The public option: Defazio, Merkley and Dean on health care reform
Carla Axtman
Last Friday, Blogger and activist Mike Stark managed to catch up with intrepid Oregon Congressman Peter DeFazio. Stark interviewed the Congressman ("one of our progressive heroes", according to Stark) about his views on the public insurance option as part of health care reform.
In the video, DeFazio commits to voting against any bill that doesn't include a "strong public plan":
The one area of the conversation where DeFazio seems to dodge and parry is when he's asked to define what a "strong, public option" means. For example, does this mean no co-ops? No "triggers"? Does it mean that the public option will be available on day one and accountable to Congress and to the voters?
It would be helpful if one of DeFazio's constituents (I'm not one) would call his office and find out the definition of a "strong public option".
Washington, DC Office
Phone: (202) 225-6416
Eugene Office
Phone: (541) 465-6732
Coos Bay Office
Phone: (541) 269-2609
Roseburg Office
Phone: (541) 440-3523
If anyone gets an answer, please leave it in comments.
On the Senate side, Jeff Merkley is joining Ron Wyden, agreeing to give up the August recess if it means passing health care reform:
"I'm committed to passing health care reform and I'm extremely concerned that the window of opportunity is starting to close. Anything that can speed up Senate deliberation is valuable. And if keeping the Senate in session in August can move the bill forward, I'm absolutely committed to being here."
Finally, last Friday I attended a small gathering of bloggers who chatted with Dr. Howard Dean at Powell's Books in Portland. Dean was there on a book tour for his new book with a long ass title: Howard Dean’s Prescription for Real Healthcare Reform: How We Can Achieve Affordable Medical Care for Every American and Make Our Jobs Safer.
Dr. Dean powerfully advocated for the public insurance option to the attendees. "This is the test of whether it was worth it to putting a Democrat in the White House and such a big majority in the Senate," he said.
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Jul 27, '09
Nice photo.
Jul 28, '09
Wyden's office says he is in favor of a state based "public option," which I would interpret as a co-op. But basically if these entities have good national start up funding as Chuck Schumer promises ($10 billion),and a clear non-profit professional structure and mandate, I don't see that it can't work, and it may have greater flexibility and independence for local needs.
I'm betting that both houses of Congress are going to finesse the meaning of "public option" in order to get something passed. So none of them are wanting to be pinned down very much.
As for Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden declaring their desire to stay on and give up the Aug. recess, that's easy virtue since Harry Reid is sending them home in a week, so they get off by shrugging their shoulders. Why aren't they taking Harry Reid and Max Baucus and Kent Conrad to task publicly instead of letting them obstruct and pretending to act frustrated about it. These obstructors are just being enabled
Jul 28, '09
Carla--great picture with Dr. Dean.
Really liked Peter's comments. Notice what he said about the details he thinks are important.
But no attacks on anyone. "Well the Senate..." reminds me of that old joke. A new Congressman is being shown around and is told, "The other party is the opposition. The Senate is the enemy!".
Jul 28, '09
Here on Blue Oregon one can have that fractile experience. Money from lobbyists is killing any meaningful reform of health care. Over a million dollars per day. Not including paid bloggers, and a boatload of other percs in every corrupting form possible.
Not one honest piece here on the failure of Ron Wyden to differentiate himself from the Blue Dogs. Just so obvious that maintaining Wyden as a customer takes first over honest reporting on this critical issue.
Kash for Kari.
Jul 28, '09
Ditto on the Wyden comment. I started visiting BO again specifically to read about how our local progressives are reacting to Wyden yoking himself with the likes of Nelson and Lieberman on health care. Thus far its been disappointing.
Once again Dean nails it, this is a test. And many dem congress-critters are beginning to stink of failure.
11:09 a.m.
Jul 28, '09
The intransigence of ideological hounddogs in the Senate is pretty disgusting. 47 million Americans do not have health insurance, and a sickening number of those that do have insurance cannot receive effective treatment.
I've been reading good ol' Petey Suderman at Reason Magazine throwing out a whole bunch of made-up statistics that folks on the right are actually buying, hook-line-sinker. Where is the outreach effort from Democrats to combat the "too costly," "too socialist" and "too damaging" charges from the right?
And Bill R., I don't think I have to tell you what a promise from Chuck Schumer means...
Jul 28, '09
This - The Truth about Socialized Medicine - is from an American woman who lived in Finland.
Jul 28, '09
"Where is the outreach effort from Democrats to combat the "too costly," "too socialist" and "too damaging" charges from the right?"
It's not there because those charges are correct. Why do you think there is such urgency from the WH to slam this through so quickly? You guys on the left coast do what you want to yourselves (see California's economic destruction) but leave the rest of the US out of it (minus New England).
4:47 p.m.
Jul 28, '09
Directly from Ron Wyden:
"Today's insurance model is inhumane."
"I believe that all Americans ought to have the same coverage as legislators... I am very open to the Public Option, but we've got to build real reform."
Wyden emphasizes that real reform must be economically sustainable. This is not the same as putting on a Blue Dog team jersey and lapping up kudos from big pharma. Wyden recognizes that if Congress institutes any plan, a failure to account for short and long term fiscal viability will doom reform for another generation if the plan collapses on itself.
Many single payer advocates have pointed to the Canadian system and have correctly noted that it is sustainable. True, but we're not painting on a blank canvas here, and whether we like it or not, the deconstruction our nasty pay for play model will take a little time. Even Canada took it province by province initially.
But progressives and other American of good conscious should be focusing on desired results -
Ultimately, meeting these demands will require a public option. A sustainable plan will allow us to continue the march toward further reform, and move us ever closer to that point where health care is part of the Commons.
Call & write your Reps. Have your Facebook friends in other states do the same. Tell your own stories.
Jul 28, '09
Dean says: "This bill is going to cost a lot of money and isn`t going to do anything if this compromise (dropping the public option) is true."
Wyden says: "I am very open to the Public Option, but..."
Jul 29, '09
You guys on the left coast do what you want to yourselves...
So you folks in conservative Republican states: why is your income so low? I mean, you guys are supposed to be the masters of business and finance, but statistically you're "low income" and have been that way for years. We would rather drag you up than have your approach drag us down (which has happened over the past 8 years). We subsidize your pathetic "rugged independence" with our tax dollars. It is about time you slackers made some money instead of being welfare queens.