How Will Jerry Nadler Vote on Health Care?
by Avi - September 15, 2009 at 8:17 am -
Congressman Jerry Nadler, who represents the Upper West Side, has led the fight for a public health insurance option in any health care legislation that reaches the president’s desk. But Nadler hasn’t yet said definitively what he will do if the final legislation — as seems increasingly likely — doesn’t include a public option.
So what does that mean? It means that, for once, Upper West Side voters could actually have some power in influencing a national public policy issue!
The public option — a government-run health insurance plan that would compete against private insurers — has become the most controversial issue in the health care debate, and President Obama appears to be wavering in his support for it. Liberals say it’s the only way to keep health care costs down, but conservatives think it will open the door to socialized medicine. MoveOn.org held a rally/vigil on the Upper West Side a few weeks ago in support of a public option.
While Obama believes the public option is important, he tried to tamp down the controversy over the issue in a speech to Congress last week, and he warned liberals not to overemphasize it for fear of quashing the whole bill. Because there are numerous health care bills still moving through Congress — some with and some without a public option — it’s unclear what the final legislation will look like.
Nadler has spoken out in favor of the public option and signed onto a letter along with 56 others that said, “Any bill that does not provide, at a minimum, for a public option with reimbursement rates based on Medicare rates – not negotiated rates – is unacceptable… We simply cannot vote for such a proposal.”
He’s even brought the issue up with the president himself.
“I spoke personally to the president last Wednesday and told him that there are a lot of us in the House who would find it very difficult to vote for the bill — no matter what else it does — if the public option isn’t in it, because in that case the bill would do a lot of good things but do it by throwing a money at the insurance companies and the costs will go through the roof and they won’t be sustainable.” Nadler said during a recent telephone town hall he held during the recess.
If Nadler and other like-minded Democrats vote against any bill that doesn’t include a public option, they could force Congress to include the public option — but their “no” votes could lead to the bill failing in the House of Representatives. If he votes for a bill that doesn’t include a public option, the bill would likely pass the House, but he and other Democrats could be giving up their best chance to make insurers compete with the government for Americans’ business.
So will Jerry Nadler vote against any bill that doesn’t include the public option? Sometimes he sounds like he will, but sometimes it’s not so clear. Asked in a recent interview with the Westside Independent what Nadler would do if the public option is off the table, his district director Robert Gottheim said he’s “not going to talk in hypotheticals.” Asked for a clarification on Monday, his office did not respond to requests for comment.
Quite a conundrum. But luckily you can help the congressman make his decision if it comes to that, or at least make your views known to his staff. His office’s number is 202-225-5635 or you can send an email using this form (don’t send a letter unless you want it to take weeks to get there).
Why A Strong Public Option Is Essential – By jacksmith — Working Class
Robert Reich explains the pubic option: http://bit.ly/dDYSJ http://robertreich.blogspot.com/
John Garamendi on the Public Option and the Grassroots: http://bit.ly/TJMty
It’s not just because more than two thirds of the American people want a single payer health care system. And if they cant have a single payer system 77% of all Americans want a strong government-run public option on day one (86% of democrats, 75% of independents, and 72% republicans). Basically everyone.
It’s not just because according to a new AARP POLL: 86 percent of seniors want universal healthcare security for All, including 93% of Democrats, 87% of Independents, and 78% of Republicans. With 79% of seniors supporting creating a new strong Government-run public option plan, available immediately. Including 89% of Democrats, 80% of Independents, and 61% of Republicans, STUNNING!!
It’s not just because it will lower cost. Because a strong public option will dramatically lower cost for everyone. And dramatically improved the quality of care everyone receives in America and around the World. Rich, middle class, and poor a like.
It’s not just because it will save trillions of dollars and prevent the needless deaths of millions more of YOU, caused by a rush to profit by the DISGRACEFUL, GREED DRIVEN, PRIVATE FOR PROFIT MEDICAL INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX!
It’s not just because every expert in every field, including economist, and Nobel laureates all agree that free market based healthcare systems don’t work. Never have and never will. The US has the only truly free market based healthcare system in the World. And as you all know now, IT IS A DISASTER!
It’s not just because providing or denying medically necessary care for profit motivations is wrong. Because it is WRONG! It’s professionally, ethically, and morally REPUGNANT!, Animalistic, VILE and EVIL.
THE REASON THE PUBLIC OPTION IS ESSENTIAL:
The public option is ESSENTIAL because over 200 million of you are trapped in the forest of the wolves. Which is the forest of the DISGRACEFUL, GREED DRIVEN, PRIVATE FOR PROFIT MEDICAL INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX! With no way out except through needless inhumane suffering, and DEATH. While the wolves tear at your flesh, and rip you limb from lib. Then feast on your lifeless bodies like a dead carcase for transplant parts.
At the most vulnerable times of your lives (when you were sick and hurting), millions of you have had to fight and loose cruel, but heroic battles. Fighting against the big guns of the DISGRACEFUL, GREED DRIVEN, PRIVATE FOR PROFIT MEDICAL INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX! in the forest of the wolves. All because you have no place else to go. You have no other CHOICE!
But the PUBLIC OPTION will give you someplace safe to go. And it will give us someplace safe to take you. The public option will be your refugium (your refuge). Where the wolves cannot get at you when your down, hurting, and vulnerable. Where everyone who needs it can find rest, security, comfort and the care they need. Protected by the BIG GUNS of We The People Of The United States. THE MOST POWERFUL PEOPLE AND COUNTRY ON EARTH.
This is why it is so critical that we do not lead another 50 million vulnerable, uninsured Americans into the forest of the wolves, without the protections of a Strong Government-run public option. We The People Of The United States MUST NOT LET THAT HAPPEN to any more of our fellow Americans. If healthcare reform does not contain a strong public option on day one. YOU MUST! KILL IT. Or you will do far more harm than good. And millions more will die needlessly. Rich, middle class, and poor a like.
To those who would continue to obstruct good and true healthcare reform for the American people, and who seek to trap millions more vulnerable Americans in the forest of the wolves. We will continue to fight you. We are prepared to wage all out war against you, and will eagerly DESTROY! you. Time…is…UP! YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED! No Co-op’s! No Triggers! NO INDIVIDUAL MANDATES! without a Strong public option on day one.
Healthcare reform can be the GREATEST! Accomplishment of our time and century. A time when future generations may say of us, that we were all, AMERICAS GREATEST GENERATIONS.
BUT WE MUST ACT!
I therefore call on all my fellow Americans and the peoples of the World. To join us in this fight so that we may finish becoming the better America that we aspire to be for everyone.
SPREAD THE WORD!
I have been privileged to be witness as many of you fought, and struggled to take your first breath, and your last breath on this earth. Rich, middle class, and poor a like. Life is precious.
Whatever the cost. WE! MUST SUCCEED.
God Bless You My Fellow Human Beings
jacksmith — Working Class
No Triggers! http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jason-rosenbaum/a-trigger-for-the-public_b_277910.html
Triggers http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-sirota/weve-seen-these-triggers_b_283583.html
Krugman on heathcare (http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/07/25/why-markets-cant-cure-healthcare/)
Senator Bernie Sanders on healthcare (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSM8t_cLZgk&feature=player_embedded)
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