Health Care For America Now

NEWS

Baucus Offers Health Plan but Lacks G.O.P. Support - New York Times

The chairman of the Senate Finance Committee on Wednesday unveiled his long-awaited plan to remake the nation’s health care system and insure millions of Americans. But he did not win support from a single Republican despite tailoring his proposal to be less costly and to extend the reach of government less than other health bills moving through Congress.

Baucus health care bill gets lukewarm reception - USA Today

A long-awaited plan to revamp health care got a tepid response from lawmakers Wednesday, underscoring the challenge President Obama confronts as his top priority enters a critical new phase.

All sides go on attack as senator issues health plan - Boston Globe

Max Baucus, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, released his long-awaited health care proposal yesterday without the bipartisan support he had sought over months of painstaking negotiations, only to see it attacked from every corner of the political spectrum.

Guarded Optimism Among Insurers, but Some Health Sectors Remain Skeptical - New York Times

In an important victory for the insurance industry, Senator Max Baucus’s legislative proposal does not call for a government-run health plan that would directly compete with private insurers. Insurance stocks rose on that news Wednesday.

Chasm In Congress Over How Much Individuals Should Pay For Health Care - Kaiser Health News

How much can people afford to pay for health care?

New A.F.L.-C.I.O. Leader Calls for Public Option - New York Times

In his speech accepting the presidency of the A.F.L.-C.I.O on Wednesday, Richard L. Trumka dove headfirst into the health care debate.

Ganging up on Baucus: Senator's plan garners bipartisan grumbles - The Hill

Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) finally introduced his much-anticipated healthcare reform bill Wednesday — and was rewarded with a chorus of disapproval from both the left and the right.

Michelle Obama turns to health care - Politico

Pushing for health care reform didn’t turn out so well for the last first lady in a Democratic White House.

Vacant Senate Seat Triggers Flip-Flop - Wall Street Journal

The Democrat-controlled legislature in Massachusetts is poised to pass a bill in coming days giving Democratic Gov. Deval Patrick authority to appoint an interim senator to succeed the late Edward M. Kennedy, strengthening the party's U.S. Senate majority and bolstering prospects for passage of a health-care overhaul.

Firms Split From NFIB On Public Option - CongressDaily

A network of small-business owners, saying that their interests have been misrepresented by K Street, are holding out hope for the inclusion of a public insurance option in the healthcare overhaul, even as the nation's top business …

Subsidies in Baucus Health Reform Plan Would Fall Short of What Is Needed for Many People to Afford Health Care - CBPP

The difficulty Congress is encountering in finding ways to finance health reform legislation is placing in jeopardy the adequacy of the legislation’s subsidies to help low- and moderate-income people afford health coverage and out-of-pocket costs. The plan unveiled today by Senate Finance Committee Chair Max Baucus, reflecting deliberations by a group of the Committee’s Senators, would provide more limited subsidies to help people purchase coverage than the Senate HELP Committee bill or the House bill. The Baucus plan could leave many people who are eligible for subsidies facing fairly steep insurance premiums and cost-sharing charges that they could have difficulty affording.

Mark Warner clarified his position on the public health insurance option a bit more on Wednesday night (emphasis added):

Last night, at John Bell's fundraiser, Senator Warner said to a group of people that, in the end, he would not vote against health care reform containing the public option. I didn't report that immediately for two reasons: 1) I wasn't there when he said it, but heard it secondhand; and 2) I wasn't sure if it was on or off the record. Well now, after just getting off the phone with Senator Warner's office, I can confirm that this is correct information - in the end, the public option is not a "make or break" for Warner one way or the other and he WILL vote for a health care reform bill with a public option in there. Good news.

This led Chris Bowers to posit that there needs to be a new category on our chart tracking where Senators stand on the public health insurance option - "Won't vote against." It also brings our total to 45.

His logic goes like this:

At this point, finding another six Senators who will not vote against a health care bill with a public option is almost as good as finding another six Senators coming out in favor of the public option.  We should have enough supporters of the public option in the Senate to force a vote on it.  If we can just find another six Senators who might not advocate for the public option, but who will not vote against it when the time comes, then we still have enough support to pass it through the Senate.

After reaching 45 supporters last week, not only had the whip count stagnated, but the death of Senator Kennedy actually moved it back to 44.  With Senator Warner's statement, we can consider ourselves back to 45. I will put Warner in a new category "won't vote against," showing that he is not exactly a supporter, but that where he is will be good enough for now.

Perhaps most importantly, I think that the way Blue Virginia got Senator Warner on the record can be replicated for other wavering Senators, allowing us to get to 50 as early as next week.  At this point, instead of looking for supporters of the public option, maybe we should just be asking Senators to say they won't vote against a bill with a public option in it.  Not only is that an easier statement to make, it is very close to what Senators like Baucus, Carper, Tester and Wyden have already said. With those four votes, we would really be on the brink.

Health Care for America Now and Democracy for America, plus local bloggers, will be following up with Senate offices next week to see if more Senators "won't vote against" a public health insurance option. In the meantime, we'll add Warner to the full list.

While we wait for more clarifications, make sure the Senators still on the fence hear from you:

• Send a fax to Mark Begich, asking him if he supports the public option!
• Send a fax to Jon Tester, asking him if he supports the public option!
• Send a fax to Tom Carper, asking him if he supports the public option!
• Send a fax to Ron Wyden, asking him if he supports the public option!
• Send a fax to Kent Conrad, asking him if he supports the public option!
• Send a fax to Mary Landrieu, asking her if she supports the public option!
• Send a fax to Blanche Lincoln, asking her if he supports the public option!
• Send a fax to Ben Nelson, asking him if he supports the public option!
• Send a fax to Bill Nelson, asking him if he supports the public option!
• Send a fax to Mark Pryor, asking him if he supports the public option!
• Send a fax to Joe Lieberman, asking him if he supports the public option!
• Send a fax to Evan Bayh, asking him if he supports the public option!
• Send a fax to Olympia Snowe, asking her if she supports the public option!
• Send a fax to Robert Byrd, asking him if he supports the public option!

The full chart on where Senators stand on the public health insurance option is available after the jump.

NEWS

Debate's Path Caught Obama by Surprise - Washington Post

President Obama's advisers acknowledged Tuesday that they were unprepared for the intraparty rift that occurred over the fate of a proposed public health insurance program, a firestorm that has left the White House searching for a way to reclaim the initiative on the president's top legislative priority.

Democrats Seem Set to Go It Alone on a Health Care Bill - New York Times

Given hardening Republican opposition to Congressional health care proposals, Democrats now say they see little chance of the minority’s cooperation in approving any overhaul, and are increasingly focused on drawing support for a final plan from within their own ranks.

Analysis: Liberals tired of health care compromise - Associated Press

Frustrated liberals have a question for President Barack Obama and Democratic lawmakers: Isn't it time the other guys gave a little ground on health care? What's the point of a bipartisan bill, they ask, if we're making all the concessions?

Kyl Says Cooperative Health Plan Won't Win Support - Wall Street Journal

The number two Senate Republican said Tuesday replacing a public health care option with a nonprofit private cooperative wouldn't win any more Republican support, saying they are essentially the same thing.

House demands compensation data - Politico

The House Committee on Energy and Commerce has sent letters to dozens of major health insurance companies …

PhRMA defends itself from Boehner criticism - The Hill

The prescription drug industry’s lobbying arm is defending its deal with President Barack Obama in the wake of criticism from House Minority Leader John Boehner, who charged it with “appeasing” the Obama administration.

Snowe takes to the street, talks health care - Sun Journal

A "Main Street walk" turned into a Main Street stop for U.S. Sen. Olympia Snowe on Lisbon Street on Tuesday, as Mainers intent on selling their influential senator on the merits of a public-option health-care plan crowded around her.

Grassley says status of 'public option' is unclear - Des Moines Register

U.S. Sen. Charles Grassley said Monday that he was unsure what to make of suggestions that President Barack Obama would drop proposals for a new government-run insurance plan.

Frank LoBiondo Supports Taxes To Fund More Private Health Care - Irregular Times

U.S. Representative Frank LoBiondo likes to present himself as someone who’s against raising taxes in order to support health care reform. In a recent statement, Representative LoBiondo explained that he would vote against Democrats’ health care reform legislation because the legislation would increase spending, thus requiring higher taxes and a bigger federal budget deficit.

We've received a few more answers from Senators to the four questions Health Care for America Now, Democracy for America, and Open Left have been asking on the public health insurance option. For those who need a refresher, those questions are:

• Do you support a public healthcare option as part of reform?
• Do you support a public healthcare option that is ready on day one?
• Do you support a public healthcare option that is national, available everywhere, and accountable to our government?
• Do you support a public healthcare option that has the clout to establish rates with providers and big drug companies?

As Chris Bowers notes, the latest answers - all yeses from Senators Cardin and Cantwell - puts the tally at 43 Senators on the record in favor of a public health insurance option.

Senator Cantwell, on the nationally syndicated Bill Press Show, endorsed the HELP version of a public health insurance option, putting her as a yes for all four questions.

And Senator Cardin answered the four questions directly via email. Here are his answers:

Do you support a public healthcare option as part of reform? Yes. A public option – which is about who pays for the system and not who provides the medical care – should be available to provide quality, affordable health insurance to individuals who do not have access to coverage through an employer or other means.

Do you support a public healthcare option that is ready on day one? Yes. We need a strong public option to help foster competition and help drive down costs; we simultaneously must improve and support employer-based, private insurance coverage.

Do you support a public healthcare option that is national, available everywhere, and accountable to our government? Yes. There should be low-cost, quality options for those who cannot afford private insurance, and we must give small businesses an affordable way to cover their employees.

Do you support a public healthcare option that has the clout to establish rates with providers and big drug companies? Yes. We need a strong public option to help foster competition and help drive down costs.

We hope to hear from more Senators on where they stand shortly. The full chart of answers is available below the fold.

NEWS

Obama's grass-roots network is put to the test - Los Angeles Times

A group that helped elect the president is being reshaped to push healthcare legislation.

Poll: Americans divided on health care overhaul - USA Today

As supporters and opponents of overhauling the health care system try to shape public opinion at congressional town-hall-style meetings, both sides face a big complication: Public opinion on the issue is complex in ways that defy an easy Republican-Democratic divide.

Key Democrat Feels the Heat After Voting for House Plan - Washington Post

"The war's on," says Rep. Baron P. Hill, and he's not talking about a conflict overseas, but a battle over health care in his own back yard, where thousands of people are trying to tell him what to do, some not so nicely.

S.C. health care meetings calm - The State

Unlike in other states, no violent protests as reform advocates speak

Senator Maria Cantwell tells Bill Press: "Yes, I do" support a robust public option - Northwester Progressive Institute Advocate

It looks like the question of whether Senator Maria Cantwell is really for a public option or not has finally been answered.

Drug Industry to Run Ads Favoring White House Plan - New York Times

The drug industry has authorized its lobbyists to spend as much as $150 million on television commercials supporting President Obama’s health care overhaul, beginning over the August Congressional recess, people briefed on the plans said Saturday.

Grassley's health talks draw fire within party - Des Moines Register

Sen. Charles Grassley, the Iowan in the middle of Congress' continuing debate over health care reform, expects an earful at public meetings he has planned in Iowa this week, but not from his typical political opponents.

NEWS

For Health Insurers’ Lobbyist, Good Will Is Tested - New York Times

For the insurance industry, long an opponent of health care reform, it was a striking change: with a new administration coming to Washington, insurers agreed to abandon some of their most controversial practices, like denying coverage to applicants with pre-existing medical conditions.

Kratovil takes health care heat - The Daily Times

On the lawn of Snow Hill Elementary on Tuesday, people greeted U.S. Rep. Frank Kratovil with homemade signs declaring their disgust for universal health care proposals.

Gov't insurance would allow coverage for abortion - Associated Press

Health care legislation before Congress would allow a new government-sponsored insurance plan to cover abortions, a decision that would affect millions of women and recast federal policy on the divisive issue.

Groups Take Health-Reform Debate to Airwaves - Washington Post

$52 Million Has Been Spent So Far on Ads in What Could Be Record-Shattering Battle

Are Insurers' Profits As Low As They Claim? - NPR

As the health care overhaul battle moves out of Washington and onto the airways and main streets during the August recess, America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), the trade association for the nation's health insurers, is fighting a familiar battle.

In healthcare debate, small business becomes pivotal - Los Angeles Times

President Obama and lawmakers pledge to relieve firms struggling to cover workers. But how? Two company owners in Oregon and Ohio differ strongly, reflecting the difficulty in reaching a solution.

We've gotten a few more answers in on the four questions Democracy for America, Open Left, and Health Care for America Now have been asking Senators. Here's what we've been asking:

• Do you support a public healthcare option as part of reform?
• Do you support a public healthcare option that is ready on day one?
• Do you support a public healthcare option that is national, available everywhere, and accountable to our government?
• Do you support a public healthcare option that has the clout to establish rates with providers and big drug companies?

First up, Senator Gillibrand from New York. We have been waiting for an answer to question four from Senator Gillibrand, and in her interview with Howard Dean last week, we got it. Watch:

Gillibrand clearly endorses a Medicare-like public healthcare option in this video, and Medicare has the clout to establish rates with providers, so Senator Gillibrand is a yes for question four.

Senator Cantwell from Washington has also sent a letter back to a constituent, answering three out of four questions. Here is the relevent paragraph:

Let me be clear: a public option needs to be part of health care reform. I am pushing for a public option that will keep insurance companies honest by competing to drive down costs and improve quality nation-wide. This plan needs to be accountable to the people and must work to provide the best coverage for the best price.

She supports a national public option that can establish rates, thus providing the "best price" for health coverage.

We've also received an answer of "maybe" on all questions from Senator Begich of Alaska.

Let's keep those answers coming! Click here to email your Senators and ask them where they stand.

The updated chart of supporters and opposition is below.

NEWS

House Democrats set to vote on health care bill - Associated Press

House Democrats are preparing to advance legislation that would deliver on President Barack Obama's promise to remake the nation's costly health care system and cover some 50 million uninsured.

Health Care Vote Illustrates Partisan Divide - New York Times

A party-line Senate committee vote on legislation to remake the nation’s health care system underscored the absence of political consensus on what would be the biggest changes in social policy in more than 40 years.

Rick Scott: Fear-Mongering Gone Wild - Media Matters

On July 15, 2009, Conservatives for Patients Rights founder Rick Scott wrote a column for the right-wing website HumanEvents.com. In his column, titled "Liberals Gone Wild: Pelosi and Reid Hit Health Care Panic Button," all Rick Scott does is prove that he has a good grasp on what it means to fear monger with his use of words like "panic," "desperation," "ramrod," and "trample."

LEAKED: More Than Fifty House Progressives Privately Commit To Oppose Weak Health Care Bill - Huffington Post

Progressive Democrats are taking a hard stand on health care reform, with a majority committing to oppose any health care reform package that doesn't include a robust public option. On Wednesday, they got an inadvertent assist by an anonymous leak of their "whip list."

NEWS

House bill would make health care a right - Associated Press

House Democratic leaders, pledging to meet the president's goal of health care legislation before their August break, are offering a $1.5 trillion plan that for the first time would make health care a right and a responsibility for all Americans. Left to pick up most of the tab were medical providers, employers and the wealthy.

Obama's day: Promoting health care - USA Today

Good morning from The Oval. It's been 38 years since President Richard Nixon made the stunning announcement that he would visit communist China, the first U.S. leader to do so in more than two decades.

Massachusetts Takes a Step Back From Health Care for All - New York Times

The new state budget in Massachusetts eliminates health care coverage for some 30,000 legal immigrants to help close a growing deficit, reversing progress toward universal coverage just as Congress looks to the state as a model for overhauling the nation’s health care system.

DNC Targets Democratic Senators on Health Care - ABC

ABC News’ Rick Klein reports: The Democratic National Committee is launching a new television advertisement today to press Congress to support President Obama’s health care plan — and is targeting moderate Democrats to come on board.

Chairman Miller on the Ed Show talking about health care reform - Education and Labor Committee

Chairman Miller appeared on the Ed Show on July 8, 2009 to talk about health care reform. The embedded segment is 13:14 and Chairman Miller's interview begins at 9:45.

With Chris Bowers at Open Left and Democracy for America, Health Care for America now has been posing four specific questions to Senators, asking them where they stand on the public health insurance option:

1. Do you support a public healthcare option as part of reform?
2. Do you support a public healthcare option that is ready on day one?

3. Do you support a public healthcare option that is national, available everywhere, and accountable to our government?

4. Do you support a public healthcare option that has the clout to establish rates with providers and big drug companies?

These questions, of course, are designed in a specific way to get Senators on the record about not just whether they support a public health insurance option, but what kind they support. A Senator answering yes to all four questions supports a strong public health insurance option with no trigger that is available in all corners of this country (ie. is not a regional co-op).

Over the last few weeks, tens of thousands of constituents have emailed their Senators asking these four questions. And lo and behold, the Senators have started answering.

Chris Bowers has been collating the answers and keeping the chart up to date. As you can see, he's gotten a ton of answers back from Senators, but a lot of those answers are emails that don't really answer the question:

Unfortunately, as the chart in the extended entry also shows, most Senators are still dodging on those type of specific questions on what sort of public option they support. Based on responses you have sent in, DFA, HCAN and Open Left have compiled all of the "dodge" statements that these Senators have given on the public option, which you can read here.

Let your Senators know that vague, open-ended answers may be good enough for most political news media, but it isn't good enough for their constituents. If you are from a state with a Senator or Senator who is still dodging specific on the public option, send an email telling them to clarify their position now.

We are winning this fight. We are going to win this fight. Send an email to your Senators now, and let's bring this one over the finish line.

He's right. These questions are clearly worded, and the tens of thousands who've emailed in deserve answers to them. Take a moment to email your Senators so we can get even more answers.

And check out the full chart below of where your Senators (at least those likely to support a public option) stand on the public option: