House liberals insist on strong gov't health plan

[babylonsister]

House liberals insist on strong gov't health plan
By Jeffrey Young
Posted: 06/05/09 05:30 PM


Eighty liberal lawmakers, in a letter sent to House Democratic leaders Friday, forcefully demanded a “robust and affordable” new government-run health insurance plan be part of healthcare reform.

Emboldened by President Obama’s declaration this week that he wants a public plan option created by the legislation being drafted by Democrats, the Congressional Progressives Caucus (CPC) aggressively stakes its claim as a player in the healthcare reform debate under way in Congress.

The tough posture taken by the Democratic Party’s left wing underscores the challenges congressional leaders and the Obama administration have at keeping their own house in order.

In its letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and other Democratic leaders, including the committee chairmen writing the bill, the liberal group rejects any healthcare reform plan that excludes a public plan or, as some centrists have suggested, or includes a public plan that would only be “triggered” if private insurers fail to extend coverage.

The progressive caucus, along with the Congressional Black Caucus, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus sent similar letters to Democratic congressional leaders and Obama earlier this year.

The liberals’ letter notably comes a day after the Blue Dog Democrats, a group of House centrists, expressed their strong opposition to any public plan unless it “only as a fallback” if the private insurance market does not improve.

more...

http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/house-liberals-insist-on-strong-govt-health-plan-2009-06-05.html

[Cleita]

1. Time to blast the DINOs including Pelosi with telephone calls and

faxes that only a public option like HR676 is acceptable. No triggers, no private insurers FIRST. There is no choice if they are making the choice for you.

[sandnsea]

2. No Trigger - Health Care For America Now

They'll patch you through to your senate office.

http://tools.advomatic.com/8/trigger

[Deep13]

4. Suddenly, I love bicameralism.

Goddamn Baucus! :grr:

[sandnsea]

7. Many in the Senate are fighting for the Public Option

If we would all turn our attention 2 degrees, with everybody pinpointed like a laserbeam, we might get somewhere. Public Option, Open Enrollment, NO Trigger.

Go To The Meeting Tomorrow!!!

[Deep13]

3. Hell yeah!!

Some folks know they're up for reelection next year. I would prefer seeing the dead-weight insurers kept out of it, but an at-will public option may be the intermediate step towards single payer.

[slipslidingaway]

5. Congressional Progressive Caucus Lays Out Criteria for Public Option

http://cpc.grijalva.house.gov/index.cfm?ContentID=420&ParentID=8&SectionID=21&SectionTree=8,21&lnk=b&ItemID=418

"Friday June 05, 2009

Vow to oppose healthcare legislation that does not provide robust and affordable public plan

Washington, DC—Today, the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) united behind a set of principles that define a public option to be included in a final healthcare reform bill in the event that a single payer plan is not enacted. The principles call for a guarantee of coverage, high-quality and accessible healthcare, and lower costs – regardless of income, health status, race, employment, or gender. The principles also state the CPC’s strong opposition to any conditions or triggers that might limit the availability of the public plan.

...On April 2, the CPC sent a letter to Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid stating that a majority of its members would oppose any legislation that did not include a public option. That was followed up on April 24th with an unprecedented letter to President Obama and the Democratic Leadership of the House and Senate from the leaders of four prominent caucuses consisting of 120 Members– the CPC plus the Black Caucus (CBC), the Hispanic Caucus (CHC), and the Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) stressing that the support for health care reform must require a robust public health insurance plan like Medicare."


http://cpc.grijalva.house.gov/uploads/CPC%20public%20Health%20Plan%20principles.pdf


"The Congressional Progressive Caucus stands united behind President Obama’s call to provide high quality, affordability, and accessibility in healthcare choices for all Americans. The overwhelming majority of Congressional Progressive Caucus members prefer a single-payer approach. If a single-payer plan is not enacted, we agree with President Obama that there must be a robust public health insurance option like Medicare offered alongside the private plans. This public plan would provide a guarantee of coverage, affordable, high-quality and accessible healthcare, and lower costs – regardless of income, health status, race, employment, or gender. We oppose any conditions or triggers undermining and limiting the availability of the public option...


...In conclusion, the public plan, like all other qualified plans, must redress historical disparities in underrepresented communities. It must provide a standard package of comprehensive benefits including dental, vision, mental health and prescription drug coverage with no pre-existing condition exclusions. It must limit cost-sharing so that there are no barriers to care, and incorporate up-to-date best practice models to improve quality and lower costs. All plans, including the public plan, must include coverage for evidence-based preventive health services at minimal or no co-pay. All plans, including the public plan, should be at least as transparent as traditional Medicare."

[Faryn Balyncd]

6. K & R - Great news, especially combined with the realease of Kennedy's bill at this link:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=5791992&mesg_id=5791992

[unblock]

8. there are EIGHTY liberal lawmakers? who knew!

[defendandprotect]

9. That should specify MEDICARE FOR ALL option . . .

the end of "for profit" health care which is killing America and Americans!!!

Conyers is supporting this and I think .... the independent . . . can't think of his name

at the moment.