We can safely put Sen. Feingold in the solidly supporting

[shraby]

public option column. I received this in response to my email encouraging him to support it. He's one great Senator and he really really answers his emails.

Dear xxxxxx
Thank you for contacting me regarding your support for a public health insurance plan option. I agree with you that a public option is a key part of health care reform.

It is far past time for Congress to guarantee health insurance coverage for all Americans. Too many Americans are forced to make basic decisions regarding their health based on cost rather than on medical reasons; too many delay seeking treatment and do not receive preventive care, which results in more costly, or even fatal, consequences down the line. Our country spends $5,670 per capita annually on health care - which is twice as much as any other industrialized nation - and 15.6 percent of our gross domestic product. Despite this spending, we are not healthier than those other countries, and we still have more than 46 million Americans - including eight million children - who do not have health insurance, and countless others who are underinsured.

As you know, these high and rising costs take a tremendous toll on American families and businesses. While inflation grew 9.7 percent, and wage growth was 12.3 percent, premiums for family insurance coverage rose 59 percent from 2000-2004 and show no sign of stabilizing. As a result, many employers are shifting much of their health care costs to employees, no longer providing health benefits, or eliminating positions.

On May 6, 2009, I joined a number of my Senate colleagues in sending a letter to the Chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee and the Senate Finance Committee supporting a public plan option as a core part of health care reform. I have included the letter for your review.

Ensuring every American is guaranteed good, affordable health care coverage is made much more difficult by relying only on private insurers. While Americans should be able to retain their current coverage if they choose, providing a public option should keep health care costs down for all Americans. On June 18, 2009, I gave a speech on the Senate floor regarding the need for a public plan option. I have included a copy of the speech for your review.

On October 8, 2009 I sent a letter along with 29 of my Senate colleagues to Senate Majority Leader Reid (D-NV) requesting that the version of health care reform that comes to the Senate floor contain a public insurance option. I have included the letter for your review.

On December 24, 2009, the Senate passed H.R. 3590 "The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act" by a vote of 60 to 39, with my support. The Senate health care bill is far from perfect. I am deeply disappointed it does not include a public option to help keep down costs and I also don't like the deal making that secured votes with unjustifiable provisions.

For this reason, on January 19, 2010, I sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), strongly urging that the final version of the health reform bill include a public health insurance option. I have attached the letter for your review.

While the Senate health reform bill could and should have been much stronger, it includes very important provisions for Wisconsin that I fought for. The bill will bring more Medicare dollars to Wisconsin by improving the unfair reimbursement formula that has siphoned money away from the state for years, and by rewarding the high-quality, low-cost care practiced at hospitals across Wisconsin. Wisconsin taxpayers also win because we will see a boost in Medicaid funding, so our state isn't harshly penalized for its leadership in expanding coverage. The bill also ends discrimination by insurance companies against people with preexisting conditions, expands coverage to 30 million more Americans and reduces the deficit by an estimated $132 billion over the next ten years and up to a reported $1.3 trillion over the next twenty years. Despite the bill's flaws, it does meet the test of real reform, and the cost of inaction was much too high. You can find the text of the bill at http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=111_cong_bills&docid=f:h3590pp.txt.pdf.

Again, thank you for contacting me. I will continue work to improve the Senate health care bill and restore the public option in the final version. I am committed to improving access to health care and making health care more affordable for the people of Wisconsin. You can learn more about my work on health care reform at my website at http://feingold.senate.gov/healthreform.html. I look forward to hearing from you in the future.