The Stakeholder

TRICK OR TREAT - Republicans: Where’s Your Health Reform Bill?

Posted by DCCC Press
Oct 30, 2009

It's been more than four months since the House Republican leadership broke their promise to release a health reform alternative, and they have yet to offer a meaningful alternative. Acknowledging the fact that House Republicans have no actual solutions, in what can only be described as a Halloween trick, today the Republican Party of ‘No Health Reform' circulated a memo on how to kill health insurance reform without "making the Republican Party look bad."

Background

On Oct 30: Politico reports, "GOP strategist Frank Luntz briefed Republican lawmakers this week 'on his new plan for undermining Democrats' health-reform without making the GOP look bad.'" [Politico, 10/30/2009]
On Oct 27: The Hill reported, "Some House Republicans are growing frustrated that their leaders have not yet introduced a healthcare reform alternative. For months, the message from House GOP leaders on a healthcare bill has been similar to ads for yet-to-be-released movies: Coming soon." [The Hill, 10/27/2009]
On July 23: House Minority Leader John Boehner said there is a Republican health care bill but refused to say whether it will ever be released. [The Washington Post's Plum Line, 7/23/09]
On June 17: Congressman Roy Blunt, the man charged by Minority Leader Boehner with coming up with the Republicans' alternative health care bill, stated, "I guarantee you we will provide you with a bill." - Congressman Roy Blunt, the man charged by Minority Leader Boehner with the Republicans' alternative health reform bill [Politico, 6/17/09]