As the vote nears on health care legislation, members of Congress need to ponder how history will view them.
Will they try to save their jobs, or will they aspire to live up to the more courageous leaders who preceded them? The time is now to cast a vote for the ages.
Presidents since Harry Truman have tried to create universal health care. This bill won’t go that far. But flawed though it is, this legislation could be remembered like the 1965 vote to create Medicare.
Benefits clearly outweigh the alternative of leaving the system as it is. Americans are being denied coverage. Their premiums are spiraling up and out of reach. One in four Californians are going without health coverage, including 1.5 million children. Doctors and hospitals are being shorted on payments for services they provide.
The House Energy and Commerce Committee brought home the need by publishing an estimate of the number of people without insurance by congressional district. Imagine entire cities of moderate size where no one has health coverage (www. energycommerce.house.gov):
• Rep. Doris Matsui, D-Sacramento: Congressional District 5 has 58,500 uninsured residents who would gain coverage. An additional 70,000 young adults would be able to remain on their parents’ policies until they turn 26. In addition, 14,600 small businesses would be able buy insurance by joining new health insurance exchanges, getting group rates and a choice of insurers. The cost to hospitals and other health providers of uncompensated care would be reduced by $93 million.
• Tom McClintock, R-Elk Grove: The 4th District has 44,500 uninsured residents who would gain coverage. And 64,000 young adults could stay on their parents’ plans, while 20,600 small businesses could join an exchange. Providers’ uncompensated costs would be cut by $36 million.
• Dan Lungren, R-Gold River: The 3rd District has 34,000 uninsured residents who would gain coverage. An additional 56,000 young adults could stay on parents’ policies, and 14,800 small businesses could join an exchange. Providers’ uncompensated costs would be cut $16 million.
• Wally Herger, R-Chico: The 2nd District has 83,500 uninsured residents who would gain coverage. And 68,000 young adults could stay on their parents’ plans. In addition, 15,200 small businesses could join the exchange. Providers’ uncompensated costs would be reduced $59 million.
• Mike Thompson, D-St. Helena: The 1st District has 63,500 uninsured residents who would gain coverage. An additional 69,000 young adults could stay on their parents’ policies, and 17,200 small businesses could join the exchange. Providers’ costs would be reduced by $67 million.
Republicans will vote like a herd to oppose the legislation, as most did in 1965 when Congress approved Medicare. History proved them wrong then, and it will again with the upcoming votes.
House Minority Leader John Boehner declares that Republicans will do whatever they can to make sure “this bill never, ever, ever passes.”
Democrats need to look beyond the fear-mongering and pandering. This has been a 16-month-long debate.
But really it began six decades ago when Truman was president. The time to act is now.