Epic FAIL

The Post-Dispatch reports that Roy Blunt "reconvened" the House GOP Health Care Solutions Group he chairs in attempt to stem the growing public support for the new health care reform law.  

You may recall that Blunt's "Solutions Group" failed in glorious fashion during the actual health care reform debate, upsetting even his fellow conservatives who wanted Republicans to honestly engage in the arena of ideas.  When Blunt and House Republicans finally released a "plan" late in the process, analysis showed it would actually increase the number of uninsured and reduce the deficit by less that Democratic proposals. 

From the archives:

• Promises Broken: House GOP Plan Doesn't Bar Discrimination For Pre-Existing Conditions
• AARP Will Endorse House Democrats' Health Care Bill
• Majority of Americans Faults GOP For Not Cooperating to Pass Health Care Reform
• "A Doozy That Essentially Does... Nothing"
• Ideas So Awesome, They Had To Be Released On A Friday

Roy Blunt, Chairman of the House Republicans' Health Care Solutions Group, isn't planning on taking any solutions to this week’s planned health care summit.  In fact, he isn't even sure he's going; Blunt is apparently worried that talking about ways to expand access to affordable health care might be a "waste of time."

Tellingly, the White House has invited Republicans to post their health care plan on their website in advance of the summit.... but they've refused. 

Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder and GOP House Budget Chair Allen Icet organized a conference call this afternoon to discuss their concerns with Gov. Nixon's Caring for Missourians initiative, a $40 million program to help colleges and universities train more health care professionals.  Kinder and Icet were obviously hoping for a little attention from the press, but the call is already looking like a disaster.

The main goals of the call, it seems, were to raise alarm about "rumors" and "third-hand reports" of colleges and universities not liking the program, and to complain about the runaway spending of the Republican legislature. Seriously.