Health Policy Now Carved Out at a More Centrist Table
The fate of the health care overhaul largely rests on the shoulders of six senators who since June 17 have gathered — often twice a day, and for many hours at a stretch — in a conference room with burnt sienna walls, in the office of the Senate Finance Committee chairman, Max Baucus, Democrat of Montana.
President Obama and Congressional leaders agree that if a bipartisan deal can be forged on health care, it will emerge from this conference room, with a huge map of Montana on one wall and photos of Mike Mansfield, the Montanan who was the longest-serving Senate majority leader, on the other.
I look forward to reading the final compromises that this group of 3 Democrats and 3 Republicans develop. One issue that they seem to have already settled is no public plan, rather co-ops.
Already, the group of six has tossed aside the idea of a government-run insurance plan that would compete with private insurers, which the president supports but Republicans said was a deal-breaker.
Instead, they are proposing a network of private, nonprofit cooperatives.
These senators are trying to find the middle ground, yet meet the President’s criteria.
We need health care reform. As I said yesterday, we do need some health care reform. Many parts of the current bills are excellent. I hope this group improves on the good. Too many critics want a perfect bill. Congress never passes perfect bills.
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Concerning health care, I, too, agree we need a revised plan, but not this one, and not rammed down our throats in the middle of the night or, as has just been announced, by the end of the week if regrouping works.
Here’s the quote that comes to mind, “There’s a sucker born every minute.”
Let’s just hope the American people prevale against a government takeover. Look what they’ve done to the banking and auto industries, never mind real estate and banking.
Sincerely,
Loye Noah
Loye Noah
My comment is not so much about the details of the bill as it is to say THANK YOU to the people who are actually trying to come up with solutions. Everyone know that we need reform so I just want to thank those who are genuinely working on this. I have been self employed most of my adult life and also most of my adult life I and my family did not have health coverage because it was simply too expensive. As a small business owner it is increasingly difficult to offer insurance to my employees. I watch on a daily basis as myself and my employees have to choose not to get the care we need so that we can pay our bills and put food on the table. So again Thank you for finding solutions where others just put up barriers. We need to start somewhere please vote YES on healthcare reform.
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