Former President Bill Clinton Calls on the Senate to Pass Reform

Yesterday, former President Bill Clinton called on the Senate to pass health insurance reform, saying abandoning health care reform now would be a "colossal blunder."

Here’s his full statement, posted on the Nation’s blog:

"America stands at a historic crossroads. At last, we are close to making real health insurance reform a reality. We face one critical, final choice, between action and inaction. We know where the path of inaction leads to: more uninsured Americans, more families struggling to keep up with skyrocketing premiums, higher federal budget deficits, and health costs so much higher than any other country's they will cripple us economically.

Our only responsible choice is the path of action. Does this bill read exactly how I would write it? No. Does it contain everything everyone wants? Of course not. But America can't afford to let the perfect be the enemy of the good.

And this is a good bill: it increases the security of those who already have insurance and gives every American access to affordable coverage; and contains comprehensive efforts to control costs and improve quality, with more information on best practices, and comparative costs and results. The bill will shift the power away from the insurance companies and into the hands of consumers.

Take it from someone who knows: these chances don't come around every day. Allowing this effort to fall short now would be a colossal blunder -- both politically for our party and, far more important, for the physical, fiscal, and economic health of our country."

Congress last tried (but failed) to pass comprehensive health care reform legislation in 1994. Since that time, millions of Americans have lost their insurance, premiums for individuals and families have more than doubled and national health expenditures have nearly tripled.

Comments (3) «

Bill Clinton was the man who took a Democratic majority and wasted it trying to come up with a bill that would appeal to conservatives. He now wants us to "settle" for less than what he was willing to settle for in 1992?

Why was it that President Clinton could never come up with anything but agreements with the conservatives that only benefited them? I would think twice about taking any advice from a man who "settled" for outsourcing and deregulation of our banking system.

That worked out real well for the country.

How about putting the country first and politics second for a change?

1

SandyH on December 18, 2009 at 11:51 PM

Actually if you support this traitor and his minions you too are a traitor to our country and our way of life. The American way. Then again the majority of you probably receive government handouts so why support freedom and values. Lets see if this gets posted......

2

majikman on December 25, 2009 at 07:43 AM

Bill Clinton has now POWER Nor does the bill

3

Shmeow on January 22, 2010 at 12:28 PM

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