The Huffington Post is reporting that the House-Senate health care negotiations are going to use the weaker Senate version as their starting point.
Not an auspicious beginning for those with hopes of retaining any public option or removing the Senate’s tax on high-premium insurance plans. But while the move may tilt the playing field, it does not end the game.
We still have the time and the opportunity to demonstrate the public support for real competition and against financing reform through a tax that will hit middle-class workers. And unless we do demonstrate that support and alter the political climate in Washington, it’s the 60th-most progressive voice in the Senate that will dictate the terms of the final bill.
Health Care for America Now just launched a simple tool to contact the President, the Congressional leadership and your representatives in Washington: Finish Reform Right.
The Finish Reform Right letter sends a clear message:
To finish the job and deliver a health reform bill that meets the needs of America’s families, we urge that you and conference leaders resolve a number of critical outstanding issues. These issues may be summarized under two goals:
1. MAKE GOOD HEALTH CARE AFFORDABLE
Low and middle income families must be able to afford health insurance, and employers must be asked to provide good health coverage for their employees so health care is affordable at work. Health care should not be paid for with a tax on health benefits.2. HOLD INSURANCE COMPANIES ACCOUNTABLE
If the insurance companies win, we lose. Insurance companies must be held accountable with strong regulations and consumer protections, and we must be given the choice of a national public health insurance option available on day one across the United States.
That’s the message we need to send if we are to strengthen the hand of congressional advocates for the House version of health care reform. With final negotiations about to begin, there’s no time to lose.
