Wilson wants Dems to take public option
Posted: Wednesday, November 04, 2009 1:18 PM by Domenico Montanaro
Filed Under:
Congress, Republicans
From NBC’s Madeline Rullo
After receiving national fame for his "You lie!" outburst during President Obama's healthcare speech before a joint session of Congress in September, Rep. Joe Wilson is speaking out again.
It's still about healthcare, but this time he's speaking in turn. Wilson is introducing an amendment for the Democratic healthcare bill, requiring all members of Congress to enroll in the public option.
Wilson says he has been bombarded with questions from American citizens, "If this public option is so good, then why don't the congressmen take the plan? After about eight times of bringing this up, I said, ‘Enough already.’ I said, ‘I would introduce that when I come back to Washington.’”
And he has.
"People have spoken up and they're making a difference,” Wilson said, holding up the House bill that will be brought to the floor later this week.
A handful of House Republicans joined Wilson at his news conference outside the Capitol in support of his amendment, each voicing their concern and push for members of Congress and even the president, to jump on board the public option.
REP. PHIL GINGREY, R-GA: "So as a show of good faith, why shouldn't members of Congress step forward and sign this plan to lead by example. And I indeed would take it a step farther, maybe I'll add an additional amendment that says the President and his family, the President and his cabinet, the President and all of his czars, certainly the Secretary of Health and Human Services all should be on the public plan."
REP. STEVE SCALISE, R-LA (holding the health care bill as people laughed around the podium): "This is the ultimate, 'put your money where your mouth is' amendment."
REP. WALLY HERGER, R-CA: "This has to be the greatest hypocrisy that I have ever seen."
REP. DEAN HELLER, R-NV (Quoting the late Rep. Henry Hyde): " A quote from late great colleague Rep. Henry Hyde from Illinois when he said, members of congress would exempt themselves from gravity, if they thought they could get away from it and that's what we're trying to do with this bill."
Rep. Heller continued, challenging Pelosi's stance on her bill. "Speaker Pelosi does not want to give up her private jet, Speaker Pelosi does not want to give up her limousine services and I'll tell you right now, she does not want to give up her Cadillac healthcare, something that she has right now and that's wrong."
There was no word is any of these Republicans would vote for the health-reform bill if Democrats take up their challenge.
