My Swan Song for Health Insurance Reform

Dear Congressman:

I have been closely following the health insurance reform bills moving through Congress. I have long been an ardent supporter of health insurance reform that: respects human life and dignity, creates universal access with a special concern for the poor and inclusion of immigrants, pursues the common good and preserves choice of doctors, and restrains costs and applies them equitably among the insured.

Therefore, it saddens me to see the devolution of the bills whereby single-payer has not been given a fair discussion. Furthermore, House Democrats have completely removed the Kucinich Amendment to HR 3200 from the final House bill. A single-payer, Medicare for All insurance system is the only way to achieve comprehensive health insurance reform. Without even allowing states to implement such a system will ensure the continued rise of health care costs in our great country.

Mandating insurance through the proposed bills in Congress is faulty, because it works like auto insurance. If someone does not want auto insurance, she can stop driving. However, if someone does not want health insurance under the proposed legislation, is she supposed to stop living? If the Kucinich Amendment to allow individual states to implement a single-payer system is not included, I demand that you oppose the final bill.

The second egregious flaw within the proposed legislation is that it threatens over 30 years of protecting conscience rights. During House floor debate on a health care reform bill, Rep. Bart Stupak is prepared to offer an amendment that addresses essential concerns on abortion funding and conscience rights. Please oppose any Rule that will not allow a vote on the Stupak Amendment. If the serious concerns on abortion funding and conscience rights are not addressed, I demand that you oppose the final bill. Genuine health care reform should protect the life and dignity of all people from the moment of conception until natural death.

A moment to make substantial change does not come often, but you have the uneasy task of being part of this moment. Will the Democratic Party support the lives of ALL American citizens and documented immigrants or will it decide to do what is politically convenient and succumb to the interests of for-profit insurance companies?

You and your colleagues will be in my prayers these coming days. For the sake of future generations, please do the right thing and be a voice for the voiceless.