Bright disputes claim he supports public insurance option

A spokesperson for Congressman Bobby Bright reiterated Bright’s opposition to a health care reform public option on Thursday, a day after a Democratic Web site listed him as supporting the public option.

A Web site affiliated with former presidential candidate and Democratic National Committee head Howard Dean listed Bright as one of several Congressmen who supported the public option, a health care reform proposal that would give people the option of buying a health insurance-type plan run by the government.

Mary Rickles, spokesperson for Dean’s “Democracy for America” did not return a call from the Dothan Eagle seeking comment Wednesday, but she told “The Hill”, a Washington, D.C. publication, that the information was taken from an informal survey from “FireDogLake”, a liberal blog, and from calls Democracy for America members and supporters made to their representatives.

The Web site no longer shows Bright supporting the public option. “The Hill” also reported at least two other Congressmen disputed the Web site’s claim that they supported the public option.
Bright spokesperson Lewis Lowe said Bright has consistently opposed the public option.

Andy Sere, spokesperson for the National Republican Congressional Committee, said the list raises suspicion.

“What I strongly suspect has happened is that Bobby Bright has been double talking when it comes to government-run health care,” Sere said. “He finally got caught for it and he is moving quickly to cover his tracks and his allies are helping him do that. When he’s back in Alabama talking to the media and the public at large, he says all the right things. But clearly behind closed doors he sends signals to the liberals who support government-run health care that he’s with them.”

Lowe disputed Sere’s statement.

“It speaks volumes for Congressman Bright’s independent record when the only thing on which the NRCC can attack him is based off of an incorrect blog post that was immediately corrected,” Lowe said. “False attacks by outside political groups won’t change the fact that Congressman Bright has been clear and consistent in his opposition to the public option, both in the Second District and in Washington. This is partisan politics as usual at a time when folks across the country are calling for Congress to work together to solve our nation’s problems.”