November 08, 2009 09:29 AM UTC

Next Stop for Health Care Reform, The US Senate

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• by: ChangeThatWorks

( – promoted by Colorado Pols)

Late Tonight, the US House Passed Comprehensive Health Insurance Reform Bill

Denver, CO – Reps. Diana DeGette, Ed Perlmutter, Jared Polis and John Salazar, all Democrats, voted with the majority as the U.S. House of Representatives set the standard for real health insurance reform when it passed the Affordable Health Care for America Act late tonight.

Democratic Rep. Betsy Markey voted with the Republicans against this bill, with its affordability provisions that will finally make health insurance coverage attainable for millions of individuals and small businesses.

“The Affordable Health Care for America Act is exactly the type of transformation our health care system needs,” said Kjersten Forseth, Colorado director for Change That Works. “This bill will make health care affordable, put doctors and patients back in charge of health care decisions, and provide real competition to the health insurance industry for the first time in decades.  We applaud our Congressional delegation for standing with Coloradans and voting yes for this important legislation.”

The House bill offers affordable, stable health insurance for every American for the first time in history. It ensures affordable coverage for 96 percent of Americans, is entirely paid for, and includes a strong public option that drives down costs and holds insurance companies accountable by letting families shop for the health insurance plan that best meets their needs.  

Assistance for small businesses is also an important part of the bill. It will halt outrageous annual premium hikes by introducing competition and ending the insurance companies’ stranglehold on local markets.

The bill also provides small employers with access to large-group rates in the new Health Insurance Exchange which will enable them to offer a larger choice of plans to employees. In addition, an estimated 3.6 million small businesses which want to offer coverage for their workers, but have not been able to afford to.

“Small business owners like me have been waiting for a bill like this.  I am proud that our Colorado delegation voted to help us improve our business and look forward to Senators’ Udall and Bennet doing the same,” said Larry Watson, owner of Rocky Soft.

“I know we can count on our Senators to following the House’s lead and making health care more affordable for all Americans, especially small business owners.”

Find the full vote count here

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For an interactive graphic about how the bill would affect you, click here

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Change That Works is a grassroots organization in Colorado and 11 other states that offers Americans a new avenue to make change with direct action and advocacy in support of a broad progressive agenda.

For more information, contact Colorado director Kjersten Forseth at Kjersten Forseth 719-641-4674 or Kjersten.Forseth@changethatworks.net.