Liberal groups bolster Obama healthcare plans

[andym]

By Lisa Wangsness
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2009/06/02/liberal_groups_say_they_will_spend_82m_to_push_through_healthcare_legislation/

WASHINGTON - Leaders of the country's largest and most influential liberal groups said yesterday they are poised to spend $82 million to help push through sweeping healthcare legislation this year. Gathering at a conference to discuss how to promote President Obama's agenda, the leaders said Americans voted for major change last November, and that liberals would fight to help the Obama administration keep its promises on providing universal access to affordable healthcare, as well as immigration reform and education.

"Progressives are fired up and excited about the possibility of what could be the greatest era of progressive reform since 1960," said Richard Borosage, codirector of the Campaign for America's Future. "We do this with the wind at our back." Joining the effort are two major labor organizations, the AFL-CIO and Change to Win; Health Care for America Now, a coalition of healthcare providers, consumer groups, and activists; MoveOn.org, the massive online activist organization; and other groups that claim a total of 30 million members.

Howard Dean, the chairman of the Democratic National Committee during Obama's campaign, the former Vermont governor, and author of a forthcoming book on healthcare, said liberal groups would insist that any health legislation include a Medicare-style public insurance option for people under 65.

Forcing insurers to compete with a government plan, Dean said, is the only way to lower premiums dramatically. Asked whether it was more important to have a public option than to have healthcare bill with bipartisan support, Dean said, without hesitating, "Yes."
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The public medicare style plan is clearly the goal right now. I think this is just the correct approach. Nothing will prove the failings of the current health system like seeing how well this government plan competes with private plans for efficiency and service. I hope to put in some effort myself (write congress etc) to help get this through congress.

[leftstreet]

1. So how much will the premiums be under the Public Option?

:shrug:

[andym]

2. Still to be determined

Still to be determined, but hopefully they will be progressively scaled for affordability. One of the proofs of the superiority of the public plan would be cost effectiveness (hopefully with less overhead than the reported 30% of the insurance companies)

[leftstreet]

3. 'hopefully' 'affordable' 'hopefully'

Got it.

[andym]

4. Well Republicans argue that it will be less affordable

Well Republicans argue that it will be less affordable, and more wasteful. The best we can say is "hopefully" because there will be a strong effort made to gut it and limit who can get it. This is where everybody who believes in such reform needs to make his/her voice heard. As of this moment there is no bill and no law.

[Oregone]

14. There are scenarios where it could be less affordable

(Depending on the legislation).

It is only wasteful if you consider treating sick people a waste.

[Oregone]

13. Private plans are cost effective too

The added costs for administration and profit are probably entirely made up for by them denying claims and refusing high-risk health consumers.

[andym]

18. Cost effective meaning cost per services rendered!

Cost effective doesn't just mean inexpensive. It's what you get for your money!

[drm604]

5. I spent some time phone banking tonight here in PA.

Asking people to call Specter tomorrow and ask him to support the President's health plan including the public option. Everyone I talked to took the number and said that they'd call. They seemed sincere so I think that a high percentage of them actually will call.

[sandnsea]

6. What group is doing that? n/t

[drm604]

8. The woman who organized the phone bank is a paid organizer for Working Families Win.

However, the literature I got from her is from healthcareforamericanow.org. It states "Health Care for America Now (HCAN) is a national grassroots campaign of more than 700 organizations...". I'm guessing that WFW is part of this coalition. So to answer your question, overall it's been put together by Health Care for America, but I was working with a local group organized by Working Families Win.

[sandnsea]

9. I'll check into that

I am putting together the Obama Health Care Kickoff in my town and decided the best approach is to have lots of avenues for people to plug into. The activists here are 100% for single payer, so I'm going to have to find some way to bridge that gap or they will sit it out. Some part of that HCAN, WFW, Coalition might be just the thing. Thanks!

[drm604]

10. You should probably check out HCFAN's website.

http://healthcareforamericanow.org
They may even be able to point you to a local group who is already organizing and who you could work with.

[sandnsea]

11. Thank you

That will be very helpful. I just emailed someone and will see what a couple of the groups are doing in Oregon that might be of interest to some locals.

[andym]

7. Good work!

Hopefully Specter can be persuaded!

[Oregone]

15. What sort of bugs me about this...

Is that it really isn't a real plan yet, and you are providing material support and asking others to support it (and "it" being, whatever legislation is eventually drafted to define its structure).

My issue is that the Devil is in the details here. The plan, when it materializes, could be between a savior to the people to a boon to the for-profit health care industry. I am incredibly annoyed that this debate has come this far with no real detailed "public option" plan, yet the president and other are already asking people to support whatever they come up with? It is beyond absurd. These "leaders" need to draw a line in the sand and tell them, at least, the minimum they will accept in a "public option" before anyone should be expected to jump on board. Otherwise, what seems to be coming is the good ol` bait and switch.

As Ive said elsewhere, this could be like waving candy in front of the eyes of a child, and taking a shit in their mouth when they close their eyes and open up. The devil is in the details, and mind you, it is beneficial to know what you are supporting before you go out and start raising hell for it.

[drm604]

16. So we should simply ignore the issue and not engage in any activism until all the details are known?

One step at a time. I agree that it could end up being watered down or worse, and that battle has to be fought, but we need to at least get a foot in the door first.

[Oregone]

17. Not at all. Rather, support a real plan

(example: single payer)

President Obama's plan isn't a plan actually. Its a direction or method, with no real destination yet. Its like telling a bunch of people to hop into a clown car without pointing them on the right road or giving them a map; eventually they will get *somewhere* I guess.

If this public option plan is good enough, it will draw support on its own two legs once it materializes. In the mean time, its basically just ambiguous feel-good rhetoric with little direction that you are asking people to support. If you create enough leftward pressure supporting something real, you can influence the end result when the plan is actually drafted. If you support an ambiguous pledge for reform, for the sake of reform, you get whatever you get, period (including, perhaps, egg in face).

[SpartanDem]

12. I don't think the importance of this can be understated

in light of what happened in 1993. But this time it looks like we're prepared the right better think again if they think they're going to Harry and Louise us again.