This morning’s NY Times article, Public Option Is Next Big Hurdle in Health Debate, gives all the clear and simple reasons why we must focus our house members and President Obama on staying strong on public option. The fact that the House’s version of the public plan would save $110 billion over the next 10 years is proof enough that the debate is far from “dead” – something the pundits were saying weeks ago. In contrast, as the Times article so clearly points out, is the “co-op” proposal in the Senate Finance bill, which the Congressional Budget Office says would do “very little” to both help cover the uninsured and help lower the overall price tag of reform for the country.
The fiscal conservative Blue Dogs must take another look at the real implications of the public option and what it means for the overall cost of the plan. Not to mention the cost to their constituents. What keeps getting thrown out of the debate, but must be constantly on the minds of our lawmakers, is the 2010 elections and what the voters back home will think about what is in final legislation.
The bottom line is, if the House sticks to its guns and fights for H.R. 3200 – they’ll do fine in 2010. The bill very clearly does more for their constituents than any other. The affordability measures and subsidies for working families in their districts are stronger than the other proposals. The House bill actually helps small businesses help pay for employees. The House bill has the strong public option that gives uninsured folks a choice of both private plans and a public plan, and again, it helps reduce the over all cost. Finally, the house bill does not include one of the worst provisions seen in Congress yet – the tax on health care benefits that would fall on the backs of the working people of our country (it is unfortunately in the Senate Finance bill passed this week).
We must keep fighting in the Senate to make sure that when the two bills on in that house are merged, the HELP bill’s public options is a part of the legislation. If you haven’t called Senator Reid yet – do so today. But our focus must also be on making sure our US House Members stay true to their mission – to be the voice of the people. They must do what is best for everyone in America, and that is passing a bill that keeps costs for people low, gives us the choice of a public plan and doesn’t tax working people’s health benefits.