While Washington spent the past year arguing, more than 120,000 Coloradans saw double digit increases in their health insurance. And 57,000 more Coloradans became uninsured.
In the short time I've been in the Senate, I've heard from thousands of Coloradans who found themselves victim to the terrible feeling of not knowing how they were going to pay the bills if their child or spouse got sick.
Help is now on the way. This week, health care reform was signed into law and will give peace of mind to these very families -- an historic milestone that had eluded previous leaders, both Republicans and Democrats, for generations.
These important reforms will expand coverage to 95 percent of Americans. It will provide tax credits to almost 70,000 Colorado small businesses. It will reduce the deficit. And it will reform a number of the worst abuses in the health insurance industry that have victimized innocent patients for years.
Many elements of this law will go into effect right away.
Affordable coverage will be available to those with preexisting conditions, and lifetime limits on coverage will end. Seniors will see improved care, and young adults will have added coverage. Free preventive care and reduced prescriptions will be provided. And health insurance will become more competitive and open, leading to a reduction in costs.
Together, we overcame major hurdles to get to this point. Some tried to use their votes on the legislation to their political advantage, while others tried to do nothing more than hold up progress in an attempt to kill the bill, which would have put Colorado and American families further at risk.
And even now as progress on health care is finally at hand, Republicans are trying to derail the important changes we are making in the reconciliation bill. And unfortunately, some Democrats, like my primary opponent, are playing politics and putting it at risk. They are knowingly playing right into the hands of opponents of health care reform, including the insurance industry.
Just like the health care reforms that are now law, the bill before the Senate this week is far too important to use as a political football.
This bill would close the senior prescription drug coverage loophole that most people know as the "donut hole." It would remove the special political deals, like the "cornhusker kickback." It would further reduce the deficit up to $1.2 trillion over the next two decades and cover even more Americans, bringing the total to 32 million Americans.
This will not happen if the political games continue. That is why public option supporters, including many organizations that have been on the front line of the fight with me, are urging a vote on the reconciliation bill, without any amendments.
Once the reconciliation bill is passed, we must remain committed to getting a public option as a choice for health care in this country. I have long fought to include a public option in the health care reform package, because our friends and families want choice. I will continue this fight in the months ahead.
We will get our vote.
I will continue to put Colorado first, no matter the consequences, because this is about solving problems and not about playing politics. I know that when politics at its worst prevails, the special interests win and the needless bickering that has typified Washington is rewarded.
With reforms that represent a generational, groundbreaking step forward from business as usual, I say that we cannot afford to wait.
Follow Sen. Michael Bennet on Twitter: www.twitter.com/BennetForCO
I suspect the people here who are saying this are trying to make Senator Bennet fail in order to get their friend, Andrew Romanoff, elected. Using this political ploy risks the lives of 32 million people who do not have health insurance in this country. I cannot think of any political game more offensive and sadistic than endangering people's lives for political gain.
Senator Bennet -- thank-you for standing up for the public option, but please do not put in in the reconciliation bill. Please pass the bill immediately and pass the public option when it is safe to do so -- later. Thank-you for all you do for us, and for the American people.
The current bill will leave at least 23 million people without health care. We lose the moral high ground when we say it is alright for anyone to go without health care. http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/2010/0323/Obama-signs-health-care-bill-Who-won-t-be-covered.
The platform of the Colorado Democratic Party calls for support of HR676, a National Health Insurance Single Payer Act (page 2 at http://www.coloradodems.org/docs/2008PlatformDetailed.pdf). Congressman Polis is the only member of the Colorado delegation currently co-sponsoring HR676.
I spoke with Senator Bennet's staff about S703, the corresponding Single Payer Act in the Senate. His staff referred to the bill as a "socialist" proposal that would not be supported. I doubt Senator Bennet's sincere support for a "socialist" public option.
Single Payer is part of the state party platform because it includes universal health care AND fiscal responsibility. Its a shame that so few members of our congressional delegation share these beliefs.
Your apology for Senator Bennet's political gamesmanship is the real tragedy. If he is relected, I don't thing that he will find it convenient to support a public option, let alone single payer when he doesn't need our votes for another six years.
I'd suggest reading Jon Walker's excellent post at http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/2010/03/24/frosh-sen-michael-bennet-wont-offer-public-option-amendment-still-seems-not-to-understand-how-legislative-process-works/ which explains how the legislative process works.
If Senator Bennet truly believed in a public option or single payer he would introduce or support legislation like S703. If he doesn't he should just be honest with voters and explain why he doesn't support a public option.
Any senator can propose an amendment to the reconciliation bill. Over 50 Democratic senators said they'd vote yes on the public option. The public option would save over $100 million, so it relates to the budget and just needs a simple majority (50 + the VP). The language of the senate and the house bills must match word-for-word, so the House will probably have to vote on the senate bill again anyway. The house passed the public option before, and since Supak got what he wanted, there's no reason to believe they won't support it now.
Even one change in the wording of the reconciliation bill would forces it back to the House for another vote. While if the changes are indeed minor, getting 216 votes on it again shouldn’t be too heavy a lift, the entire premise of the Senate leadership whipping against amendments was predicated on the idea of avoiding another House vote. So whipping against amendments that may make the bill more popular seems like a terribly short-sighted strategy.
Every cost control was eliminated from this bill: drug re-importation, Medicare direct drug price negotiation, a public insurance option, Medicare buy-in, and a national rate regulator were all dropped.
Why wouldn’t you go for it? If you are willing to vote for it, why wouldn’t you propose it? We citizens deserve to know where our representatives stand. The public option still is more popular than the bill that just passed.
Michael Bennett, you are a disgrace.
Because of tort reform in Texas (thanks to Gov GW Bush/Rove) the horrific brain damage that happened to my child went unpunished.....Because of medicaid we/he were able to get what he needed and still needs. Tube feeding supplies and formula. Condom catheters and urine bags. Diapers and pads. Hospital bed(s). Wheelchair(s). Ramps and remodelled bathroom(s). Help with purchasing a wheelchair van with a ramp.
The problem is the info one needs when these catastrophes occur is very hard to find. I call it the beautiful golden round building on the hill that you know will be able to help your child/loved one as it beckons one to it but has no doors or windows. It is a circular pursuit but once you find a way in it works wonderfully.. now with healthcare reform perhaps this pursuit of help for a much loved one will become more accessible to all. We had prayed hard for universal healthcare but the HCR is a magnificent beginning! A lot of ignorance on the part of the HATERS who've obviously never walked in these shoes.
Taxpayers foot the bill for the hospital/resident doctors mistakes BTW. I myself am grateful for all those taxes we paid over the years.
With the governments help we are able to care for our severely brain damaged child at home. I quit my job as a registered nurse to care for Matty and fight the GOP..HP!.
http://blog.mcmobilitysystems.com/mobility-news/bid/20322/How-The-Healthcare-Reform-Bill-Will-Offset-Disability-Equipment-Costs
In my case it was due to unscrupulous actions by an insurance company. Specifically Pinnacol Assurance, the Colorado owned and operated workers compensation company. I'm sure you've heard of it.
The question needs to be asked. If the Colorado government cannot be held accountable for the actions of it's own company, how can we trust the federal government to manage health care?
Very soon, however, we are counting on public option to be entroduced and passed. Without the public option there is no way to controll costs.
At the same time, i see a lot of sensible, timely, good things in this bill.
It is going to help so many of us.
We were ,too many of us, in an increasingly dire or unsustainable situation with regard to our insurance bills, and medical coverage .
This is a start, and ,as i read it over, it is a better one than i imagined.
Though i am ashamed of the way a woman's reproductive rights were politicized in the House battle, I am so proud that the Democratic majority in the House passed this legislation, and I fervently hope the Senate completes the process and passes the reconciliation bill.
No more back-and-forth and who will vote for it, and who won't.
Whereas if we wait, the insurers with their 30 million new customers and their billions in new premiums will engage in a lobbying effort that dwarfs this one in order to ensure that no measure to create competition is ever passed.
Go ahead, what are you afraid of?
I sent Mister Suthers an e-mail today, asking about this, but I don't expect an answer.
For some reason, posting the correct email from the Colorado AG web site causes HuffPo to change the email to something else.
Find contact info here: http://www.coloradoattorneygeneral.gov/