Group members speak out in La. against ‘public option’

• By KORAN ADDO
• Advocate Westside bureau
• Published: Oct 30, 2009 - Page: 7A

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PORT ALLEN — Louisiana representatives of a group opposing a proposed, government-run health insurance, called the public option, held a news conference Thursday at a restaurant aimed at pushing Democratic Sen. Mary Landrieu toward voting accordingly.

The Campaign for Responsible Health Reform, a group sponsored by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, called the news conference to support “meaningful health-care reform that protects employer-sponsored health insurance,” a campaign statement says.

Devin Johnson, a spokesman for the group and a self-described Democrat, said he aligned with an “obviously right-leaning organization” because he doesn’t see any middle ground being discussed in the national health-care debate.

“Given the state of our nation and our economy, it’s imperative that we have to cover people, but we have to do it in a cautious and responsible manner,” he said.

“The biggest problem with the public option is its divisiveness,” Johnson said. “The relentless push for a public option is jeopardizing (President Barack) Obama’s goal of health reform.”

Johnson said policymakers need to find ways to decrease health insurance costs, which he said would increase coverage.

During the past several years, he said, the number of businesses nationwide offering health insurance to employees has decreased from 62 percent to 38 percent because of skyrocketing costs.

When pressed for an alternative to a public option, which has been advertised as a way to control costs by increasing competition, Johnson said he favors a system where people can shop for insurance plans across state lines.

Nationwide there are 1,300 health insurance providers, he said, but residents of some states have only one or two options.

Johnson said he envisions a system where people can visit a Web site and compare coverage plans much the same way people can shop for car insurance.

The organization’s Louisiana campaign director, David Huguenel, a self-described fiscal conservative, said that in contrast to the national debate, he doesn’t see the government as evil and the private sector as inherently benevolent.

Instead, Huguenel said, he would like to see government act as a referee, setting regulations and enforcing rules but otherwise staying out of the health insurance industry.

Paul Mladenka, owner of Cou-yon’s Cajun Bar-B-Q, where the news conference was held, said small businesses such as his cannot afford to see 8-10 percent increases in health insurance costs for their employees, as is likely without some changes.