Thursday
Feb252010
Democrat Pingree: Public Option Is The Key To Health Reform
Thursday, February 25, 2010 at 1:59PM
By Chingyu Wang - Talk Radio News Service
Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-Maine), Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.) and leaders from the organizations Democracy for America and Progressive Change Campaign Committee argued Thursday that the majority of Americans would prefer having the controversial 'public option' be a part of healthcare reform.
"New Research 2000 polling shows voters in state after state hate the current Senate bill, overwhelmingly support the public option, and want senators like Tom Harkin, Byron Dorgan, Claire McCaskill, Jim Webb, and others to fight harder for the public option," said Progressive Change Campaign Committee (PCCC) Co-Founder Adam Green.
According to a recent New York Times poll on public option, 59% of Americans support the public option, Green added.
Pingree said he believes the public option, essentially a government-administered insurance plan, is necessary to reduce the nation's deficit, as well as to inject competition in the marketplace. The combination of a public option plan and a repealing of the antitrust exemption for health insurance companies will greatly improve things, added Pingree.
"It's important for this bill for reducing the deficit, and for really injecting competition into a field," she said. "The House took its historical vote yesterday on repealing the antitrust provision -- the exemption that insurance companies have had; we took an important step but the public option will take it all the way."
Weiner said he was hopeful that the public option would be discussed during Thursday's healthcare summit involving Members of Congress and the President, stating his desire that the politically poisonous provision wouldn't be neglected in the name of bipartisanship.
"We have to not see this urge for bipartisanship as being a substitute for our elective responsibility to make good law," said Weiner. "The Republicans have expressed their imperatives, which is to try to stop the President from being successful."
Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-Maine), Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.) and leaders from the organizations Democracy for America and Progressive Change Campaign Committee argued Thursday that the majority of Americans would prefer having the controversial 'public option' be a part of healthcare reform.
"New Research 2000 polling shows voters in state after state hate the current Senate bill, overwhelmingly support the public option, and want senators like Tom Harkin, Byron Dorgan, Claire McCaskill, Jim Webb, and others to fight harder for the public option," said Progressive Change Campaign Committee (PCCC) Co-Founder Adam Green.
According to a recent New York Times poll on public option, 59% of Americans support the public option, Green added.
Pingree said he believes the public option, essentially a government-administered insurance plan, is necessary to reduce the nation's deficit, as well as to inject competition in the marketplace. The combination of a public option plan and a repealing of the antitrust exemption for health insurance companies will greatly improve things, added Pingree.
"It's important for this bill for reducing the deficit, and for really injecting competition into a field," she said. "The House took its historical vote yesterday on repealing the antitrust provision -- the exemption that insurance companies have had; we took an important step but the public option will take it all the way."
Weiner said he was hopeful that the public option would be discussed during Thursday's healthcare summit involving Members of Congress and the President, stating his desire that the politically poisonous provision wouldn't be neglected in the name of bipartisanship.
"We have to not see this urge for bipartisanship as being a substitute for our elective responsibility to make good law," said Weiner. "The Republicans have expressed their imperatives, which is to try to stop the President from being successful."
Hoyer: House Prepared To Vote On Reconciliation Bill Again
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) told reporters Tuesday that if the Senate alters the reconciliation bill passed by the lower-chamber Sunday night, the House is ready to vote on the package of amendments again.
"Our members are prepared to vote again," Hoyer said.
According to the rules governing Congress, any change made to the reconciliation bill by the Senate would require the bill to be re-approved by the House.
Hoyer said that he expects the Senate to act soon.
"Expect the Senate to be able to approve [the reconciliation bill] before the end of the week,” the Majority Leader said.
Hoyer also shot back at Republican criticism Tuesday, stating that healthcare reform “is not a government takeover" and will have positive effects on all Americans immediately.
“These bills reach broader and deeper and will have positive effects on every American’s life,” said Hoyer.
“Starting right away, tax credits will be available for small businesses and there will be relief for seniors who fall into the Medicare prescription drug 'donut hole' gap in their coverage,” Hoyer explained.