Senator Sanders: "This is the strongest health care reform passed in this country since Medicare"

[ProSense]

The Health Vote

December 28, 2009

At 7 a.m. on the morning of Christmas Eve, the Senate passed its version of health care reform legislation. The bill will now have to be reconciled with a differing House-passed bill before it can become law. Sen. Bernie Sanders voted in favor of the legislation. Upon his return to Vermont later that morning, Sanders told reporters: "We have been talking about health care reform in this country now since Teddy Roosevelt. This is the strongest health care reform passed in this country since Medicare." The senator noted that the bill is not as strong as he wanted and that he will work to improve it before it is signed into law. He was very pleased that funding for community health centers, which provide affordable access to primary, dental, and mental health care to underserved areas across the country, received a significant boost in the legislation. The legislation would provide health insurance for 31 million people and end the odious practice of denying care for people with pre-existing conditions. Sanders was also glad that the legislation will not penalize Vermont and Massachusetts for taking an early lead in providing greater coverage to their citizens.

Vermont and Massachusetts provide the broadest Medicaid coverage in the nation and, under previous drafts of the legislation, would have been punished for these innovative efforts. The Senate bill would require all states to expand their Medicaid programs to cover more low-income individuals and increases Medicaid payments to cover the expansion. Vermont has already expanded its coverage using the Medicaid program and thus would have been effectively penalized for their early efforts. Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) was a leader in successfully fighting for this fix. To read more, click here.

In the Senate bill, Sanders was able to secure $10 billion for the nationwide Federally Qualified Health Center program while the House version of the bill has $14 billion in funding thanks in large part to the work of House Majority Whip James Clyburn of South Carolina. The House funding level would increase the number of centers from 20 million to 45 million over the next five years. The investment would more than pay for itself by saving Medicaid $23 billion over five years on reduced emergency room use and hospital costs, according to a study conducted by George Washington University. To read more, click here.

[silverweb]

1. K&R

And like Medicare, it can be improved over time. A good beginning.

:kick:

[firedupdem]

2. K&R and he's going to be working to make it stronger... n/t

[TheKentuckian]

3. About any bill would fill those small shoes

I've heard Bernie speak about this bill A LOT. He's not really that big of a fan.

[angee_is_mad]

4. keep kicking

and definitely recommend.

[POAS]

5. kick

[quiet.american]

6. Excellent work by Sanders. When it was announced, I cheered the news about community health cntrs.

[falcon97]

7. I continue to trust B. Sanders, S. Brown, and

J. Rockefeller on HCR. They know a lot more about what is attainable in that broken down upper chamber than pundits or critics.

[OhioBlue]

22. +1 n/t

[dkf]

8. Lol. Such a low bar to cross wouldn't you say?

We are a country of low expectations. So sad.

[quiet.american]

9. I'm not laughing about language already in the bill that paves way for state-based single payer.

Not everything is a joke --

"Sanders is also working with Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) to improve language already in the bill to provide waivers for states that want to provide comprehensive, affordable health care and curb rapidly-rising costs for money-making private health insurance companies. The waivers could clear the way for a state-run, single-payer system."

Go, Sanders! Go, Clyburn! Go, Wyden!

[ProSense]

10. No, that's what you say.

There bar has, in fact, been out of reach. This country has been trying to pass universal health care for more nearly a century. This is the country you have to deal with.

[dkf]

12. Yes you need low expectations because this is the country we are dealing with.

You made my point.

[ProSense]

14. Actually, there is a word for that:

reality.

[TheKentuckian]

26. And we still will be looking to pass universal health insurance much less health care

[Cha]

18. We've had some real shitholes trying to keep us down..

But, we are forging ahead in spite of all the obstructionists.

[Undercurrent]

11. Love you, Bernie.

You are right that this bill is the "This is the strongest health care reform passed in this country since Medicare." You were right to vote for it, and you are right to continue to work to improve it.

The legislative process never produces a bill that everyone is in love with, and more often than not everyone ends up disliking some aspect of every bill that is passed.

[mucifer]

13. Go Bernie!

[hulka38]

15. What hcr has there been on the federal level since Medicare?

Isn't this like the tallest midget?

[dionysus]

24. prior attempts to reform health care never even made it to a vote.. see the difference?

[agentS]

16. I disagree Senator.

It's more of a start. Like others, I don't think the game is over, not by a long shot. The Dems should pick up a public option or single payer or improvement vote in September or October, after cycling thru immigration and jobs and DOMA. Why? The Dems stand to gain more votes in elections by voting for a public option than what they would lose by voting for it, even in Arkansas.

[SeattleGirl]

17. I took what Bernie was saying as it being a start, not a finished

product, even if he gets the changes he wants into the bill.

I doubt Bernie will give up even after Obama signs the bill. That's one of the things I really like about the Senator: his "okay, we've got this, now lets work to make it even better" attitude.

[Ikonoklast]

19. Hmmm, I wonder if the firebaggers will throw Bernie under the bus.

Those 'More Catholic Than The Pope' socialists that would rather this bill fail, than have one person benefit from it passing.

[BeFree]

21. That's funny

More catholic....

It really is a new day for health care. It has been re-formed.
Now its up to us to make it better. Nope, we're not done yet, not by a long shot.

[WeDidIt]

20. The Firebaggers MUST DESTROY SANDERS NOW!!!

He's a corporatist sell-out and must be destroyed.

/firebaggers

[Bobbie Jo]

23. K&R

:kick:

[Beetwasher]

25. Fucking Corporate Sellout

(In case you can't tell I'm being sarcastic).

[old mark]

27. Sad but true. It's is the foot in the door, and we must get it passed

and get it improved so it works for the people.

Fuck all republicans.

mark