Hare, Braley voice support for health care bill
Both of the Quad-Cities' U.S. congressmen are in full support of a new House bill that Democratic leaders say will offer all Americans access to quality and affordable health care at a cost that will not inflate the national deficit.
"This is a historic day in the nation's capital," Rep. Phil Hare, D-Rock Island, said. "Our country has been working on this since Theodore Roosevelt was president of the United States."
"This a very exciting moment for all of us. I am very proud and pleased," said Bruce Braley, D-Waterloo.
The 1990-page Affordable Health Care for America Act combined three House committee bills into a single proposal. If the bill passes the full House, it will have to be reconciled with whatever bill eventually emerges from the Senate.
It is the most significant legislation of his career, Rep. Hare said.
"I don't think there will be a bigger bill that I will have the opportunity to vote for in my service here in Congress. I intend to work very hard for it," he said.
The bill includes a voluntary government-run option. Rep. Hare has touted the public option since health care reform discussions began earlier this year at the behest of President Barack Obama. That feature is "critically important," he said.
The public option will not destroy the health insurance industry, and it won't force Americans into anything they don't want, Rep. Hare said.
"This bill isn't out to do anything to harm the insurance companies or run them out of business," he said. "This is not a government takeover of our health care system. It drives competition and keeps the insurance companies honest."
According to Rep. Hare, the bill would not pay for abortions or provide coverage for illegal immigrants. Everyone who enters the public option would have to pay based on their income, even if it comes from government programs like unemployment benefits, Rep. Hare said.
The bill would prevent insurers from refusing to cover pre-existing conditions and from dropping clients based on previous claims.
It also would make the insurance industry subject to anti-trust laws. Additionally, it would penalize large companies that don't offer employee coverage. It will offer subsidies to small business that do, he added.
The plan is expected to cost about $900 billion over 10 years.
"When this bill comes to the floor for a vote, it will not add one penny to the (national) deficit," Rep. Hare said.
Rep. Hare has traveled his district extensively over the last several weeks and has heard from hundreds of people both for and against health care reform. He feels the House bill meets his constituents' needs, he said.
"There is a lot of misinformation out. People were afraid they'd lose their insurance," he said. "No one will have their insurance taken away or be forced into any government program.
"People want quality. They want lower costs. People want choice. They don't want to live in fear, and they want an opportunity to take care of their families."
The House bill is expected to go up for a vote next week. A Senate version is expected by the end of the year.
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