The American People Say Their Voice Is Not Being Heard In Health Debate

A new survey (PDF) found that 71 percent of people think members of Congress are paying too little attention to what people like them are saying about changes to the health care system.

Sounds like the people are paying attention! (Actually, the survey, which was conducted by NPR, the Kaiser Family Foundation and the Harvard School of Public Health, also found that 66 percent of respondents say they are ‘very closely’ or ‘somewhat closely’ following discussions in Washington about proposed changes to the health care system.)

And the people were proven right by yesterday’s vote in the Senate Finance Committee on Senator Rockefeller’s and Senator Schumer’s amendments (PDF) to add a public health insurance plan option to the health care reform bill proves they are right.

Despite the fact that poll (76%) after poll (66%) after poll (83%) after poll (77%) shows a vast majority of the American people wants the choice of a public health insurance plan, Senators from both parties voted ‘Nay’ to giving them that choice.

As The New York Times reported:

“The votes, in the Senate Finance Committee, underscored divisions among Democrats and were a setback for President Obama, who has endorsed the public plan as a way to ‘keep insurance companies honest.’

“The first proposal, by Senator John D. Rockefeller IV of West Virginia, was rejected 15 to 8, as five Democrats joined all Republicans on the panel in voting no. The second proposal, by Senator Charles E. Schumer of New York, was defeated 13 to 10, with three Democrats voting no.”

Among the Democrats who voted no on both amendments were Senator Conrad and Senator Baucus who, as The Bismark Tribune reports, have received millions of dollars in campaign contributions from health care special interests, including health insurance companies:

“Conrad has received $1.6 million in health contributions since 1989, 35th among lawmakers, while Sen. Max Baucus, a leader in the troubled effort in Congress to write a health care overhaul bill, has received more campaign donations from the health industry than any elected federal official except President Barack Obama and three other senators... Baucus, D-Mont., has received some $3.9 million in contributions from the health care industry since 1989.”

Sixty-four percent of people in the NPR/Kaiser Family Foundation/Harvard School of Public Health survey said they have none to little confidence that health insurance companies will recommend the right thing for the country when it comes to health care. Yet these Senators are willing to bet their constituents’ physical and financial health on those same health insurance companies being able to fix the health care system on their own.

Senator Rockefeller, Chairman of the Senate Finance Subcommittee on Health Care, has not been deterred though. He put out the following statement after the vote:

“Today’s vote is progress toward a strong public option in health care reform. We solidified a strong majority of Democrats who believe that true health care reform cannot be realized without a strong public insurance option that works for American families.

“I have traveled across West Virginia talking with people about their health care, and what I hear is that they need another option to buy affordable insurance — one that actually covers their medical care and helps drive down costs.

“Our job is to protect the American people, not protect insurance company profits. The American people have asked for real solutions that protect their families and their economic security — a public option does just that.”

You should not be deterred either. This was just the first of many votes to come on this issue. Make your voice heard!

Call your senators today to insist that they support a public health insurance plan option.

Views expressed on this page are those of the authors and not necessarily those of Campaign for America's Future or Institute for America's Future