Atlanta Progressive News

According to Democracy for America (the organization that came out of Howard Dean’s former Presidential campaign in 2004), 64 US House Democrats will not support a health care reform bill that does not have a public option for health insurance to compete with private insurers. These include US Reps. Donna Edwards (D-MD) and Chellie Pingrie (D-ME).

US Rep. Hank Johnson issued the following statement in support of the public option, although it was not immediately clear whether he was part of the 64 (I’d doubt it, srsly.) “The thing that must be done to reform the health care system is to get a handle on the insurance companies and the massive profits they make,” Johnson said. “More than 70 percent of every health care dollar spent goes to administrative expenses. So if that 70 percent was reduced, you would be able to get more people affordable health care.

“The public option would be minimal regulation, which would ensure that most of the 47 million people who are uninsured would have access to health coverage. The public option is not going to run the insurance companies out of business. Why should we take half measures that do not accomplish the desired result?

“Skyrocketing health care costs are crippling individuals and small businesses. I respectfully disagree with folks who say a robust public option is not the answer. Reform with a viable public plan will buoy small businesses and uninsured or underinsured citizens by allowing them to purchase plans through an insurance exchange and by providing tax credits to help them provide benefits,” Johnson said.

Pelosi also issued statements Monday reiterating her support for the public option, and reminding people that all 3 US House bills and the US Senate bill out of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Cmte all include the public option.

All this after reports circulated over the weekend that the wimpy Obama Administration was ready to accept a compromise not including a public option.