Blue Dogs in the House and conservative Democrats in the Senate have objected to the idea, and it looks like their objections are carrying the day at this point. But in order to pass a health care bill will need support from liberal members as well. So, will the Progressive Caucus vote for a bill without a public option?
Rep. Maxine Waters, D-L.A., says no:
"As I have said before, particularly in conjunction with my colleagues in the Congressional Progressive Caucus, I will not be able to support a health care reform bill that does not guarantee the creation of a public option that will provide an alternative for the 47 million uninsured Americans and millions more who face rising premiums, deductibles and co-pays."Waters' full statement after the jump.
"I am very troubled to hear that after months of negotiations - supposedly moving toward meaningful health care reform - the public option may in fact be off the table," said Congresswoman Maxine Waters. "As I have said before, particularly in conjunction with my colleagues in the Congressional Progressive Caucus, I will not be able to support a health care reform bill that does not guarantee the creation of a public option that will provide an alternative for the 47 million uninsured Americans and millions more who face rising premiums, deductibles and co-pays.
"The American people are strongly in favor of a public option as an alternative competitor to private insurance companies. How can we expect these insurance companies to expand access and make health care insurance more affordable without increased competition?
"The pressure on Congress from lobbyists who represent health care reform opponents is immense: recent reports suggest there may be as many as 6 lobbyists for each Member of Congress working to defeat meaningful health care reform. I cannot and will not sit by and quietly allow outside opposition to dismantle a program meant to provide the American people with an option so that they and their families can access quality, affordable health care.
"As part of National Health Center Week I recently attended several events in my district where nonprofit organizations such as RAM-LA and community clinics such as the South Bay Family Healthcare Center and the Venice Family Clinic offered free health screenings and other necessary medical treatments to thousands of Angelenos who simply cannot afford them. After seeing firsthand the overwhelming demand for these services - compounded by the 14,000 Americans losing their health insurance each day and by persistently high national unemployment and foreclosure rates- I have never been more convinced of the immediate need to reform our health insurance system.
"I strongly urge my colleagues involved in health care reform negotiations to join me in standing up in support of the public option and not caving in to insurance company opposition - we've played their game before and the losers are millions of working Americans and their families who either spend a disproportionate amount of their income on health insurance or who simply cannot afford health insurance in the first place."
I have read at least some of HR3200 and I am opposed to this bill as written. No one told me to speak out against it, I do not belong to any organized group. I am speaking for myself. The public option should not be in any bill. People who are unable to get insurance because of pre-existing conditions should be covered and there should be something in it about Tort Reform. I don't want illegals covered in a bill. Tax money should not be spent to cover abotions. Finally, groups such as ACORN and SEIU should not have any influence in any bill.
I haven't heard one peep about the health insurance debate from our representative, Jane Harman. Gene, will she be holding a town hall meeting?