Public Option on Target to Become Law
by
Eric LaMont Gregory
The House of Representatives passes Health Insurance reform bill with public option.
Those who understand that a ‘public option’ is the only health insurance reform proposal on the table that has the force to control the ever-increasing cost of health care in America, should not be disheartened by the negative vote of the highly conservative Senate Finance Committee.
The fact that 8 of 13 majority party Democrats on the committee voted in favor of a public option is sufficient grounds for more than a glimmer of hope.
The Senate Finance Committee measure is but one of two Senate bills under consideration, while three other bills are working their way through the House of Representatives; and of the bills still active only the Senate Finance Committee's version did not include a public option.
It is rather puzzling, but at the same time indicative of current two party politics in America, that the Senate Finance Chair from Montana, stated that he voted no, not because he does not think the country needs a public option, but because a bill with a public option, in his opinion, will not pass the Senate.
An insurance industry that is admittedly less vociferous than in the early 1990's is nonetheless spending 100's of millions to defeat the very idea of competition.
Voters still live in hope that their representatives will think of their constituents; and what is best for this country, and less about their next campaign fund-raising activities.
In reality, with three House bills and the other Senate bill all containing a public option, a pending midnight oil burning conference committee between the Senate and a House bill that is certain will include a public option - looms large on the political horizon.
A health insurance reform bill with a public option is on target to become law.