Liberal Groups Wary Of Reid Bill
Liberal Groups Wary of Reid Bill
As centrist Senate Dems study Sen. Maj. Leader Harry Reid’s health care bill, some liberal groups are unhappy at some of the bill’s provisions.
AFL-CIO Pres. Richard Trumka praised Reid’s bill as the “strongest steps yet” toward bringing down the cost. But, he said, the bill still includes an excise tax that would hit expensive health care plans, including many that cover union workers.
“We continue to believe that a tax on working families’ benefits is the wrong way to finance health care and we will work hard to eliminate this provision as the bill heads to the floor,” Trumka said in a statement. “[T]he bill is not perfect.”
Some liberal bloggers, too, expressed disappointment. In a statement posted on the popular FireDogLake blog, Jane Hamsher called it “encouraging” that Reid included the public option but criticized an opt-out provision that would let states drop the public plan.
“[T]he addition of a state opt-out provision threatens to leave millions of Americans at the mercy of private insurance monopolies, with the federal government acting as enforcers for a product with no competition to keep prices down,” she wrote. “It is time to acknowledge that the Senate process is broken and undemocratic, and is working against the interests of the American people.”
But the bill has gotten a largely positive reception from Dem-leaning groups. Americans United for Change, one of the key organizations involved in pressuring members of Congress to move the bill, acknowledged that it isn’t perfect but said they were happy with the progress.
“Of course there are things that can be improved, but it’s extremely exciting to be beginning the amendment process — and ultimately the conference process — with a bill that includes a strong public health insurance option and one that ensures that all Americans have access to quality, affordable health care,” said Jeremy Funk, the group’s communications director.
Liberals in the House have threatened to derail reform over some provisions during the last several months, but the Dem caucus in the Senate has been much more focused on centrist members than on liberals. Still, at least seven liberals met with Reid, Dem Whip Dick Durbin and Finance Committee chair Max Baucus (D-MT) on Monday, seeking assurances about the public option.
Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH), one of the liberals at the meeting in Reid’s office, released a statement 11/18 offering virtually unqualified support for Reid’s plan. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), another liberal involved in the discussions, said in his own statement that he was concerned about several aspects of the bill.
“While the Senate bill contains some excellent provisions, the middle class must be assured that there are strong cost-containment provisions, that it is affordable and that it is paid for in a fair and equitable way,” Sanders said.
(REID WILSON)
Liberal Groups Wary of Reid Bill
Related posts:
- Nelson to Vote to Advance Senate Health Bill
- Senate Bill Clears Final Hurdle, Passage Vote Set for Christmas Eve
- AFL-CIO NOW BLOG | Senate Passes Health Care Bill
- Health care battle: Sen. Joe Lieberman threatens to join GOP opposition to Medicare buy-in plan
- Docs Endorse Senate Health Care Bill, With a Warning « The …