President Barack Obama
Idaho’s Republican and Democratic leaders emerged with different reactions from President Barack Obama’s health care speech to a joint session of Congress. Obama told the U.S. House and Senate on Wednesday he favors reforms to prevent insurers from dropping or delaying coverage, slow rising costs and making available a not-for-profit public option.
Idaho Senator Mike Crapo believes President Obama listened to what has been said over the past couple of months, and brought forth a different approach in his health care strategy.
US Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) comments
[audio:091009_crapo.mp3]
Fellow Republican Senator Jim Risch called Obama a gifted orator, but says he doesn’t support the President’s proposed government takeover of Idahoans’ health care.
US Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho) reacts
[audio:091009_risch.mp3]
Democratic U.S. Rep. Walt Minnick said he’s against a government-backed public option, but contends many of Obama’s ideas have merit, like forbidding insurers from cutting coverage for pre-existing conditions, limiting out-of-pocket expenditures and focusing on prevention. (AP)
