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On the steps of the Capitol today, Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the Democratic caucus unveiled the “Affordable Health Care for America Act.” [pdf]
This bill makes health care more affordable to people, it regulates insurance company bad practices, it is fairly financed and asks employers to pitch in their fair share, and it gives us the choice of a public health insurance option to keep insurance companies honest.
There will be a lot more to say on this bill in the coming hours and days as it is passed through the House of Representatives, but the historical significance of today shouldn’t be understated.
I attended the bill unveiling at the Capitol building this morning, and the Members of Congress who spoke often referred to FDR and LBJ, who stood up for health care for all decades ago. One man embodies those passed fights, and it is fitting that he is the first co-sponsor of this new bill that will finally deliver on the promise of quality, affordable health care for all in America.
Representative John Dingell from Michigan has been in Congress since 1955. His father was one of the first to take up the fight for health reform in Congress, and ever since, Representative Dingell has carried on his father’s torch, introducing the universal health care bill his father wrote into Congress every year.
Today, Representative Dingell’s name appears first in the list of co-sponsors for the Affordable Health Care for America Act, and today on the Capitol steps, Representative Dingell spoke out for reform. He brought with him the gavel he used to help pass Medicare, and said he would lend it to whoever presided over the House vote on this health care bill. As he said, “A good piece of wood does not wear out with one great event.”
A comprehensive health care bill has never made it to the floor of the House, or with the kind of support this one has, in our nation’s history. We are closer today than we’ve ever been to passing health reform for the people of this country. And sometimes, it’s worth stepping back and thinking about that.
(also posted at the NOW! blog)
I’m proud to work for Health Care for America Now
22 Comments
Please tell us what small percentage of the population “us” is.
Point by point.
There’s little or no evidence for that in general. It does make it available to sick people who would otherwise be rejected because of pre-existing conditions, but in general this is false.
Yes, and that is good. But it does not affect most people and does not affect affordability.
The financing of the House bill seems fairly reasonable. But it’s easy to finance a bill that doesn’t actually do a whole lot.
And here we have the lie. Rosenbaum must know this is false; he says it anyway.
This reminds me of what slinkerwink does over at Daily Kos. At least with Rosenbaum he actually works for HCAN so it’s easier to discern what is happening.
The trouble is apparently that websites like FDL need some sort of content on health care, and the big money organizations can proffer people to write it, whereas other organizations can’t. It’s time to realize that all content is not honest content.
I’m sorry you aren’t getting what you want in Congress, but calling me a liar isn’t going to make me feel any less happy or hopeful about today! :)
It was more directed at those who have their ears unclogged with money.
Denies states the option of implementing single-payer systems.
Caves to the Blue Dogs’ expensive demands for negotiated rates.
Exempts drug makers from negotiated prices.
Takes ten years to close the onerous donut hole.
But… Yay!
Jason’s HCAN crossposts are this blog’s elevator music. You could pick them apart, but why bother?
It’s far from perfect, but the Progressive Caucus did it right. They staked out a strong position and got us a better bill for it. And they’re not done yet, so I’ve heard.
I don’t see any “historical significance” to yet another progressive capitulation.
How about if I call you a liar too?
Hi Jason, I won’t call any names, but I do have a question:
Whose us?
Teddy, You forgot to mention that
– only the uninsured and the unemployed are eligible for the PO on Day 1
– the exchange is not operative until 2013, and that also,
– there’s no credible way of controlling insurance company price increases in the bill.
We just have to have too keep repeating, Ralph. Maybe one day it will get through.
I hope your right about them not being done yet. But as far as staking “out a strong position is concerned,” I think you’ve been imagining things. -:) If they had staked out a strong position we’d be looking at a Hacker-type of PO now, or at no bill at all. Either outcome would be preferable to this terrible bill and its political consequences.
If you pass this the Democrats are toast in 2010 and absent any further work on this, Obama’s gone in 2010. Oh, one more thing, neither the Democratic Party nor any of the veal pen that have been complicit in this travesty of a bill will get another dollar from me until its fixed.
I do, David. It moves us one step closer to Plutocracy.
Initially, individuals and small businesses, larger businesses every year thereafter, with the option of opening to all business by 2015.
Actually, isn’t it:
2013 uninsured individuals and those in businesses with 25 or less;
2014 uninsured individuals and those in businesses with 50 or less;
2015 uninsured individuals and those in businesses with 100 or less;
And larger businesses may have the exchange opened up to them in 2015 if they individually apply to the Government and HHS agrees to open it up to them?
Is there a general option in the bill for HHS to extend eligibility for the PO in 2015 to everyone, if someone decides that they don’t like their employer-based plan?
Jason,
I understand why you would want to be enthusiastic, but aren’t you looking at a glass that’s half empty and choosing to see it as half full rather than questioning what went wrong to cause the glass to have so much less in it than it should?
I got an email from HCAN today saying
I’ve appreciated all the HCAN ads that have run in Tennessee, but if HCAN can make such a statement in all seriousness, then I’m starting to understand Jane’s feelings about HCAN.
Not apply individually, as I understand it, it would be at the discretion of HHS.
Email your representative and senators and demand a strong public health care insurance option at http://bit.ly/public_option
This effectively will demand that single payer serve as the public option.
No, Mr. Rosenbaum, the glass appears 90 percent empty. I believe in making the excellent the enemy of the inadequate. HCAN appears a blue dog organization.
Conservatives already have a party, the Confederate Republiklan party. Why not check it out? They can’t bring back slavery so they do their best to bring back something just as nasty, like wage slavery and locking people out of the courthouse and busting unions while they have their business union, the star chamber of commerce lobby congress and buy politicians.
However we can defeat this Confederate Republiklan party by organizing targeted consumer boycotts of contributors to that party and demand the legislation we want from those conservative donating CEOs. http://democratz.org
what if those people who wait, DIE? Then what?