, 09 7:40 PM CDT
I only wish that there was a short supply of asshole republicans.
Vote up! Vote down!
+6

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