Suits me fine. When Dems make it law the next election will be that much easier.

The risk here is that the Republicans endorse the co-op plan and outvote the progressives forcing Obama to either veto the co-op and push for the public plan (while bearing the brunt of the “President vetoes bipartisan healthcare because it’s not liberal enough” meme) or sign a bad bill and kill the public option.

But politics is not without it’s risks…for any of us.

GREED GREED we need to let the People know that is what the Repukes are really saying they are protecting their Big Moneyed backers $$$$

I say Fuck them, force them out of business!! They have had since Truman’s time to get it right and things have only gotten WORSE on their watch. Time they went the way of Darwin’s theories of extinction!!!

Thanks to everyone who has been calling today, we really appreciate it. Lots of good responses. Will have more updates later.

Thank you for contacting me about universal health coverage for all Americans. I support ensuring that all Americans have access to quality, affordable health care and I appreciate hearing from you on this important issue.

The U.S. spends significantly more than any other industrialized nation on health care, as a percentage of our gross national product, yet our results are not as good. Health care costs have increased faster than inflation every year for almost 40 years. The average family’s health insurance premiums cost over $10,000 a year. Most Western nations provide comprehensive coverage to their entire populations, while almost 50 million Americans are completely uninsured and millions more are inadequately covered. This is unacceptable, and Congress and the Obama Administration must address these problems.

In every Congress a number of bills are introduced to overhaul our health care system, ranging from expanding federal programs that provide health care to the uninsured, to instituting a comprehensive national health insurance system, to offering tax incentives for people to purchase more private insurance. I am thoroughly evaluating each bill before endorsing any specific plan for universal health care. I believe that the best solution is to create a universal health care program, providing full and complete coverage to all Americans.

One proposal is H.R. 676, introduced by Rep. John Conyers of Michigan. H.R. 676 would provide all Americans with necessary medical services by the physicians of their choice without co-payments or other fees at the time of service. The bill would fully cover primary care, dental, mental health, prescription drugs, and long-term care. Payment for this program would come from a variety of sources, including an increase in the payroll tax and an increase in the tax rate on the wealthiest taxpayers. I support the goals of H.R. 676, however I have many concerns about the specifics of the legislation. In particular, I am concerned that a massive increase in the payroll tax, the most regressive tax, would really hurt lower-income people. That is why I have not cosponsored it.

I was proud that this year we finally made long overdue improvements to the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). I voted for H.R. 2, the Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act, which expands SCHIP from providing health insurance to 7 million children nationwide to covering more than 11 million children who would otherwise be uninsured. This legislation provides states with sufficient funding to continue their current SCHIP programs and expands them to include additional qualified children. H.R. 2 also adds guaranteed coverage for dental care and mental health services for all children enrolled in SCHIP. H.R. 2 was signed into law by President Obama on February 4, 2009. I am proud to have worked with the overwhelming majority in Congress to pass this vital legislation for America’s children and hope to expand on this work to help all Americans who are struggling to get affordable, quality health care.