Sestak: “Time for the Senate to Vote on Public Health Care Choice”

By SESTAK FOR SENATE

MEDIA, PA – Following the Senate Finance Committee’s failed votes today on several public option amendments, Democratic U.S. Senate candidate, Congressman Joe Sestak renewed his call on the U.S. Senate Majority Leader to bring to the floor of the Senate a full up-or-down vote on the public option. Almost 2,000 people from across the country have joined Joe Sestak in signing a petition calling for a roll call vote.

“The President called on the rest of Congress to lead. That is exactly what we did months earlier in my House Education and Labor Committee when I voted to pass real insurance reform that will ensure fair competition in the market place, resulting in better care and lower costs.” Joe said. “Now it’s time for every Senator to put principle over politics by voting on a public option – up or down!”

The Senate Finance Committee held votes on two amendments, some better than others, that would have included a public option in the Finance Committee bill in order to ensure competition within the health insurance industry. Either amendment would have given Americans the choice of private or public insurance options in newly created health insurance marketplace.

“With these votes, the Senate Finance Committee dismissed the opportunity to slow the growth of health care costs and establish a fair insurance marketplace for millions of Americans” Joe continued. “Pennsylvania’s senators should join my call to the Senator Majority Leader for an up or down vote on the public option on the floor of the Senate.”

Right now, 14,000 people are losing their health care coverage every day because costs are skyrocketing. More than 10 million Americans have lost their health insurance since the last time Congress considered reform, while costs have risen 120 percent. The House bill, which Joe Sestak voted to support, establishes a fair market place for health insurance and will help slow the growth of health care costs by encouraging preventive care, investing in comparative effectiveness research, and examining ways to reimburse doctors based on the quality of care instead of the quantity.

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September 29, 2009 at 7:09 pm

--pa2010.com Staff