Conversations with Conservatives (Credit: Chris Maddaloni/CQ Roll Call/Newscom)
Conservative members of Congress vowed today to be transparent in their discussions as they build their alternative to Obamacare in 2014.
“How to you set a vision and reality if you don’t actually bring them to the floor?” Representative Tim Huelskamp (R-KS) said, urging fellow members to not be afraid of presenting their ideas and waiting like they did in the past.
Huelskamp joined Representatives Louie Gohmert (R-TX), Michele Bachmann (R-MN), and Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) at Conversations with Conservatives.
“Let’s start doing that now and let America see who’s for what,” Gohmert said, reminding Americans of the purpose in Obama’s 2008 campaign promise to be transparent: let people see who is making arguments on behalf of their constituents, and who is making arguments on behalf of the drug companies or the insurance companies.
“Why not be bold and actually do what will help people rather than helping government programs or big business?” Bachmann said.
Lummis recalled a heated debate between Representative Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and then-Representative Anthony Weiner (D-NY) in 2010. She said it was one of the few times in her tenure that she witnessed a “legitimate debate” where two people talked about issues publicly and worked closer to an agreement.
“We never had that chance with Obamacare, it was an all or nothing proposition,” Lummis said. She referred to Obamacare as a “crap sandwich.”
The Heritage Foundation offered its own patient-centered alternative to Obamacare last year. Read more about it.
