Stand up for the facts!
Our only agenda is to publish the truth so you can be an informed participant in democracy.
We need your help.
I would like to contribute
Health care reform bill not that bipartisan
In his weekly address, President Barack Obama warned health insurance companies not to derail health care reform, and he praised the progress Congress has already made.
Obama said a broad coalition of supporters including "doctors and nurses, workers and businesses, hospitals and even drug companies — folks who represent different parties and perspectives, including leading Democrats and many leading Republicans" were pushing reform forward.
"Just this week, the Senate Finance Committee approved a reform proposal that has both Democratic and Republican support," he said.
It was the last statement that caught our attention. Leaders of the majority party often boast about bipartisan support when in fact they have only a handful of votes from the minority. But in this case, Obama so far has just one Republican in the Senate.
Featured Fact-check
The Senate Finance Committee voted to approve a version of the health care overhaul on a vote of 14-9 on Oct. 13. Sen. Olympia Snowe, a Republican from Maine, voted with the Democrats. Every other Republican on the committee opposed the measure.
Sign up for PolitiFact texts
Sen. Charles Grassley of Iowa, the ranking Republican member on the committee, called the measure partisan and deeply flawed.
So Obama is technically correct that the proposal had "Democratic and Republican support." But he didn't mention that it got only one Republican vote, which meant the nine other GOP senators voted against it. That's not exactly a robust example of bipartisanship. So we rate his statement Barely True.
Editor's note: This statement was rated Barely True when it was published. On July 27, 2011, we changed the name for the rating to Mostly False.
Our Sources
White House Web site, President Obama Calls Hails Progress on Health Insurance Reform Despite Defenders of the Status Quo , Oct. 17, 2009
Senate Finance Committee, Open Executive Session to Consider an Original Bill Providing for Health Care Reform, Oct. 13, 2009
Sen. Charles Grassley, Grassley: Partisan Health Care Reform Bill is Deeply Flawed , Oct. 13, 2009
Browse the Truth-O-Meter
More by Angie Drobnic Holan
Health care reform bill not that bipartisan
Support independent fact-checking.
Become a member!
In a world of wild talk and fake news, help us stand up for the facts.