Incredible: After Months of Promises, Blunt Says He Won't Bother With A Health Care Reform Plan

After months of promises, and lying about how his health care reform memo is "actually much more detailed" than competing plans, this admission from Roy Blunt is absolutely incredible:

Republicans who had promised last month to offer a healthcare reform alternative are now suggesting no such bill will be introduced.

Rep. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) said, “Our bill is never going to get to the floor, so why confuse the focus? We clearly have principles; we could have language, but why start diverting attention from this really bad piece of work they’ve got to whatever we’re offering right now?”

Blunt, who is running for Senate, is chairman of the House GOP Health Care Solutions Group. Cantor made similar comments to The Hill in June, saying Republicans would eventually offer legislative language on healthcare reform.

Blunt has been promising legislation and "real solutions" since February.  Two weeks ago, he said legislation would be introduced within days. Moreover, Blunt has been telling constituents and prospective Missouri voters that he has a plan (he obviously doesn't) and that it's a "detailed plan" (it obviously isn't).

In February, Blunt and Minority Leader John Boehner promised to lead the way on health care reform, and refused to become the "Party of 'No.'" Their announcement, in full: 

Blunt to Chair Republicans’ Health Care Task Force
Wednesday, February 04, 2009
By Melanie Hunter-Omar

(CNSNews.com) – House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) announced Wednesday that Rep. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) will chair a Health Care Task Force to craft Republican solutions to increase Americans’ access to affordable health care.

The task force will also highlight how the Democrats’ proposed government-run health care system will affect families.
“Health care costs are too high, access is too limited, and American families and small businesses are looking to their leaders in Washington for free-market solutions, not a government-dominated health care bureaucracy,” said Boehner. “House Republicans will not be content to be ‘the party of no.’

“Instead, we will be the party of better solutions, and few issues demand more positive solutions than our nation’s health care crisis. Roy Blunt is uniquely qualified to chair this Task Force, which will help shape innovative House Republican health care solutions at a time when the American people need them most,” Boehner said.

“Republicans are committed to making health care more affordable, more accessible and offer more options to American families. Unfortunately, the only options we’ve seen so far from this Congress would push us to a one-size-fits-all government-run system,” Blunt said. 

“Through this working group, Republicans will develop real solutions to improve our health care system by putting patients before paperwork and frivolous lawsuits. I am honored that the Republican Leader has asked me to lead a group of talented members who I know will be active participants in this important debate,” Blunt added.

Other members of the task force include: Reps. Joe Barton (R-Texas), Judy Biggert (R-Ill.), Charles Boustany (R-La.), Ginny Brown-Waite (R-Fla.), Michael Burgess (R-Texas), Dave Camp (R-Mich.), Nathan Deal (R-Ga.), Phil Gingrey (R-Ga.), Wally Herger (R-Calif.), Lynn Jenkins (R-Kan.), Howard “Buck” McKeon (R-Calif.), Tim Murphy (R-Pa.), Tom Price (R-Ga.), Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), and John Shadegg (R-Ariz.).

H'ray, broken promises!  It's not like people actually need more accessible, more affordable health care anyway.

Image credit: Politico