House Speaker Nancy Pelosi attacked the health insurance industry today for opposing a public option as part of health care reform, calling the companies "villains" and "immoral."

"They have been doing everything in their power to stop a public option from happening," Pelosi, D-Calif., said. "The public has to know that. They can describe their arguments any way they want, but the fact is they don't want the competition."

A spokesman for the insurance industry responded by calling Pelosi's words mere "political rhetoric" and saying the industry has offered concessions other than a public option.

"Countless physicians, hospitals and employers, and millions of concerned citizens agree that a government-run health care plan will dismantle employer-based coverage, bankrupt local hospitals, and break the promise made to the American people that those who like their health plan can keep it," America's Health Insurance Plans' spokesman Robert Zirkelbach said in a statement.

His complete statement after the jump.

Complete statement by Zirkelbach:

"Health care reform is far too important to be dragged down by divisive political rhetoric from Washington, DC.

"Health plans have been working in support of bipartisan health care reform for three years. Our community has proposed guaranteed coverage for pre-existing conditions, discontinuing rating based on a person's health status or gender, and a personal coverage requirement to get everyone into the system. We have proposed far-reaching administrative reforms to slash paperwork, reduce medical errors, and ensure doctors and hospitals can focus on patient care.

"Countless physicians, hospitals and employers, and millions of concerned citizens agree that a government-run health care plan will dismantle employer-based coverage, bankrupt local hospitals, and break the promise made to the American people that those who like their health plan can keep it.

"Health plans remain committed to working constructively in support of bipartisan health care reform."