Liberal House leader: Abandon bipartisanship on health bill

The head of the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) said on Tuesday that Democratic lawmakers should go it alone to pass healthcare legislation because Republicans are opposed to any real reform.

“Let’s call it like it is. Most of what the Republicans want in the health care reform bill represents a victory for well-financed, private-interest greed. It’s a gift to corporations, not consumers,” wrote CPC co-chairman Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-Ariz.) in a USA Today op-ed.

” I am not in favor of bipartisanship when the other side’s principal intention is to delay progress and undermine a bill,” he added.

Grijalva called the GOP’s push for malpractice reform a “Trojan horse” to destroy the public option.

The fourth-term Democrat accused Republicans of engaging in “doublespeak” on a public health insurance plan; saying that they have claimed the government would run it poorly or that it would run too efficiently and drive private insurers out of business.

Grijalva instead claimed the public option “is what will end the insurance companies’ monopoly and control over our individual health.”