Last night, Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-AZ), co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus sent out a telling press release.
“I have grave concerns about calls reportedly being made from the Administration to health care reform advocacy organizations supporting the choice of a public option insurance plan,” Grijalva said.
Grijalva said the White House is telling health care reformers, “they will cease supporting the public option portion of the upcoming health care reform legislation”
I truly expect the President to live up to the promises he has made to America about real change and that he truly stands for uninsured Americans and working families that need and are demanding a choice of a competitive public option when he addresses Wednesday’s joint session of Congress.
Without a public option, this bill is not real reform. Real reform would lower and contain health care costs, precisely what inclusion of a public option would achieve. Without a robust public option, reform will enrich pharmaceutical and insurance companies because it will lack any significant competition and incentives to drive down health care costs for consumers.
Over 60 House progressives have vowed not to vote for legislation that doesn’t include a public option–enough to ensure that a bill won’t pass if they follow through.
