In a December 4 article about a news conference at which “Republicans took their first jabs at major health care reform proposals” being considered by Colorado's Blue Ribbon Commission for Healthcare Reform, The Denver Post failed to point out that state GOP leaders appointed many of the members of the commission they were criticizing. The article, by Jennifer Brown, quoted commission chairman Bill Lindsay, but did not mention that he reportedly was appointed to lead the panel by Senate Minority Leader Andrew McElhany (R-Colorado Springs) -- who spoke at the December 3 news conference.

In contrast, a December 4 Rocky Mountain News article reported that House Speaker Andrew Romanoff (D-Denver) called the GOP's announcement of its own proposals “puzzling” because “McElhany, a Colorado Springs Republican, appointed the chairman of the 27-member commission that has been studying for more than a year how to drive down costs while covering more of Colorado's 792,000 uninsured.”

As the Post reported, “Calling the most expensive of the multi-billion-dollar proposals from a state health care commission 'reckless,' GOP leaders announced their own agenda outside a health clinic in a Stapleton Wal-Mart Supercenter.” The article continued:

“Our health care system is still the best in the world,” said Rep. Amy Stephens, R-Monument. “We cannot, and should not, take a wrecking ball to that system.”

Instead of sweeping reform, the Republicans aim to let health care improve without major government intervention. Among the ideas are letting Coloradans buy health insurance outside the state, providing a low-cost, basic-coverage plan for the uninsured and granting more authority to nurses.

Democrats, who criticized the GOP proposals as unoriginal and vague, are awaiting recommendations in January from the 27-member commission studying health care.

The Post, however, did not note that the commission whose proposals GOP leaders characterized as “reckless” is bipartisan; it includes 12 members appointed by former Republican Gov. Bill Owens, House Minority Leader Mike May (R-Parker), and McElhany. As the News reported:

“We don't need to wreck the whole system that we have in order to fix the problem,” Senate Minority Leader Andy McElhany said. “If you have a flat tire, you fix the flat. You don't reinvent the wheel. Some of the proposals that are coming forward, we think, verge on being reckless.”

House Speaker Andrew Romanoff called the announcement “puzzling.”

The Denver Democrat pointed out that McElhany, a Colorado Springs Republican, appointed the chairman of the 27-member commission that has been studying for more than a year how to drive down costs while covering more of Colorado's 792,000 uninsured.

Republicans should hold their criticism for a possible tax increase until the panel shares its recommendations with the legislature in January, he said. “It seems to me way too early to declare that process a failure.”

Republican commission chairman Bill Lindsay sought to defuse a fight with his own party. “Really, I don't see much disagreement here,” he said.

Most of the GOP health care proposals are in line with what the commission will recommend, he said. However, they are among the more minor reforms.