Ellison joins Grayson on Medicare public option bill
Monday, March 15, 2010 at 9:01 am
- 3 Comments
Rep. Keith Ellison. Photo: WDCpix
Rep. Keith Ellison is among a number of progressive Democrats backing a standalone public option in the U.S. House. The “Public Option Act,” also known as the “Medicare You Can Buy Into Act,” would allow anyone to purchase Medicare coverage so long as they can afford it. The bill was introduced by Rep. Alan Grayson, D-Fla., last week and has picked up 64 cosponsors.
On the House floor, Rep. Grayson explained the bill:
The government spent billions of dollars creating a Medicare network of providers that is only open to one-eighth of the population. That’s like saying, ‘Only people 65 and over can use federal highways.’ It is a waste of a very valuable resource and it is not fair. This idea is simple, it makes sense, and it deserves an up-or-down vote.
Ellison is the only member of Minnesota’s congressional delegation currently supporting the measure.
Follow Andy Birkey on Twitter3 Comments
Comment posted March 15, 2010 @ 9:50 pm
Mr. Ellison told a group of us that he was for Single Payer Health Care. Now, why doesn’t he come out and say it and support it?
Free health care should be a right for everyone in this country.
Comment posted March 16, 2010 @ 5:17 am
GOOD.. What the insurance companies need is some competition.
Comment posted March 16, 2010 @ 2:42 pm
Todd, you are a fool if you think that a public option will be competition for private insurance. Those people can not be trusted and will find a way to buy their way through and not be held accountable for their pricing.
Single payer is the only way to get things done the right way. Then we will have free health care for all in this country and we can move onto the next project – a living wage for everyone since it is not their fault they can not find a job.
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