In my view, the real solution to the problem of how to
reform health care in this country is a Medicare-for-all, single-payer
system. We are going to try to at least give states the option to go
forward and move toward a single-payer system. Whether its Vermont or
somewhere else, if one state pulls it off it will spread around the country. We
also need a strong public option to provide competition for private insurance
companies and to help bring down costs that are projected to double if we do
nothing. The bill that passed the House has a public option that would only be
available to 5 or 6 million Americans. Thats nowhere near enough. We want a
strong public option that is available to as many Americans as possible.
I think it should be available to all Americans. In the midst of all of this,
you have tremendous pressure from the insurance
companies, drug
companies, medical equipment suppliers; all the guys who are making
billions of dollars on health care today who really dont want anything
substantive to take place. So we are in a very interesting moment. I would hope
from the grassroots of America people would tell Congress to do the right thing
on this terribly important issue.