GOP Vs. Americans United for Change on Healthcare Reform

By Paul Bedard, Washington Whispers

With a weekend vote scheduled in the House to push through Speaker Nancy Pelosi's healthcare reform bill, both sides are on high alert. Democrats are attacking the new GOP alternative plan, and Republicans are hitting the Pelosi version.

First up was Americans United for Change, which is placing an ad titled "Breaking News" on Washington cable outlets to warn that the Republican bill is weak. The group told Whispers, "Congressional Republicans demonstrated just how serious they're taking reform by belching out a bill that omits the reforms the American people are calling for the most—like banning the unscrupulous insurance industry practices of denying coverage to Americans who have 'pre-existing' conditions or dropping policyholders when they become seriously ill. Not to mention, there's nothing in the GOP bill that assures Americans access to affordable health insurance: no tax credits, no subsidies, no benefits guarantees, no out-of-pocket protections—nothing. The only thing Republicans seem to be serious about is guaranteeing continued checks from the health insurance industry by proposing no real reform at all."

Not to be outdone, the Republican National Committee plans a daylong online town hall on the issue. Here's how the RNC bills it: "Welcome to 'Pelosi Plan Exposed: 12 Truths About PelosiCare and Republican Alternatives.' Over the course of 12 hours, we will take an in-depth look at the Pelosi healthcare bill set for a vote in the U.S. House of Representatives in the coming days. We will also explore common-sense Republican alternatives and explain why they will give the American people the healthcare reform they need and deserve."