The Congressional Progressive Caucus and members of the Black, Hispanic, and Asian and Pacific Islander Caucuses have joined forces to push for health care legislation that would provide a public health care option.
“We need to have a public option to keep them [the private insurers] honest,” said U.S. Rep. Lynn C. Woolsey (D-Calif.), Co-Chair of the Progressive Caucus.
The Progressive Caucus as well as their allies warned that they will vote against any health care legislation which would not include a public plan and have emphasized that they speak for approximately 120 members of Congress.
“We want to make sure that whatever comes to the floor - a strong public health option - remains in that bill,” said Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), a member of the Black Caucus.
Rep. Raul M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.), Co-Chair of the Progressive Caucus, described a public option as “essential to the passage of the health reform bill. It is cornerstone, for many of us.”