In a striking interview on MSNBC this morning, Rep. John Shadegg (R-AZ) made, perhaps unintentionally, a strong case for a single-payer health care system.
Speaking with host David Shuster after an announcement by Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH), a progressive who advocates single-payer, that he would vote for health care, Shadegg argued that Democrats only got Kucinich’s vote by “breaking arms.” He suggested Kucinich wouldn’t readily vote for the bill because it rewards insurance companies.
“The reality is, this bill is going to reward for-profit insurance companies that have done a disservice,” Shadegg said. “This bill is going to give them exactly what they wanted. The insurance industry, the for-profit insurance industry, wanted an individual mandate and that’s what they’re getting out of this bill. The for-profit insurance industry did not want a public option because they don’t like competition and guess what? They’re getting that.”
When Shuster accused Republicans of supporting insurers, Shadegg balked.
“No we don’t! You guys keep saying that, but I’m not the guy pushing the bill that says we should compel people to buy insurance from the for-profit guys. That’s the Democrats,” he said.
Then, after some back and forth with Shuster: “I would support single-payer.”
“You would support a government-run medical system?” Shuster asked.
“Absolutely,” Shadegg said. “I would support forcing American insurance companies to compete. Right now they have a monopoly.”
He also said that the best way to pay for those with pre-existing conditions is to “spread their costs among the healthy, among the taxpayers.”
Watch:
On his web site, Shadegg is described as “known for his strong advocacy for free market health care reform” and once compared single-payer to Soviet gulags.
Late update: Asked for clarification, Shadegg’s spokeswoman tells TPM that the congressman would indeed support a public option.
Congressman Shadegg believes health insurance companies should have to compete for our business as individual consumers. Forcing them to compete, even through a public option, would be better than an individual mandate which will not work.
So there you have it. A Republican who could get behind the public option.
