Unfortunately, the latest of several collapsed deals in the Senate has shown that recent compromises in that chamber not only are unjustified on a policy level but also have been unproductive on a political level. I am ready to talk with any lawmaker who shows a meaningful interest in passing a bill that will give the American people the access to affordable health care that they so badly need and deserve.
However, we have seen that all give — and no take — does not lead to a productive final bill. It has resulted in the elimination of the very reforms that could have made this whole yearlong process so worthwhile. It has allowed, for instance, a Senate bill that would tax middle-class families, instead of the House version’s surcharge on millionaires. Taxing the hard-hit working people of this nation will not bring about affordable health care…
The status quo of preventable deaths, untreated conditions and excessive insurance premiums has been untenable for some time. I applauded President Barack Obama for taking on this reform push so early in his term. Now that the final Senate product is taking shape, we can look back on this past year as a time of missed opportunities, unproductive bargaining and failed leadership. I continue to call on Democratic leaders to hold productive conference negotiations to discuss the very different approaches taken by the House bill and the Senate bill, and for House leadership to negotiate significant cost controls and increased choices for consumers in seeking the right coverage for them and their families.
I still believe that real reform is possible, but it will not happen in a vacuum. Wavering lawmakers should look carefully at voters’ overwhelming support for a public option and vote to represent their constituents’ best interests.
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