Gibbs Responds to Boehner, Cantor

[alsame]

Posted by Jesse Lee on February 08, 2010 at 08:10 PM EST

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs just responded to a letter sent today from House Republican Leader John Boehner and House Republican Whip Eric Cantor regarding the proposed bipartisan health care summit:

The President is adamant that we seize this historic moment to pass meaningful health insurance reform legislation. He began this process by inviting Republican and Democratic leaders to the White House on March 5 of last year, and he’s continued to work with both parties in crafting the best possible bill. He’s been very clear about his support for the House and Senate bills because of what they achieve for the American people: putting a stop to insurance company abuses, extending coverage to millions of hardworking Americans, getting control of rising premiums and out-of-pocket costs, and reducing the deficit.

The President looks forward to reviewing Republican proposals that meet the goals he laid out at the beginning of this process, and as recently as the State of the Union Address. He’s open to including any good ideas that stand up to objective scrutiny. What he will not do, however, is walk away from reform and the millions of American families and small business counting on it. The recent news that a major insurer plans to raise premiums for some customers by as much as 39 percent is a stark reminder of the consequences of doing nothing.

Read HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius' letter to Anthem Blue Cross calling on them to publicly justify their extreme premium hikes at the same time their parent company sees soaring profits.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2010/02/08/gibbs-responds-boehner-cantor

[Cha]

1. Does anyone else

see this as a well paved, good ol fashion..painting the gops into a corner, scenario?

I know grantcart does.

Thanks, alsame.

[alsame]

2. Yes, I think it's a very smart move. Put them on the spot, make them

reveal their 'proposals' that change the status quo. And I think today's news about the 39% increase will help him prove why doing nothing isn't an option.

[OregonBlue]

4. I hope so. I think they need to be painted as cowards if they won't agree to this summit. Hope the

Dems hold their feet to the fire.

[firedupdem]

3. Perfect! They have no ideas at all.....keep calling em on it n/t

[quiet.american]

5. Good stuff. Especially the "What he will not do, however, is walk away from reform" part. nt

[TicketyBoo]

6. It makes me "grateful"

that ours is "only" going up 12.5% next month.

Our son's went up 17% at the first of the year, and his work hours have been cut to 20 per week.

There's a premium increase every year. Sometimes you wonder how long you can keep doing it.