The Democratic Party

Big Week for Health Insurance Reform

Posted by cloe on October 9, 2009 at 05:23 PM

As we get closer and closer to a final version of health insurance reform legislation, momentum behind reform is picking up steam.

Positive CBO score of Senate Finance Committee bill? Check.

Rising approval ratings for President Obama and his health reform plan? Check.

Plummeting poll numbers for Congressional Republicans and their efforts to stall and kill reform? Check.

Parade of prominent Republicans breaking with GOP leadership to support health insurance reform? Check.

It’s been a big, big week for health insurance reform. CBO estimated the Senate Finance Committee bill would cost approximately $829 billion over the next decade and actually reduce the federal budget by $81 billion from 2010-2019. According to the latest AP poll, President Obama’s approval rating rose six points last month to 56 percent, while a Quinnipiac poll found that 64 percent disapprove of the obstructionist strategy employed by Congressional Republicans.

As if that weren’t enough evidence of the GOP’s strategy unraveling -- see the list of prominent Republicans who have determined the Party of No has it all wrong, and publicly declared their support for passing health insurance reform this year: former Bush Administration Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson, former Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, Former Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, former Health and Human Services Secretary (under President George H.W. Bush) Dr. Louis Sullivan, two George W. Bush Medicare Chiefs Mark McClellan and Tom Scully and Republican-turned-Independent New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

This basically sums it up:

“…Failure to reach an agreement on health reform this year is not an acceptable option. Inaction will only increase the burden of rapidly rising health care costs and care denied for millions of American families. Inaction will increase the crushing burden of rising health costs on American businesses that are struggling to create jobs and lead America’s economic recovery. It is time for action.” - Joint Statement from Tommy Thompson and former House Majority Leader Dick Gephardt

The Senate Finance Committee is scheduled to vote on Tuesday.

Comments (4) «

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marinod39 on October 10, 2009 at 07:27 AM

The few adults left in the Republican Party say it's time to address this problem. The rest think pray circles are the only answer...for Republicans. The rest of us need to die quickly to make room for conservatives in the emergency room?

SandyH on October 10, 2009 at 10:36 AM

This is idiotic. We all enjoy many parts of our society that can easily be construed as socialistic. Roads, highways, and all the signs that help us find our way are brought to us via government at some level. Same for our water supply from resevoir systems built by the government, and sewage systems. How about our parks, electricity coming from government projects. Then there's our schools, fire department, police departments, and the courts.

This list goes on, but I think I've made my poing

jdanton on October 11, 2009 at 07:53 PM

I hope someone talks about rising insurance premiums in connection to the money they've spent lobbying. If this is not addressed, the rates will go up to cover that cost, but will be blamed on the reform.

jdanton on October 12, 2009 at 07:04 PM