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Democrats killing the public option
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The health care industry is spending $1.4 million dollars a day to lobby against President Obama's health care reform. It’s time for the public to start pushing back and let their Representatives know how they feel. .JPG)
Disagreement over a government-run insurance option is one of the main obstacles to a bipartisan health care bill. But it’s not Republicans standing in the way, it’s Democrats. On a critically important issue, Democrats can’t seem to rally together to support the President and some are tuning out the public. 70+ percent of us support a government insurance option. Reconciliation could be used if necessary, allowing 51 votes in the Senate to pass a plan that includes a public option. The president has indicated that a plan without a public option is not acceptable. But who is helping this President? Will 51 Democratic Senators have the guts to do the right thing?
Senator Max Baucus (D-MT) has a huge role with health reform legislation. He has dismissed the importance of a public option, saying, "There's an awful lot more here than the public option," and "We can achieve the objective of health care reform without it." When his committee's draft plan came out there was no public plan mentioned anywhere in the document! Senator Baucus - total from health & insurance interests: $3,973,485 Email
Senator Kent Conrad (D-ND) is the architect of the "co-op" plan, a watered-down "alternative" for the public option. He used right-wing talking points in promoting his measure, saying that "the co-op structure has appeal because it's not government control." Senator Conrad - total from health & insurance interests: $2,154,200 Email
Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA) has said: "I'm not open to a public option. A public option is not something that I support. I don't think it's the right way to go.” Senator Landrieu – total from health & insurance interests: $1,653,943 Email
Senator Joe Lieberman (I-CT) Lieberman has said that he does not favor a public option because he thinks there's plenty of competition in the private insurance market. Senator Lieberman - total from health & insurance interests: $3,308,621 Email
Senator Ben Nelson (D-NE) Nelson has said that "inclusion of a public plan in legislation is a 'deal-breaker' for him. He has reportedly assembled a coalition of like-minded “centrists” opposed to the creation of a public plan. Senator Nelson - total from health & insurance interests: $2,214,715 Email
The public is sick and tired of politicians and lobbyists getting in the way of progress. Democrats have overwhelming majorities in the House and Senate and we have a President that wants to keep the promises he made during his campaign.
Does this country miss out on having a public health care option because of fear? It was fear and misinformation that stood in the way of health care reform during the Clinton administration.
Many Americans have health care that they want to keep but most are willing to allow a public plan and are confidant that such a plan will bring about desperately needed competition and reform. Insurance companies need to be corrected. When premiums can go up $100 in one month, it's time for a correction, when a healthy couple in their 40’s is paying $1,000 a month for health insurance, it's time for a correction, when the owners of a small business will pay $1,800 a month for two people because they both just celebrated their 60th birthday, it's time for a correction, when anyone in this country is denied insurance because of a pre-existing condition, it's time for a correction! A co-op won't make a difference, a public plan will.
It’s embarrassing that Democratic Senators would refuse to support this President on such an incredibly important issue. I will remember who supported a public health care option the next time I vote; I hope we all remember what our Representatives did or did not do.
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