Specter: Favors public option for health care

Sen. Arlen Specter fielded a variety of questions about veterans this morning at Drexel University.

The only bit of fireworks came at a news conference afterward, when Specter accused his Democratic primary oponent, US Rep. Joe Sestak, of "not doing his job," saying that the Delaware County congressman has missed 104 votes while campaigning in Pennsylvania.

"If he were still in the military absent without leave he'd be court martialed."

Specter also told reporters that he still favored the so-called "public option" for a national health care system, despite reports that the Obama administration might be shifting its support to some kind of "co-op" plan.

Under the public option, the federal government would act an insurer for many Americans. Under the cooperative alternative, the government would fund start-ups of new types of coverage that could eventually function independently.

As for the public option, "I think it is too soon to make an evaluation. Let's see what we produce in the way of a bill," he said.

"I'm not willing to write off the public option," he said. ". . . That I think is the best approach to give people choices."

He also said: "14,000 people a day are losing their health care, and I've been more than willing to lay my neck on the line."

Specter said today's forum was far more civil than his recent public faceoffs over health care.

A couple of questioners deviated from veterans' issues, one asking about the federal government paying for abortions under a new health care plan, another asking what in the Consitution gives the government the power to take over businesses.

People would have an option to belong to a plan that could pay for abortions, Specter said.

"What we're trying to do is try to provide people choices and respect the views of each side," the senator said.

The "general welfare clause" of the Constitution, he explained, has been recognized by the Supreme Court as empowering the federal government to do take all sorts of needed actions, like the recent business interventions aimed at preventing a new depression, he said.

"I think the town meeting you saw today was more representative of town meetings," he said.

He began the event talking about how the government promised returning World War One vets a $500 bonus, then backed off. When veterans protested in Washington, some were shot and killed in "one of the blackest days in American history."

Together, with Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki, they presented a picture of a federal government boosting funding for veterans benefits and do more to counteract alleviate such problems as homelessness and post-traumatic stress disorder.

One focus was on the Post 9/11 G.I. Bill, which this month started paying for college tuitions for servicemen and women.

Under the Yellow Ribbon Program, Drexel will match the federal contribution, making tuition free for the attainment of any Drexel degree.

More 100 people filled the chairs at the forum, but only about 30 people responded when asked to stand if they were veterans.

Specter and Shinseki listened to a range of concerns, from retirement benefits for veterans, to new contracts for health-care workers at VA hospitals.

"There are no proposals to tax veterans for medical benefits. It is a dead issue," Specter said in response to one question.

What is the VA doing to address rising suicide rates? "Not enough," said

Shinseki, although he said the agency has 18,000 mental health professionals and that the national suicide hotline had done 3,200 interventions.

A couple of questioners alluded to the idea of vets having as good a health care system as Congress gets.

"In the senate, we have a selection of plans which we pay for," Specter said.

"A broad misconception is that it is free. It is not."

Later this morning, Sestak will host a veterans' forum at the Philadelphia Veterans' Multi-Service and Education Center.

The forums are part of a White House-led effort to draw attention to health care reform. Later today, President Barack Obama will address veterans in Phoenix, Ariz.