Max Baucus, Listen to Ed Schultz and Give Doctor Marcia Angell a Seat at the Table

[Joanne98]

On May 5th the Senate Finance Committee, headed by Democratic Senator Max Baucus of Montana, had a roundtable discussion on solutions to our current health care crisis. There were 14 seats at the table which included experts representing the "for profit" Health Insurance Industry, the Chamber of Commerce and even a scholar from the Republican think tank the Heritage Foundation. Glaringly absent was any advocate for the single-payer health care system despite recent polling suggesting that 60% of Americans would be in favor of a single-payer system. Keep in mind this is only the discussion and exploratory phase for coming up with workable solutions to our current health care crisis. And yet there was not a single voice out of 14 voices to discuss the potential benefits of a single-payer plan. There was Zero representation for possibly 60% of Americans. It is no wonder many Americans in the past 72 hours are questioning whether Democrat Max Baucus from Montana is truly attempting to promote democratic discussions or only holding pay-for-play discussions with his largest campaign contributors, the health insurance companies and the drug companies.

The discussions were televised on CSPAN and were immediately disrupted by doctors from the organization Physicians for a National Health Program. In the end eight doctors, lawyers, and activists were arrested for voicing their displeasure at Max Baucus for refusing their requests to have representation of the single-payer health care system as part of the discussions. Physicians for a National Health Program is a growing grass-roots organization of over 16,000 physicians, nurse practitioners and other medical professionals from across the United States and its mission is to advocate for and educate about the benefits of a single-payer national health care system. Their fight gained national media attention last night on the new and popular MSNBC show "The Ed Show" on every night at 6:00 pm (ET). The host, Ed Schultz interviewed Doctor Margaret Flowers of Physicians for a National Health Program who stated that their request to have a single-payer voice at the table was denied by Max Baucus.

The video can be seen here.

Dr. Flowers and democratic progressive Ed Schultz both called on Max Baucus to allow for Doctor Marcia Angell to be a voice for single-payer during another upcoming roundtable discussion to be held on May 12th.

http://www.opednews.com/articles/Max-Baucus-Listen-to-Ed-S-by-E-Nelson-090508-546.html

[dgibby]

1. Good for Ed!

I guess being outed for his gross conflict of interest was just too much for old Max. :evilgrin: :rofl:

[madrchsod]

2. i thought the democrats were in charge..oh he is a democrat.

[diane in sf]

3. This is reminiscent of Cheney's secret energy meetings before the Attack on Iraq

[bemildred]

4. I think we are going to kick some more of these fuckers out of office if we want public health care.

Just saying.