The Nation: Hope for Health Reform; Push Single Payer Now

[flpoljunkie]

(Interesting about the New Dems being of more concern than the Blue Dogs.)

Hope for Health Reform: Push Single Payer Now
by John Nichols

The corporate special interests and their willing accomplices within the ranks of the Democratic party are capitalizing on the confusion about the scope and character of proposed reforms. In so doing, they are creating a circumstance where the push for real reform can and will be thwarted unless there is a major pushback from real reformers.

That pushback can and should take the form of a renewed effort to promote the right repair: a single-payer program.

There has already been some progress in this regard. The recent 25-19 vote by the House Committee on Education and Labor for an amendment allowing states to create single-payer health care systems if they so choose was an example of this.

A bigger test could come this week, as the House Energy and Commerce Committee considers Congressman Anthony Weiner's proposal to replace the convoluted public-private scheme that is outlined in the Obama/House leadership bill with the easily-understood and efficient single-payer plan contained in HR 676 that has been endorsed by 86 members of Congress.

Were the committee to endorse the Weiner amendment, single-payer would be on the table -- as it should be.

more...

But it's not just Baucus. The monied Montanan has all too many Democratic allies -- especially among the Democratic Leadership Council-allied "New Democrats." The "New Dems" are far greedier and more troubling players than the small cadre of southern and rural Blue Dog Democrats. Of particular concern is the determination of so many of the "New Dems" to follow Baucus' lead and grab up what Jerry Flanagan, a health-care analyst with the group Consumer Watchdog describes as the "huge down payment" of campaign contributions from corporations that want any health care "reform" warped to favor their interests.

http://www.thenation.com/blogs/thebeat/455834/single_payer_advocates_must_seize_this_openning

[joeybee12]

1. Again, the Nation should be required reading...n/t

[flpoljunkie]

2. Bernie Sanders also got an amendment passed in HELP bill to allow single payer pilot projects

Am sure the health insurance industry will work very hard to strip this out of the final bill. It is single payer they fear the most-- much more than a public option.

[DrToast]

3. Actually, I think his ammendment wasn't passed. nt

[flpoljunkie]

4. You are right, Dr. Toast. Thanks! Thought I read that it passed. Perhaps wishful thinking.

Senate HELP Committee
July 14, 2009

Sen. Bernie Sanders just offered an amendment to the Senate HELP health care reform bill that would allow a limited number of state experiments with single payer systems. The proposal would have provided waivers from federal regulations such as ERISA, and would have authorized current federal spending on programs such as Medicare and Medicaid to be transferred to the state to be used in the single payer program.


Those voting for the amendment:

Bernie Sanders

Tom Harkin

Sherrod Brown

Jeff Merkley


All HELP Republicans and all other HELP Democrats voted against it.

http://healthcare.change.org/blog/view/the_cbo_smiles_on_the_house_bill_hr_3200

[Engineer4Obama]

5. Kucinich Ammendment Passed

Pretty much the same as the Sanders amendment, it goes into the house version.

[mgcgulfcoast]

6. we must work hard

[Qutzupalotl]

7. K&R