Lawmaker: Obama responding with 'crickets' to GOP healthcare ideas

By Pete Kasperowicz

Rep. Tim Griffin (R-Ark.) said Monday that President Obama is still ignoring Republican proposals to meet and discuss healthcare ideas, months after he called on opponents of ObamaCare to bring him ideas on how to improve the law.

Griffin and 33 other House Republicans wrote Obama a letter in December that include several ideas to improve the healthcare system. The letter was sent just days after Obama said, "If you've got good ideas, bring them to me."
But Griffin said Monday that 97 days have passed since the letter was sent, and that Obama has still not answered.

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"In the wake of ObamaCare's numerous failures, President Obama said in December that if Republicans had better healthcare reform ideas, they should say so," Griffin said. "So it's puzzling that our request for a meeting to discuss ideas has been met with only crickets.

"I hope President Obama means what he keeps saying and will meet with us. It's not too late for a fresh start, so we can get real health care reform right."

The GOP letter recommended nine changes, including letting health insurance companies compete across state lines, creating a tax incentive to buy health in surname, and expanding health savings accounts.

The letter also called for more transparent medical billing, letting small businesses pool their coverage, and capping attorney fees to help crack down on frivolous medical lawsuits.

Republicans have stepped up their attacks against ObamaCare in March. Last week, the House voted again to delay the individual health insurance mandate, and easily passed bills to expand ObamaCare requirements for religious people, veterans and volunteer firefighters