House Minority Whip Eric Cantor wrote published a piece on CNN.com today. See an excerpt of "It's Time for a Bipartisan Health Bill":
Given the heated rhetoric and sharp partisan divides that have characterized this year's debate, it's easy to forget that there are several key reforms in health care that Democrats and Republicans can agree on.
Unfortunately, congressional leaders in control of the legislative agenda seem to be making this very mistake. A bipartisan deal can still be salvaged, but only if Congress focuses on common-sense principles to keep health care costs in check, preserve the doctor patient relationship and give Americans more options for affordable, high quality health care.
Earlier this month I held a meeting with House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer to discuss the prospects for securing a bipartisan agreement. The meeting was constructive and the leader made clear his preference to work with Republicans wherever possible. Yet despite his good will, House Democrats remain intent on bringing forward a bill -- H.R. 3200 -- riddled with toxic and controversial provisions that alienate Republicans and moderate Democrats.The most prominent poison pill is the government-run plan, which the majority has disingenuously sold to the public as a way to boost competition among insurers and give Americans more choices. In reality, it will do the opposite. Private insurance companies simply cannot compete against a government with the leverage to set the prices it pays to health care providers (the downside, of course, is that care the government is willing to pay for will be rationed and of lower quality).