Wisconsin Senator Russ Feingold issued a statement today in support of the public option as a part of any health care reform package:
Statement of U.S. Senator Russ Feingold
In Support of a Public Health Insurance Option“A public option is a fundamental part of ensuring health care reform brings about real change. Opposing the public plan is an endorsement of the status quo in this country that has left tens of millions of Americans uninsured or underinsured and put massive burdens on employers. I have heard too many horror stories from my constituents about how the so-called competitive marketplace has denied them coverage from the outset, offered a benefit plan that covers everything but what they need or failed them some other way. A strong public option would ensure competition in the industry to provide the best, most affordable insurance for Americans and bring down the skyrocketing health care costs that are the biggest contributor to our long-term budget deficits. I am not interested in passing health care reform in name only. Without a public option, I don’t see how we will bring real change to a system that has made good health care a privilege for those who can afford it.”
Thank you, Senator Feingold, for standing up for what is right – a public option in health care reform. We can only hope and pray the President has the same intestinal fortitude. Please encourage your colleagues in the Senate to do the same
Sen Feingold
Your stance makes us proud as former Wisconsinites.
Please make it clear that the public option does not preclude cooperatives.
Cooperatives are welcome in the mix of options.
Thanks,
Judy and Don Manthei
I agree. If we can not have single-payer then public option is the next best choice. If neither of these systems is selected we have gained nothing and the insurance companies and pharmaceutical companies will continue to reign.
Thank-you for your support.
Eileen
Thanks to the fine Wisconsin Senator Russ Feingold for supporting public option.
Dear Russ,
You and a few others in Congress are beginning to galvanize the progressive community. I think the President greatly underestimates our tenacity or the depth of our feeling on health care, Iraq and civil liberties.
You were my first choice for President in 2008. I contributed to your exploratory committee. I understood why you couldn’t run, but I was still disappointed. You, Bernie Sanders and Al Franken are the best of the best. I’ve learned to trust my political instincts when I make these kinds of decisions. Please tell the President that he is making a hash of the health care debate.
Thank you Senator Feingold, I am a full time student that works part time at a hospital as a nursing assistant. I can’t afford paying for my health insurance there any longer if I want to afford rent, tuition, and food. Even with the hospital insurance coverage I can’t afford to get sick at the same hospital I work at. Something needs to be done!
Once again, you are the voice of fairness, justice and reason. Keep fighting for us, Russ. I don’t understand why some must dramatize a public option. Let’s do this and do it right.
Thank you, Sen. Feingold!
Please stop President Obama from trying for bipartisanship. Republicans are proud of saying “No, no, no!”
So are 2-year olds. That’s why we call that stage of development “The Terrible Two’s.” It’s impossible to negotiate with toddlers.
Thank you Senator Feingold! We need your continued expertise and support of Health Care Reform, and urgently
and most importantly, a Public Option has to be included in the plan. Keep up your good efforts on behalf of American citizens.
It’s just plain refreshing to hear one of our elected representatives state the clear and obvious without inuendo or waffling. I’m pretty much in despair of our “democracy” acting decisively on any of our truly urgent issues such as health care reform or climate change or energy production. But it helps to know there is a sane individual occupying a seat in Washington with the people’s interest front and center. Thank you very much Senator Feingold.
Thank you Senator Feingold for your unwavering support and ethics on behalf of the American people.
You are a true Statesman and Patriot.
I wish that there were more like you. I’m from Maryland but really appreciate all your efforts for us all. Stay the course.
This is an interesting article:
“Bait and Switch: How the Public Option Was Sold”
http://www.pnhp.org/blog/2009/07/20/bait-and-switch-how-the-%E2%80%9Cpublic-option%E2%80%9D-was-sold/
Posted by Andrew Coates MD on Monday, Jul 20, 2009
by Kip Sullivan
The people who brought us the “public option” began their campaign promising one thing but now promote something entirely different. To make matters worse, they have not told the public they have backpedalled. The campaign for the “public option” resembles the classic bait-and-switch scam: tell your customers you’ve got one thing for sale when in fact you’re selling something very different.
Thank you so much for standing up for such an important cause!
I totally agree with Sen. Feingold’s stand on the inclusion of a public option. I wish I still lived in WI so I could vote for you, Senator. Could we exchange you for Sen. Thune from SD? I would be thrilled!!
Dear Senator Russ, We live in Minnesota but live most of our time in Brule Wisconsin. I am a retired public health nurse who has advocated for all groups of vulnerable persons and I want all to read that “Coops” are nothing but smoke and mirrors for insurance companies who call themselves “non-profits” and have a board. I have been a member of Health Partners and Group Health and they are all about the bottom line!!! I have never voted for the board of directors because I do not know them and they do not seem to understand the system as well as I do. States that have HMOs have no new group to enroll in coops but do need a public option. We have no leverage what so ever if we can not show the way to cheaper premiums and access to care. No real reform will happen until health care providers, MDs and nurses get to weigh in on waste of dollars and how to provide care. MBA’s from Harvard have had their time, now let the medical provider get back to real and compassionate care without worrying about time and referrals to “peers” who make $2 million plus. We also have to demand that those who profit from high tech and pharmaceuticals are not decision makers on referrals to their own product or partial ownership. This is fueling new untested technology costs and drugs because if the MD refers to his drug or company they make more money than in their practice. More later, hang tough Russ!!! Linda Brandt RN, PHN
Why does the government need to control one more aspect of our lives…For years when employed, I paid for many who did not have coverage…I have been unemployed for over three years and can’t get anybody to pay for my treatment! Why? Because I saved a little money and they tell me that as long as I am capable of paying any part of the bill, I must use my savings to do so…even if it drains the bank! So therefore I am not being treated for many health problems and will die with money in the bank. While growing up my parents took us to the doctor when they could afford to pay. As an adult, I went when I was insured or could pay…unfortunately what continues to drive up our costs are the many lawsuits and high malpractice premiums the doctors have to pay and the consortiums that force doctors to leave their own clinics for assembly line practices. I went in last December for a years renewal of prescriptions and it cost me over $500. What happened to the 20 min. for $100? Government regs, free programs and litigious society. Get back liberal democrates and get your hands out of my pockets….I will end up paying higher taxes to insure the illegals and greedy but will still not get coverage myself. Why should I pay $7000 for coverage when my annual expenses average $500? All the years Feingold has been in office he has never shown up to help the average taxpayer! Thanks for nothing.
Brent Wambold,
Take a cold shower and then read your own posting.
If there was single payer government plan your health care would be available at a reasonable rate.
Your story is exactly why we need single payer public health care; it is not a reason to be against it.
Wake up and think!
As far as control goes, it sounds like the hospitals and insurance companies control your life now, NOT YOU .
Do you receive Sopcial Security?
Well guess what Social Security is a public option pension insurance plan.
And they said there was no support in the Senate for a public option.
Minnesota has your back!We here in Minneapolis are proud of your staying true to the critical state of this issue, Russ. We are getting tired of the Politicians who are only concerned about themselves & don’t really represent ALL of the people, only the ones who have money. Cost competition between Insurers will mean lower costs all around for working Americans. This would enable more Americans to have more money to spend on housing,Education & other necessitites for their families. God Bless you.
This is absolutely true. A public option is the only device we have to force insurance companies to play fair.
Senator Feingold,
Thank you for strongly supporting a strong public option.I live in Middleton,WI and have been actively working for single payor to at least be a part of the debate. I believe this would be the best plan for all the people in our country. I am well aware this probably won’t happen in my life time.I will be happy to end up with a strong public option that gives every one the opportunity to get health insurance at an affordable rate.Please speak out with the facts about the public option,people are hearing all the lies and believing it. We need people like you to speak the truth.Thank you for the work you do for the state of Wisconsin.
Public option better be more defined! Otherwise you may get change…and change way beyond anything that resembles “care” in health.
If the public option or single payer becomes a reality everyone will have access requiring more visits, more cost, and more providers. The current providers would be over run and the quality of care would be worse than ever! As a small business owner, in health care, and providing insurance for our team and my own family we see all sides of the argument. Since Clinton the insurance industry has changed, but the churning of patients from one doctor to another has become nearly as obscene as the excessive ordering of tests that may not be needed.
Start with tort reform, getting the “uninsured” to apply that currently qualify for a public plan or their own at work(but choose NOT to participate), refuse service to illegals unless they bring cash, and reinforce health care is a responsibility and not a right…then we will be heading in the correct direction!!