Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer Calls for States to Move Towards Single Payer

[midnight]

Source: Fire Dog Lake

Montana’s Democratic Governor Brian Schweitzer believes his state should follow Vermont’s lead in progressive health care reform at the state level. He plans to ask the federal government to grant Montana waivers to adopt a better system modeled after the one used in the neighboring Canadian province of Saskatchewan. From the Billings Gazette:

Schweitzer told a federal official Wednesday that he will be asking for a waiver allowing the state to abandon the federal programs in favor of one the state will design itself. Schweitzer said details would be coming in the next few months when the request is complete.

The governor said he expects the request will be rejected, like the feds recently did with his proposal to let him sell prescription drugs at Medicaid prices to all Montanans.

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With the Republicans controlling the state legislature, it is unlikely that Schweitzer’s call for a better universal system will result in the state adopting such a plan anytime soon; but it is important that there are prominent political voices in the Democratic Party advocating progressive reform rather than defending the poorly designed and highly unpopular Affordable Care Act.









Read more: http://firedoglake.com/

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I agree. Congress designed a “pack of crap” that gives away far too much to the pharmaceutical industry.

[Donnachaidh]

1. we have a medical industrial complex in this country that needs to be split up

Single payer would take the obscene profiteering out of the arena.

[LongTomH]

2. I hope Montana Dems run on this issue!

If they can explain it to the populace - without a conservative media 'filter' - they will sweep the next election.

But, maybe that's too optimistic. I don't know that much about Montana politics.

[CTyankee]

4. Yes, that would shut the conservatives up! They always whine about liberals being

northeastern "elites." Schweitzer was not what they planned for!

I love his veto branding iron and the humorous way he talks about repub legislation he's vetoing. And he really looks good. Handsome guy but not too much so. LOVE his dog running around!

[valerief]

3. Duh. It's only solution to our problem. nt

[northoftheborder]

5. Schweitzer is one of my favorite people!! Love him.

[Larkspur]

11. Me too!

I pray that he runs for President in 2016.

[Uncle Joe]

6. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, midnight.

[bigworld]

7. Can this guy run for president?

Please?

[BeyondGeography]

8. Love this guy...may insurance co.'s get the same treatment as the Petro Dictators

at next year's convention.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKoKHCxWYM8

[dash_bannon]

9. What if?

What if we could build an interstate movement to create public health care without the Federal Government. States could choose to get involved on their own? How would we get something like that created?

It's a great idea!

[booley]

10. why don't they frame this as states rights?

Am I right in thinking it's republicans in the US congress that's keeping states like Montana from doing this?

Well, if so that seems the GOP is against States rights.

Lets use that against them for a change.

[Lucky Luciano]

12. Wow. How civilized. nt

[CrispyQ]

13. Schweitzer/Warren or Warren/Schweitzer - a girl can dream.

"I have a 72-hour rule. If I stay in Washington for more than 72 hours, I have to bathe myself in the same stuff I use when one of my dogs gets into a fight with a skunk -- stuff to get the smell out."

-- Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer

:rofl:

[Hoosier Daddy]

14. Schweitzer '16!

Hey, if Feingold dooesn't run...K&R

[Zorra]

15. Schweitzer/Warren or Warren/Schweitzer 2016!

Double the fun.

[Recursion]

25. I normally dismiss calls like this, but there's a lot of buzz in DC on that idea

It would mean ending the national party's stance on gun control, though (same with Richardson or any other "saviour from the west" plan). But there are a lot of people saying this.

[StandingInLeftField]

16. MONTANA has a Democratic governor???

WOW!

Being from South Cakelacky, I just assumed........:blush:

[neverforget]

18. For nearly 8 years too. Before the 80's, Montana was much more

liberal than it is today.

[Recursion]

24. For the past decade or so. And he's young. Viable candidate in 2016 (nt)

[StandingInLeftField]

27. Thanks for the replies

I'm pleasantly surprised (and educated!)

[democrank]

17. Give this guy a standing ovation!

[musiclawyer]

19. Warren/Schweitzer 2016

That's the ticket

[bread_and_roses]

20. K&R & n/t

[theaocp]

21. FDL = autorec

Go, Montana! Must be that Saskatchewan-love rubbing off from your neighbor!

[ClarkUSA]

22. So "another governor is looking to take advantage of flexibility in Obama’s health care law"?

Think Progress tells the whole truth. Facts do matter and they strike again:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=433x785281

FirePUMALake disinformation neglects to add that it's the Affordable Care Act that is making all this possible for the DLC/New Democrat/Third Way Governor of Montana people here are cheering for and hoping will be POTUS in 2016 (he who champions clean coal, deliberately chose a Republican to be Lt. Governor instead of a Democrat and okayed endangered species wolf hunts from helicopters despite EPA and conservationists' concerns). If PUMA Jane "Blackface" Hamsher had had her way with her ally Grover Norquist, they would have Killed This Bill.

[Recursion]

23. This was Canada's path. Sounds good to me.

The provinces run the payment in Canada. Works for me.

[stevedeshazer]

26. This is brilliant on Gov. Schweitzer's part.

Basing it on the Saskatchewan model, which Montana borders, is perfect.

Because Saskatchewan is the birthplace of single payer coverage.

Championed into law by the greatest Canadian ever, Tommy Douglas, the father of Medicare for all!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tommy_Douglas

Schweitzer can now legitimately claim that, if they can do it in Saskatchewan, why can't we do it in Montana?

+1