Please, Senate Finance Democrats: Stop Hiding Behind Republicans

In just a few hours, the Senate Finance Committee has an opportunity to pick up where the House of Representatives and Senate HELP Committee began, and include in their bill a strong public health insurance option. Only one thing stands in their way: themselves.

Since the beginning of this debate, President Obama and Senator Baucus have done everything possible to keep Republicans at the table. It turns out -- not surprisingly -- the majority of Republicans don’t care about changing our healthcare system. They’re content to do the bidding of Big Insurance by spreading half-truths to score political points. So it’s time for Democrats to make a decision: Are you going to vote to support a public plan, which has the vast support of Democrats, and I might add, of the majority of Americans?  Are you going to stand up for the change the people voted for in November? Or are you going to cower before the Republican minority?

Let’s look at exactly what a public health insurance option would do:

• A strong public option would drive down costs, saving the federal government billions of dollars. One hundred and ten billion to be precise, according to the latest score by the Congressional Budget Office.

• A public option would compete side-by-side in an exchange with private plans -- offering more choices to Americans and forcing private insurers to compete on a level playing field.
  

• It would help guarantee people can afford their healthcare coverage and provide coverage to those the insurance industry continues to discriminate against: Americans with disabilities, pre-existing conditions, or severe health problems.

• No longer would any American have to live with the fear and uncertainty of losing their health insurance -- secure healthcare coverage would bring peace of mind to millions.

• A small number of insurers would no longer have an iron-grip monopoly on certain areas of the country. Private insurers have unleveled the playing field for their benefit by keeping competition out. Look at Maine, just one company controls 71% of the entire state. A strong public plan -- that would cost less -- would rectify this lopsided scenario while simultaneously lowering costs and offering more options to consumers.
  

Republicans can continue to fight for insurance profits but Democrats should embrace this sort of change. It’s a simple choice: stand with Big Insurance or stand with the American People.

Look -- we all know the media is obsessed with the horse race.  The media decided the public health insurance option is dead, so it must be dead. Sure, it makes for an interesting process story but it ignores reality: as long as Democrats act like Democrats and stop hiding behind Republicans, the public option is alive and well.  Guess what?  There are now 60 Democratic Senators, which means there is no place for Dems to hide.  

Today, when Senators Rockefeller and Schumer introduce amendments to the Senate Finance Bill that guarantee competition and choice, it’s time for Democrats to stand up and be counted. We know Republicans will balk and push back in defense of insurance profits, it’s what they’ve done since mark-up began -- looking at you, Senator Kyl -- but we cannot let Republicans and their insurance industry puppet masters control this debate any longer.

It’s time. Time to stand up to the Republicans bent on killing healthcare reform, time to stand up for what you believe in, and time stand up for the American people. You can no longer hide behind the Republicans.

Do you have a Senator who sits on the Senate Finance Committee? [Check to see if you've got a Senator on the committee here.]  Please take a moment to call their office, and remind them of who they represent -- constituents like you. Call toll-free 1-866-311-3405 and you'll be patched through to your Senator's office. Visit http://action.seiu.org/call4publicoption to report-back on your calls.

 

 

Follow Anna Burger on Twitter: www.twitter.com/SEIU_AnnaBurger

Comments

[quest44]

I say let them all know there on notice that come 2012 we just might vote for a third party !

[dbailey]

5 letters! 5 stamps! Mail 5 letters to the fake five DINO’s (dems in name only) on NOVEMBER 27th to their WA addresses. Lets flood the WA post office and let our voices be heard! We gave them all the ammunition they needed in the NOV election and if they can’t make it happen, we’re not going to stand idly by. We’ve watched the banks, auto industry, wall street, CEO’s and all of corporate America get bailed out. Now the Insurance Execs are grinning! NO MORE! Tell them on 11-27 that the money we would we would have spent on black Friday (day after thanksgiving) is being saved to contribute to their competitors! No more contributions to the DNC until we see some signs we are going to get what we paid for with our blood sweat tears and money we already spent to get them in office!! 5 STAMPS 5 LETTERS Hit em in the wallet! Fake 5 - Baucaus MT, Lincoln AR, Nelson NE, Conrad ND and Carper DE

[CaptD]

Why is it that we the folks that are paying for the Health Care of Congress (and everything else) have to put up with all this Congressional media disinformation?

I say, either get on with a "Great Plan" for all Americans or we all should PUSH to instantly repeal the coverage that Congress is now getting, because they don't deserve any better coverage than we do!

It's put up or Shut Up time for all the GREEDY members of Congress... Make quality health care affordable or prepare to enjoy poor care like the rest of America...

[CaptD]

Here is an easy first step:

Make access to Medicare available to any one on Social Security; insurance is most expensive for folks ages 62 to 65 when Medicare "kicks in"...

By allowing folks on Social Security access to Medicare, many more folks will be able to "afford" health insurance now at much reduced rates, which will save health care dollars due to not being treated sooner (when they do get Medicare coverage).

[TopTigerette]

Yeah! Let's bankrupt the government treasury even before 2020!

[research]

raise the opt income tax as needed.

Remove the SS income cap.

Scary huh?

[LeftRight]

How about you remove the SS cap, and then make them buy into Medicare, and wow, the problem is suddenly solved.... Amazing how those critical thinking skills solve things, right???

[CaptD]

Give me a public option
or
give me Death (by not offering quality insurance at a fair price)...

[brworkhorse]

death for sure if you continue with a public plan. If you get sick the public plan will certainly not be there for you to use in a timely fashion. Why is it that everyone sees canada, england and other goverment run health care countries and yet no one thinks it will happen the same way in the united states? CBS/New York Times polls are most obviously left leaning. Of course their numbers are going to say the exact opposite as Gallup. Gallup says 2/3 of Americans feel they should be responsible for their own health insurance. Nobody on the left wants to talk about tort reform, fyi - trial lawyers that make millions off of medical lawsuits to pharmaceutical companies, hospitals, doctors - or allowing insurance to be sold across state lines - like car insurance or homeowners insurance or flood insurance. Instead republicans are branded as hatefilled people who don't want others to have insurance. That is so ridiculous it is laughable. People, don't believe it for a second. I'd love to know what kind of insurance you have right now.

The fact is

[research]

Europe disproves everything you claim.

[Isosoles]

Learn something every day, now for libs 41% is a majority. My math is just not up to date I guess.

[pontesisto]

If you would like to help pressure Congress to pass single payer health care please join our voting bloc at:
http://www.votingbloc.org/Health_Bloc.php

[GrandmaBEE]

Done

[stjam8]

PUBLIC CITIZEN has an on line petition to the Congressional Budget Office to immediately evaluate H R 676 along with other reform proposals. It is essential to compare the cost of Single Payer with other health care reform proposals being considered. Demand C.B.O. scoring for Single Payer Health care and include Single Payer in all discussions about health care reform. Public Citizen and the Sept.3,issue of Rolling Stone "Sick and Wrong" both make the case for Single Payer. There is 1300 private insurers, forcing doctors to fill out different forms and different reimbursement procedures for each and everyone. This drowns medical facilities in idotic paper work and jacks up prices. Nearly a third of all health care costs are associated with wasteful administration. Fully $350 billion dollars could be saved on paper work alone, if the U.S. went to Single payer. Public Option does not reduce the $350 billion on paper work. Dennis kucinich co-authored a bill with Congressman John Conyers. The bill H R 676 would expand Medicare to all. The Center for Responsive Politics has a list of blue dogs and republicans who have received money from the pharmaceutical and insurance companies. Is your elected official on the list? Call and email them. Remind them, That, this President won with a majority and mandate of Universal Health Care. AMERICA THE GREATEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD AND THE ONLY INDUSTRIALIZED NATION WITHOUT HEALTH CARE FOR ALL ITS CITIZENS!

[GrandmaBEE]

This totally fabricated fight for healthcare is not escaping the American people. It was fabricated to protect the Democrats that took money for their votes. Instead of giving us Universal Healthcare,we are going to be so greatful for the watered down public option when it passes. After all they fought so hard to get something passed. Pleeez, fought who? themselves. I am a lifelong Democrat. I will be looking for an independant party after this is done. Not giving my vote to the Republicans either. Two sides of the same coin. They all are corrupt.

[JMac79]

Sadly, I think I'm going to have to follow in your path; the Dems had a simple majority in 2006, and we were told that they didn't have the votes to change the direction the country had been headed via legislation, so voters got them close to 60 (along with the presidency), and then Specter's arrival gave them the supermajority... and we get the same excuses that they don't have the votes to enact the legislation the party supposedly supports. I understand the argument that the Democratic party is a "Big Tent" party, with a greater diversity of political philosophies than the Republicans, but if you can't enact relatively clear-cut legislation (such as HC reform with a public option that is CHEAPER than reform without), what's the point of having such a large party?

I can actually respect many of the Republican politicians that oppose the public option and other measures because the concept(s) goes against their stated ideals and philosophies - I disagree with them vehemently and would never vote for them, but at least they're giving their constituents exactly what they expected when they won their respective elections. It's much more difficult to respect a lot of Democrats however, who continue to campaign on one set of political ideals, and then vote and legislate on a completely different set of of ideals.

[brworkhorse]

I am in agreement as well. Both parties are plagued with corruption and their own agendas.

[den1953]

The only reason they hide behind the Republicans is they can't hide behind the lobbyist!

[mssmartypants]

Max Baucus doesn't have to hide behind anyone. He's so transparent (in being a proxy for the private insurance industry), you can't even see him any more.

[DonReinaldo]

Anna Burger presents a concise analysis and useful suggestions on what we citizens can do. Americans pay 2-3 times as much for health care as residents in other industrialized nations. Elected officials have an obligation to protect and maintain the health of the population rather than the excessive profits of the pharmaceutical and health care industries.

The public option is the only way to ensure that all Americans have access to affordable health services. I will not contribute to the campaign or vote for any Senator or Representative who does not support the public option initiative.

[The Professor]

Please, Senate Finance Committee Democrats, stop hiding behind the DNC!

[Mixpixlix]

Until politicians understand that their jobs are at risk but NOT providing what their constitutents need and I don't mean a new golf course or bridge to no where, things will not change.

We MUST demand term limits. Three in the Senate and 9 in the house for a total of 18 years per elected official. It's more than enough. No more lifetime politicians who lose sight of what's going on with in their districts and around the country.

Since 9/11 non constituents have been restricted in their access to politicians. For example, I think Max Bacus needs to hear from me and other non Nevada residents about how his intransients and dependence on insurance money is wounding this nation. Politicans may be elected locally but their action have an national AND global impact. Yes, if I e-mail him , my email is directed to my state senator. It's wrong.

But until people are willing to rise up and demand change, I fear little will happen. Americans seem to have lost the will that propelled a victory in World War 2. With so many unemployed you'd think the streets would be full of protestors. Where are they?

[zogimperator]

Where are they? Even if they were out in the streets, it wouldn't be reported. Massive anti-war protests, for example, have been studiously ignored, while lately a handful of idiots with teabags have dominated news cycle after news cycle. The "left," which is everybody to the left of Richard Nixon, is seen to be a bunch of crazies, the right is all the responsible people, so if the right goes crazy, it must be newsworthy.

That's why we get these contrasting posts: "I don't care anymore, throw 'em all out" versus "get off your butts and DO something!" The fact is, I've gotten out there and done something, and it's been ignored and scoffed at and marginalized. A few lunatics with guns show up at presidential events and get more press than a million marchers with a real cause.

What's to be done? I don't know. Wiping out the moneyed incumbents seems like about as good an idea as any. But the Democrats are going to lose their majority soon, and it won't just be the Snowes and Baucuses. It will be another spasm of reactionary grunt-think from the public, the Republicans will get some seats back, and after that we just wait for Obama to be impeached for smoking in the bathroom or something.

Too bad about hope, but I have none.

[Malkin72]

Health Care Reform, as currently constructed, is UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

The mandate is unconstitutional.

There is nothing in the Constitution that would allow the federal government to force a citizen to purchase a product or service from a private business.

If the govt. wanted to raise taxes to pay for a public option or single payer, that would be constitutional since they govt. has the right to tax and spend.

They don't have the right to make you buy stuff.

Why is no one asking this question?

[hollybork]

I think you have a point.

[nonpartisan27]

I think that you guys have misunderstood president Obama in the beginning. He never wanted the public option. It was implied to motivate liberals and anger conservative. It was purely a political move. Rather than having Republican objecting to healthcare reform like the 90’s, it was better politic to give them something extreme such as “public option” fight against. Now, Republicans are convinced that they have killed “public option,” but it was a part of the bait, and they fell for it! Since they have “killed” the public option, it is hard now to be against healthcare reform. It will appear that they are the party of objection…

[TeeLolly]

Without a public option, "reform" will be primarily a giveaway of billions to the health insurers. Insurers will get 45 million new customers, forced to buy from them, and taxpayers will subsidize the insurers (with 30% off the top going to multimillion-dollar insurance executives' salaries and anti-consumer lobbyists) rather than actual healthcare. What we're left with is a Republican dream come true.

[Malkin72]

I am so sick of you blind Obama supporters.

WE are the ones who are LOSING.

We have ALL of the power and can't get ANY thing done.

Obama needs to grow a pair.

[MarsAmbassador]

You are dead wrong. If that were the case, the bait he would have been holding would have been the single-payer system. He caved, he's lost touch with progressives and I hope Spitzer and Weiner take him out in 2012 in the Democratic primary. Forcing citizens to buy a service from a private company, which is what this insurance mandate is, is unconstitutional. I can't even IMAGINE that Dems don't realize they are signing their own death warrants with this one. Forcing everyone to have insurance without making sure there's an affordable option that won't screw you over? Are you KIDDING ME?! This is the WORST thing they could have done. They just threw 60 million Americans under the bus and piled more weight onto small business who are struggling with health care costs that have TRIPLED in the past 10 years. There's a reason more cars are made in Ontario Canada than in Michigan. It's because of health care costs. Our companies can't compete!

[hollybork]

Agreed. I am thinking about moving out of the country. This is about it for me.