The Vermont Senate Passes Bill Establishing A Single Payer Health Care System In The State

[Pharaoh]

Source: Think progress

As ThinkProgress previously reported, the Vermont legislature, led by Gov. Peter Shumlin (D), has been considering a proposal to establish some sort of single payer health care system — a system in which a single public insurer provides health insurance to all state residents, similar to the Medicare system for American seniors.

Last month, the Vermont House of Representatives voted 92-49 to advance a bill that would create a single payer system in the state. Now, the Vermont Senate has followed suit, voting 21-9 for the bill:

The Vermont Senate gave final approval to health care reform legislation Tuesday. The vote came after lengthy debate on amendments– many of them aimed at making the bill more palatable for businesses. Republicans introduced several amendments that they say would reduce the costs for businesses. But the strong Democratic majority easily rejected those amendments. <...> The bill passed 21-9.

Read more: http://thinkprogress.org/2011/04/26/vermont-senate-single-payer/

[aSpeckofDust]

1. Let me be the first to say... WOOOOO! Go Vermont :D

[Cal33]

19. If other Dem. states follow suit, their people can also enjoy the

bewnefits right at home. Let's hope the example of VT will start
a landslide of other states doing the same. When the benefits
become obvious, even some Repub. state might join in. This
will take time, of course.

[The Wizard]

24. This is exactly how it started in Canada

one province at a time. Maybe someday the United States will join the rest of advanced nations in promoting the general welfare.

[valerief]

91. The U.S. would have to give up its massive WAR budget first. nt

[lark]

122. Nice sentiment, but it won't happen

Repugs are totally anti worker, anti poor, anti sick unless it's one of their family members.

[provis99]

126. If other states don't do it, they will massively lose population.

It would make sense, for example,for citizens of New Hampshire to move to Vermont in order to get single payer health. They might have to commute to jobs in New Hampshire, but it would be worth it to have single payer health insurance. New Hampshire would then lose these emmigrants as part of their tax base, unless they came up with a single payer system of their own.

[Atypical Liberal]

56. I can't wait.

One one state does it, it will show just how huge and stark a contrast the quality and cost of care will be compared to what the rest of the states suffer under.

[blackbart99]

100. I'm going to the next County Democratic Party meeting...

....and asking "Who is going to be my Hero and bring this bill to Colorado?"
We have a majority in the State House and Senate. NOW is the time. We've seen what happens
when you squander the advantage and don't push your agenda. All you have to do is scratch out
the word Vermont and put in Colorado. Vermonters have already done the hard part....
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE let this happen here.

[SaveAmerica]

118. We have to start changing the make-up of State legislatures across the country

Tip it in favor of the candidates who support the people - I believe that's the Democratic Party - then make these changes state by state.

[Arctic Dave]

2. Three cheers!

Hip hip hooray! X 3

[msongs]

3. healthy workers and fewer missed work days due to illness will "reduce costs to businesses". nt

[Beavker]

104. I don't know the exact figures, but my employer

pays an ass load of $ for my insurance (in addition to taking out of my own paycheck). How could a company not see that as a MASSIVE benefit to doing biz in that state? Unless they would rather put their chips on the Koch Bros. Union busting, slave creation efforts which would strip all benefits whatsoever.

[Arctic Dave]

4. Three cheers!

Hip hip hooray! X 3

[glinda]

5. Yeah!!!!!!! Thank you VT for setting an example.

[Firebrand Gary]

6. Vermont, you were the 14th state. You are now NUMBER ONE!

You know, I have my moments and at times the GOP, Tea Party or anybody else who I disagree with can really piss me off. But no matter what, I still believe that we ALL are entitled to healthcare.

[daleanime]

7. And it begans.....

:woohoo:

[drm604]

32. Posted in the wrong place

Ignore this.

[FredStembottom]

8. That's it? Deal's done? Program commences?

If so, that's the happiest political news i've heard in a couple of years!


:woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo:

[cali]

15. No. It's not. We still need a waiver from Congress.

[drm604]

30. I don't think they need it from Congress

I think the waiver has to come from the Department of Health and Human Services. The bigger roadblock may be ERISA.

[karynnj]

42. I think the reason they would need Congress is that the law currently

allows waivers starting in 2017. Wyden/Brown would change that to 2014. (Then they need to actually get the waiver from the HHS.

[No Elephants]

47. Why not 2012--or immediately, so a state wanting single payer now doesn't have to gamble?

[karynnj]

48. I don't know - just stating what the HCR bill said and what the amendment is

[cali]

49. No, it's Congress not HHS.

<snip>
But the entire proposal hinges on whether Congress will approve a bipartisan proposal to allow states to opt-out of the federal health reform law starting in 2014 if they meet a slew of benchmarks.

Read more: Single-payer path - Healthcare business news, research, information and opinions | Modern Healthcare http://www.modernhealthcare.com/article/20110404/MAGAZINE/304049683#ixzz1KjHBiAPy
?trk=tynt


and it's because of ERISA that we need the waiver.

[flamingdem]

9. fabulous! Long live the Vermont Republic nt

[MisterP]

10. no! no! we already have had healthcare since '09!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x963413
the only people who're crazier than those who think Obama is a socialist--are those who think Obama is a socialist
kNveryR

[defendandprotect]

11. Congratulations Vermont -- Single Payer !!!! Cheers!!

What are we all waiting for -- ?

[reggie the dog]

12. only 49 more to go

[SaveAmerica]

119. word...

[SnakeEyes]

13. Excellent

I just hope they did it right. If it ends up like Medicaid in Arizona, Oregon, and Illinois with costs unmanageable and rationing of care then we will never get single payer at the national level.

[amyrose2712]

14. Nice, now can the rest of us catch up!?

[iwishiwas]

16. I hope it works well -then Obama can use it as a MODEL of ALL of the

the rest of the USA folks.

[dotymed]

21. lol...that has been "off the table" since '08

It is great (for me too) to DREAM that candidate Obama will seize control of President Obama and lead our country in the correct direction.......but not likely at all.

[groundloop]

22. You can't forget the huge bump in that road called the US Senate

Don't forget our friend Joe Lie-berman. Don't forget the senate publicans and their obstructionism. I'm not sure how the hell we're ever going to get single payer pushed through that screwed up legislative body.

but in any case, I might just have to consider moving to Vermont.

[dotymed]

25. Unfortunately, if you will recall,

Single Payer even though the CBO was ready to testify that it would save America huge bucks, was not even allowed (by Pelosi) to be considered in the health care "debate."
No advocates of single Payer (universal health care) were allowed to testify or mention it during the Congressional Debate."
Come on, the national, collective memory, can not be this short....

[No Elephants]

31. Obama never had single payer on the table, so Lieberman

was not the issue.

[Bodhi BloodWave]

23. i assume 'off the table' means having worked to make it so that the health care/reform bill allowed

states to take this step then?

[No Elephants]

35. kindly describe the work Obama did to allow individual states to adopt single payer

(which, quite obviously is very different from having single payer in a federal law anyway).

[No Elephants]

34. You seem to be conflating single payer and public option.

Ccandidate Obama said (erroneously) that single payer would not be feasibe for the U.S. and campaigned instead for a strong public option. In '08, President Obama threw the public option, weak or strong, under the bus.

[dotymed]

45. True, but neither option

was allowed a "place at the table" during hearings for "health care reform." We ALL know it should have been named "for-profit insurance company guarantees."

[spooked911]

17. truly excellent news

congrats to Vermont

[GOPBasher]

18. WooHoo! n/t

[dotymed]

20. This is what America

should look like. Every civilized nation in the world, except America, has some type of Universal Health Care as a RIGHT.
Here in the "land of the free, PROFIT is all that matters.....die poor people.

[Maineman]

26. Good job, Vermont!

[JNelson6563]

27. I love Vermont

I've often thought if I were to leave MI I'd go to Vermont. They seem to do progressive things all the time that confirms this again and again.

Julie

[RoccoR5955]

28. Leave it to the Green Mountain State to lead the nation on this issue! n/t

[plumbob]

29. Congratulations to Vermont!

News could not be better.

[drm604]

33. Anyone know if ERISA is applicable to this?

If it is, the insurance companies may be able to tie it up in court.

[Chef Eric]

44. Yes, the article mentions that ERISA laws are going to be an obstacle.

Unfortunately, this could be a long battle.

[No Elephants]

36. I wish Mass. had done this. Romneycare is a mess.

[mountainlion55]

37. yeah Vermont!

I just hope the the evil organizations like the ama and other rw orgs don't tie this up in court for years. Doctors lawyers and insurance companies.What a bunch of plutocrats! Stick to your guns Vermont! I wish you all the best.:hippie:

[blm]

38. YAY Vermont!!!

.

[PotatoChip]

39. That does it, I'm moving there!

JK but it sure is tempting. WTG Vermont! :woohoo:

[NewJeffCT]

40. Meanwhile, Connecticut is scaling back their strong public option bill

They had a bill that was vetoed by the previous Republican governor that would provide CT with a strong public option. Now that we have a Democrat in the state house in CT, everybody thought the bill (Sustinet) would be passed easily. However, it seems everybody is being scared off by the budget deficit in CT.

[No Elephants]

106. BEG your state reps to invite the Gov. of Vermont to testify.

I heard him on Democracy Now, explaining why finances made Vermont need single payer.

[NewJeffCT]

112. good idea

my local rep is a Republic, though.

[Lint Head]

41. The States can do it. The end is in sight for the draconian stranglehold

of Big Pharma and the Insurance corporations on the health of the people!

[swilton]

43. One thousand cheeers for Vermont!

Lead the way!

[Overseas]

46. K&R and Many Thanks !

[bdamomma]

50. Yea Vermont, now everyone else should join in

[riverbendviewgal]

51. Good for all in Vermont

As a Canadian I say good for you ALL in Vermont.

Funny that it happened yesterday as just early in the morning I was talking with a friend of my late mother's in Charleston SC, a retired man from Penn. He, out of the blue, was blaming Obama for the gas prices. I told him that he was misinformed and that it was the wall street guys to blame for manipulating the futures . I asked if he watched Fox News.. He said yes and he also listened to Rush.

I then went on to ask about his and his wife's health. He said she was seeing about 4 doctors and even had to get medicine from Canada. I told him that made me angry as my government does the negotiating with the Pharmas here so the WE can get cheaper drugs.

I asked him if he was on Medicare...he couldn't say or say what he was paying. He said his wife had her own. I told him that our health care up here is free and we pay through our income taxes. I paid 21 percent federal and provincial for 2010. I asked him what percentage he paid. He said he didn't know. My tax form I filled out says the percentage. I don't even have to fill it out.

I then told him that I read that Vermont was getting a one payer system.

Later that morning I saw the bill was passed and emailed him the info.

Never heard from him. Figures...I suspect he is a tea bagger.

[spinbaby]

52. Here's hoping

If this flies, it will give us the means to retire early, as long as it's in Vermont, and I'm finding myself increasingly thrilled about the idea of moving to Vermont.

[grahamhgreen]

53. Finally! One down, 49 to go.

[Recursion]

54. I'll be curious to see what the premiums are

As well as what companies will do the actual provisioning.

But go Vermont!

[suffragette]

55. Shows people are ready for this

They've been electing legislators who have been passing this, only to have it vetoed by the former Governor.

Peter Shumlin campaigned on this, the people said "Oh, yeah" and voted him in.

They are all moving forward and are clearly cognizant of the historic import of this action:

http://www.democracynow.org/2011/1/21/vermont_governor_peter_shumlin_moves_to

As the House votes to repeal President Obama’s healthcare reform bill, the state of Vermont is taking matters into its own hands. We speak with Vermont Governor Peter Shumlin, who is leading efforts to create a single-payer healthcare system in the state. He was voted into office after making single payer a cornerstone of his campaign. "If Vermont can get this right, the other states will follow," Shumlin says.

With courage, perseverance, listening to the people and acting on it and maybe a little luck, we may finally have our Tommy Douglas and Saskatchewan.

[handmade34]

57. important

that Vermont already has had a pretty good system in place... many small town health centers and easy access otherwise... I am so grateful to the state of Vermont for making sure my kids always had access to any health care they needed.

We thank Howard Dean and a few others for that...

[kpete]

58. The Vermont Senate Passes Bill Establishing A Single Payer Health Care System In The State

Source: Think Progress

The Vermont Senate Passes Bill Establishing A Single Payer Health Care System In The State
As ThinkProgress previously reported, the Vermont legislature, led by Gov. Peter Shumlin (D), has been considering a proposal to establish some sort of single payer health care system — a system in which a single public insurer provides health insurance to all state residents, similar to the Medicare system for American seniors.

Last month, the Vermont House of Representatives voted 92-49 to advance a bill that would create a single payer system in the state. Now, the Vermont Senate has followed suit, voting 21-9 for the bill:


The Vermont Senate gave final approval to health care reform legislation Tuesday. The vote came after lengthy debate on amendments– many of them aimed at making the bill more palatable for businesses. Republicans introduced several amendments that they say would reduce the costs for businesses. But the strong Democratic majority easily rejected those amendments. <...> The bill passed 21-9.


Now that the bill has passed both the House of Representatives and Senate, it will move to a conference committee to reconcile the two versions of the bill. It will then go to the desk of Gov. Peter Shumlin (D), who strongly supports the bill. Shumlin has said that it will make Vermont the first state where “health care will be a right and not a privilege.”

Read more: http://thinkprogress.org/2011/04/26/vermont-senate-single-payer/

[Drale]

59. Man when more and more states get single payer systems

Those repuke states are going to have to blackout the national media to stop their voters from wanting the same thing. :rofl: There is a strong and growing movement for a single payer system here in Illinois as well.

[Fool Count]

72. That's how it came about in Canada. Saskatchewan started

it and it quickly became so successful and popular that all remaining provinces joined soon after.

[lilyin]

60. That's what the entire nation

needs. I don't know why Obama bargained it away so soon in the health care reform negotiations.

[peace frog]

61. Single payer healthcare will never happen in Florida

not in my lifetime, in any event. The voters of this state are too fond of electing birther wingnuts to the state house.

Well done, Vermont.

[Vincardog]

62. When they sign it in to law I will start shopping for a place to live in Vermont

[Lucky Luciano]

63. If more states pass this and people migrate to those states,

We will eventually have this nationwide. May take 20 years though before the country as a whole is on board.

[Mopar151]

66. Times 'a wastin'!

http://www.farmandforest.com/

[peace frog]

78. Terrific to buy property if you have the do-re-mi

then there's the rest of us who need to look for that affordable little rental. Any way you can get there. :)

[cali]

80. If that's your reason for moving to Vermont, I'd wait beyond next week

(that's when Peter will sign it into law). We still don't have the waiver and without the waiver, no single payer. (ERISA laws)

[MilesColtrane]

64. Turn's out, Obama's a pretty good chess player.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jamie-court/obama-puts-single-payer-a_b_829229.html

From February:

At the National Governors Association, President Obama just threw his weight behind a bipartisan effort in the U.S. Senate to allow states to innovate with health reform, including adopting a public insurance system or single payer health care system by 2013 instead of 2017.

The governors embraced the state innovations waiver proposal, since conservative states want to weed back the federal health reform, and states like California might like to push ahead with public insurance options or single payer health care systems.

The idea is to let states meet federal targets anyway they want to, rather than how the federal government prescribes, by 2013 rather than the current 2017 deadline.

This is one of Obama's only moves left, and a smart one. It gives progressive reformers in California and elsewhere the ability to move forward on ambitious reform plans that can pass at the ballot box in 24 states but would never get the time of day in Washington.

[No Elephants]

107. Not putting the kibosh on a bipartisan effort by the Senate makes him a

a pretty good chess player? LOL

As an aside, how come people trying to get Obama off the hook blame the Senate, yet many of those same people will also give him credit for things the Senate originated?

[The Doctor.]

65. When the economy of Vermont takes off like a rocket, what will the wingnuts say?

Just curious.

[jpak]

70. but..but..but... there will be Death Panels and dead grandmas in the streets

:evilgrn:

[valerief]

92. Just in any state that ISN'T Vermont. nt

[florida08]

67. Good on ya Senator Sanders

and good for the state of Vermont and her people..<sigh> wish it were Florida..but Scott is too busy slashing medicaid and teachers

[cali]

81. actually, it's not Bernie so much as it's Peter Shumlin and Shap Smith

and local legislators and advocacy groups. credit where credit is due.

[florida08]

Bernie promoting single payer in Vermont

http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/heather/bernie-sanders-vermont-proving-single-paye

[cali]

83. and? look, I live here. I know the legislature well. I know the player

I know how this came to be. Do you live in Vermont? No? Oh, then might I suggest I know what's going on better than you do?

[florida08]

84. why are you so angry?

All I'm stating is that Bernie Sanders had an input..not that he single handedly made it so. Of course he didn't. You can give all the credit to yourself if you wish. Sanders has given it national attention. At this point does it matter? I'd be thrilled to have it.

[Name removed]

99. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[florida08]

109. well she certainly made an impression on me..lol

and I join in the congrats :thumbsup:

[Keith Bee]

68. Lead On, Green Mountain!

:-)

[jpak]

69. Yo, LePage - pay attention - this is what we need in Maine

:thumbsup:

[Keith Bee]

71. This is what we need in EVERY state!

[peace frog]

79. It will never happen in Florida

the anti-worker, pro-corporation-all-the-way birther wingnuts have taken over *governing* (if you can call it that) this state.

[GreenPartyVoter]

77. We'll never get it with LePage and the Rs running the show. :^( We can't even have

murals depicting Laborers at the Dept of Labor. :eyes:

[eridani]

73. Well, more like a publc option. Still, it's helpful n/t

[ProudDad]

74. This is how it started in Canada...

Good for you, Vermont!

Too bad I live in fucked up Arizona where they just passed an amendment that made Single-Payer health care or anything resembling it unconstitutional in Arizona. :puke:

but the fucking Colt Peacemaker is the State Gun... How warm and fuzzy is that? :puke:

We are seriously working on this: http://www.startourstate.org

[flamingdem]

75. Go Vermont! We're all going to move there, it's okay there is space

more sheep than people in VT

[Zorra]

76. _^_

[kpete]

82. The Vermont Senate Passes Bill Establishing A Single Payer Health Care System In The State

This thread has been combined with another thread.

Click here to read this message in its new location.

[jwirr]

85. Thank you Vermont. Now we have a leader hopefully more states

will pick up the ball. I wish we had our old Democratic government back in MN - we would definitely follow suit.

[florida08]

86. us 'socialists'

are very happy for Vermontians. Kudos to the new governor who got behind this and their legislature. Nothing like having a "stong Democratic majority"

From what I've read here other doctors are fairly excited about it. (In March)

This week, 200 doctors from 39 states including the District of Columbia signed an open letter saying they would seriously consider moving to the state to practice medicine if it enacted a single payer system. “The idea of having one set of rules, one form for billing, and knowing that all patients are covered – that would be wonderful,” said Scott Graham, a Kentucky family physician who signed the letter.
http://coto2.wordpress.com/2011/03/26/vermont-house-passes-single-payer-healthcare-bill/

Amazing to see local and federal representatives working in such a coordinated manner

[AllyCat]

87. Way to go VT!! Thank you for showing that people matter more than profit

Now, time to move to VT :)

[loudsue]

88. The population of Vermont may grow substantially in the next couple of years

That is WONDERFUL!

[polichick]

89. Wish it wasn't so cold in Vermont - I'd love to live where civilized people rule!

[valerief]

93. Hmm, I wonder how they tally votes in Vermont. Remarkable to see compassionate people elected.

[valerief]

90. Bravo, Vermont! I can see a great influx of people moving there now. nt

[zanana1]

94. Good old Vermont

There's just no other place like it.

[Uncle Joe]

95. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, Pharaoh.:thumbsup:

[greiner3]

96. Any word on how to recall the 9;

Who voted against this in the Senate? 49 is pretty large to do this in the House but you never know.

[cali]

101. huh? only 1 dem in the Senate voted for it- Bobby Starr, who's a right

wing creep, but has been there for ages. and no, there's no recall provisions in Vermont for state legislatures. and why bother? with the exception of Starr, the Senate dems are of unusually high caliber.

[abelenkpe]

97. Woo Hoo!!

Congrats Vermont. Hope CA does soon too. :)

[proud patriot]

98. Every State needs to Follow suit

:)

[Raksha]

102. K & R - I trust there will be a domino effect

and hope California will be next!!!

[keepCAblue]

103. Another first for Vermont. Truly progressive state. Love it.

Same-sex marriage in the U.S. state of Vermont began on September 1, 2009.<1><2> Vermont was the first state to introduce civil unions in July 2000, and the first state to approve same-sex marriage legislatively (as opposed to judicially)

Might give serious consideration to moving there.

[Wind Dancer]

105. Wonderful!!!

Kudos to Vermont. I hope it spreads to the other states in my lifetime. It's a fantasy, I know.

[marions ghost]

108. This is Hugh Woohoo Woohoo

:woohoo: :applause: :woohoo: :applause: :woohoo: :applause: :woohoo: :applause: :woohoo:

:yourock: Vermont :yourock:

[efhmc]

110. Texas is on a 20-30 lag time on any progressive issue so

maybe my gsons will be around for it. Oh, better still maybe they be gone from the state by then.

[ooglymoogly]

111. The history of single payer has begun in what is becoming our greatest state; Vermont.

where democracy still lives.

[AllTooEasy]

113. Tell your grandchildren that privatized healthcare ended today!

[Taverner]

114. Vermont, I am jealous of you guys

[Vidar]

115. My hat's off to Vermont & its citizens. Bravo!

[dballance]

116. So There is A State with Intellegent Law-makers!

Good going Vermont.

[harun]

131. One is better than none.

[the_chinuk]

117. Thank you, Vermont. Please lead the way.

As an Oregonian, I AM a little bit abashed. We have been resting on our progressive laurels for way too long. Business is grasping for control of the levers of power here; developers are hollowing out Portland for all they can and making a mockery of those of us who care.

So at least someone's on the job around here. I'm not looking this gift horse in the mouth. You go, Vermont, and show us the way.

The_Chinuk,
A native born Oregon

[Harriety]

120. Where you lead, I hope we follow Vermont. Way to go!

[Enthusiast]

121. Wonderful! K&R......nt

[WillyT]

123. HUGE K & R !!!

:bounce::woohoo::bounce:

:patriot:

:kick:

[IrishEyes]

124. I'm proud of my former state

[MrsBrady]

125. Vermont, anyone? n/t

[forty6]

127. I want to move THERE!!! You Vermonter's are COOL!

In every way!

Congrats.

If Vermont can do it, so can 49 other states.

[jimlup]

128. Any teaching jobs in physics there?

[2banon]

129. Vermont.. Thinking about relocating to the only truley Progressive State in the Union

well in terms of entire state.. not just in the "coastal areas".. like we have here in California.

Oh, and Yay Vermont!! :thumbsup: :applause: :thumbsup: :applause: :thumbsup: :applause: :thumbsup: :applause:

[harun]

130. A historic day for VERMONT! May you ever be remembered for this couragreous legislation.

Someday people may look back and see Vermont as the first hole in the damn that got us to a real 21st century health care system.

[wordpix]

132. yeah, VT! If it weren't so damn cold up there in winter, I'd move