Earlier today, we told you about Rep. John Shadegg (R-AZ), who said on MSNBC this morning that he would support “forcing private insurance companies to compete,” alluding to a public option. The Republican congressman even went so far as to say that he would support single-payer health care.
We contacted his office for clarification. His spokeswoman, Nicole Philbin, emailed over a statement that confirms Shadegg would indeed support a public option.
“Congressman Shadegg believes health insurance companies should have to compete for our business as individual consumers,” she said. “Forcing them to compete, even through a public option, would be better than an individual mandate which will not work.”
There you have it: A Republican who could get behind a public option.
Here’s the video from this morning:
