Weiner Calls on GOP Opponents of the Public Option to Give Up Their Medicare

Representative Anthony Weiner (D-NY) is calling on 55 Republican members of Congress who oppose the public option--but are currently enrolled in one themselves--to give up their government-funded insurance.

Representative Anthony Weiner (D-NY) has been one of the most vocal and steadfast supporters of a "robust" public option in health care reform. Yesterday, he called on 55 Republican members of Congress who oppose the public option–but are currently enrolled in one themselves–to give up their government-funded insurance.

Weiner, a member of the Health Subcommittee and Co-Chair of the Caucus on the Middle Class, revealed that 151 members
released the names of 151 members of the House and Senate who currently receive government-funded; government-administered single-payer health care – Medicare.

"On the list of recipients," says a release from Weiner’s office, "are 55 Republicans who have steadfastly opposed other Americans getting the public option, like the one they have chosen."

Weiner said, “Even in a town known for hypocrisy, this list of 55 Members of Congress deserve some sort of prize. They apparently think the public option is ok for them, but not anyone else.”

The list of congressional recipients of Medicare who also oppose the public option includes the following members:

Rep. Ralph M. Hall
Rep. Roscoe G. Bartlett
Rep. Sam Johnson
Rep. C.W. Bill Young
Rep. Howard Coble
Sen. Jim Bunning
Sen. Richard G. Lugar
Rep. Don Young
Sen. Charles E. Grassley
Sen. Robert F. Bennett
Rep. Vernon J. Ehlers
Sen. Orrin G. Hatch
Sen. Richard C. Shelby
Rep. Jerry Lewis
Sen. James M. Inhofe
Rep. Ron Paul
Rep. Henry E. Brown
Sen. Pat Roberts
Sen. George V. Voinovich
Sen. John McCain
Rep. Judy Biggert
Sen. Thad Cochran
Rep. Harold Rogers
Rep. Dan Burton
Rep. Howard P. "Buck" McKeon
Rep. Frank R. Wolf
Sen. Christopher S. Bond
Rep. Michael N. Castle
Rep. Joe Pitts
Rep. Tom Petri
Sen. Lamar Alexander
Rep. Doc Hastings
Rep. Cliff Stearns
Rep. Sue Myrick
Rep. John Carter
Sen. Mitch McConnell
Sen. Jon Kyl
Rep. Phil Gingrey
Rep. Nathan Deal
Rep. John Linder
Rep. Kay Granger
Rep. John L. Mica
Rep. Walter B. Jones
Sen. Jim Risch
Rep. Ed Whitfield
Rep. F. James Sensenbrenner
Rep. Virginia Foxx
Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison
Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite
Sen. Saxby Chambliss
Sen. Michael B. Enzi
Rep. Elton Gallegly
Rep. Donald Manzullo
Rep. Peter T. King
Rep. Ander Crenshaw