The question on everyone's mind today is what went wrong in Massachusetts? The tea leaf-reading and hand wringing will no doubt monopolize much of Washington's time over the coming days and weeks. But there's a better question for today: What's the path forward to passing meaningful health insurance reform?
For Pat Dejong and the millions of working families like her's across the country, today is no different than yesterday when a Democratic senator held Ted Kennedy's old seat. Pat DeJong will still wake up in Libby, Montana. She'll still mourn the loss of her husband and the family ranch they lost because of his medical bills. And, Pat will still go to the bedside of her patients each day, still lacking coverage of her own.
So what's next for Pat? What's next for a country frustrated by leaders who seem to be governing out of timidity versus conviction?
Step one: The House should pass the Senate's health insurance reform bill - with an agreement that it will be fixed, fixed right, and fixed right away through a parallel process.
Reform can work -- the Senate bill can serve as the foundation for reform and include at minimum the improvements the Administration, House, and Senate have negotiated. We cannot squander the opportunity to make real progress. The House and Senate must move forward together. And, there is no reason they cannot move forward together to make those changes through any means possible -- whether through reconciliation or other pieces of moving legislation.
Some in Washington may want to throw their hands up and walk away; others may call for walking back reform by passing something smaller. So let's just say it: the Democrats own health reform. They own the votes they already took. And, they own what health reform will stand for. Most importantly, it will be a major achievement the American people need and deserve. There is no turning back. There is no running away. There is no reset button.
There is a right choice: Break the political paralysis and go big. Giving up or scaling back reform is not an option. It's not an option for our employers. It's not an option for our deficit. And, it is certainly not an option for the millions across this country like Pat DeJong who are crying out for real change. It's simply not an option for our country's future. It's time to deliver the change that the people of our country voted for in 2008 and Massachusetts voted for last night.
Let's not overcomplicate the process, let's just make it happen. Because we cannot pause or take a step back - we have only one choice: move forward with real reform decisively and right now.
For more information about SEIU's programs and initiatives to help working families, visit SEIU.org.
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If you pass the senate version then you are only gauranteed that you will get the senate version. The democratic party will be tied, by the mandate, to every predatory transaction that the insurance industry committs, for ever. Why do I think the insurance industry will do anything predatory, see the story about the scorpion and the frog.
Gee, where have I heard that before? No Child Left Behind. Funny how it never got fixed later. Besides, why can't they fix it now? What is going to change later? Right now the Dems have both houses of congress and the presidency, and they STILL claim that they can't add a public option or break up the anti-trust exemption. I call BS.
No one really knows what is in this bill, both sides LIED. Among the many mistakes, with this
bill wasn't just for people who have no insurance, it was for millions who had their insurance
dropped, when they got sick. And for millions of small business owners, who could no longer
pay for insurance for their employees - this was never talked about.
And the absurd outrage about the special deal unions got - when in reality, union members
took huge pay cuts to get health benefits. I don't belong to a union, but I even know about
the cuts in pay union members made to keep benefits. Yet, this is NEVER discussed.
McCain rails against Unions - that was all over the media - the Union side - invisible.
The communication should have been clear - "Pre-Existing Condition" - no longer will
insurance companies reject you, no longer can they drop people when they get sick.
People can take their insurance with them - when and if they find a new job.
It should have been Single Payer.
Or a very very strong Public Option.
The one thing is should not be is - CAVING TO THE INSURANCE COMPANIES
AND BIG PHARMA.
I strongly support the unions - and please keep fighting to get the truth out,
and put the pressure on the Democrats and Obama.
The incredibly obvious message to Obama and the Democrats from last Tuesday was "Please stop doing the things we clearly don't want you to do and begin making rational policy decisions!" They can either listen now or continue flailing away and hear the same powerful message this coming November 2rd. Without a course correction this next one will register seismically from coast to coast!
You’re asking us to accept a plan that you have found unfit for your own organization? You author this article telling us to pass a bill that will mandate every American to subsidize Union Cadillac Plans? Who do you think your dealing with Mr. Stern? Cadillac healthcare plans were to be taxed across the board so fellow citizens could receive care and get coverage. Not one week ago this administration capitulated to you and other Unions that now allow your own organizations to defer taxes on premium plans as apposed to every other American. You’re taking from the pool and not contributing. My opinion is this is one of the reasons why we lost Massachusetts. This was fresh on those citizen minds.
We are not subsidizing your Union’s healthcare Mr. Stern and if this healthcare plan is as good as you say then there should be no problem with fair and vertical treatment. Now that Brown was elected the bill as you think you know is over. The last thing I needed to see after Massachusetts Tuesday night is this from you Sir.
Arrogance? Ignorance? No shame? Take your pick but kindly stop patronizing us Mr. Stern.
Tina
From an economics point of view, as far as free enterprise producing a better product, they are the exception that proves the rule. Health care demand is inelastic. the law of supply and demand does not work. Start with that!
From a moral point of view they are pimping off of health care professionals.
From an ethical point of view, the insurance lobby and campaign contributions have brought out the worst in our elected officials.”
You should be more worried about losing the next union election than this lousy health care bill that does nothing to help working families that you claim to represent.
It looks to us out here that you take more joy from having your ego stroked by brushing up against big politicians than you do in helping working people.
I believe what we'd see is Hillary running the Obama health-care circus into a whole bunch of new sinkholes.
Mr. Stern,... with all due respect,... do you actually believe that anywhere near a working majority in the House or especially the Senate have the political will to 'fix' this monster of a Bill? It was all they could collectively do to pass a Bill (assuming they still manage it) that had a few concessions for the people,... with a huge windfall for the for-Profit Health Care insurers.
Their corporate masters won't let them,... and a majority of American voters are dumb enough to believe the commercials that tell them 'Real Reform' has already been passed. And that anything else would be 'a Commie Plot'.