President Obama threw the nation's Governors a bit of a curve ball on Monday at the White House, as he mixed some funny lines with a few jabs and then offered to let states opt out of the new health law in three years.
It was the biggest change of pace by the White House on health reform since the plan was signed into law, and represents what would be a major change - if states could get a waiver from the feds - allowing them to basically run their own health system.
"I’ve said before, I don’t believe that any single party has a monopoly on good ideas," the President said in a speech to Governors. "And I will go to bat for whatever works, no matter who or where it comes from."
But a briefing by senior administration officials later in the day confirmed that for states to be able to get a waiver, they would have to do a lot - stress that - a lot, to get out from under the current Obama health law mandates and requirements.
While White House officials trumpeted the offer as proof that the Administration is listening to calls by states for change in the Obama health law, Republicans reacted cooly, with some labeling this a PR stunt.
"The Administration is merely supporting a date change that moves the so-called state waiver in the health law from 2017 to 2014," said Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT).
"It does nothing to address the law’s major structural flaws," which Hatch then went on to list in a written statement issued by his office.
Still, it was clear the White House was again trying to get out a message of bipartisanship - even on health care - to try to convince voters that the President is listening to all sides.
"I am willing to work with anyone -- anybody in this room, Democrat or Republican, governors or member of Congress -- to make this law even better; to make care even better; to make it more affordable and fix what needs fixing," the President said.
That offer came after at the end of a speech that had already made a lot of news on Monday morning, as Mr. Obama took multiple jabs at Republican Governors, GOP lawmakers in Congress and prospective candidates for the White House from the other party as well.
The tone was combative, as he tried to stick a verbal crowbar in the ribs of Republicans by taunting them on the controversial economic stimulus law.
"It is undeniable that the Recovery Act helped every single state represented in this room manage your budgets, whether you admit it or not."
In a sense, it was an in-person rebuke from the President to every GOP Governor who complained about the stimulus but then took the money being offered by the feds.
As the President continued by saying "you face some very tough choices" on state budgets, he also made clear to the Governors - mainly the Republicans - that he was not amused by the theatrics being played out in the Wisconsin State Capitol in recent days.
"I believe that everybody should be prepared to give up something in order to solve our budget challenges, and I think most public servants agree with that, as the President's voice and demeanor became much more firm.
"But let me also say this: I don’t think it does anybody any good when public employees are denigrated or vilified or their rights are infringed upon."
Mr. Obama never said the word "Wisconsin" - he didn't have to - everyone in the room knew what he was talking about.
