March 24, 2010 10:06 PM UTC

Open letter to Senators Bennet and Udall: "No" on amendments is a "Yes" for healthcare reform

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• by: bobbyclark

( – promoted by Colorado Pols)

Earlier this morning, I helped deliver a letter to Senators Udall and Bennet from 11 organizations representing hundreds of thousands of Coloradans. These are groups that have been working tirelessly for healthcare reform for many months (and in fact decades for some of them). These are also groups that have advocated for a robust public option.

The purpose of the letter was to urge our Senators to pass the reconciliation package of health reform “fixes” that is presented to them without further amendment, thus ensuring their passage without creating undue delay by sending the measure back to the House.

Nothing in this letter should be construed as a step away from advocating for a robust public option. And, although I do not purport in this post to speak for all of these groups, I believe that they, along with ProgressNow Colorado, will continue to advocate for a strong public insurance option to provide competition and drive down costs. These groups recognize that this is a beginning for health reform, not the end, and that we must pass the bill before the Senate and move forward.  

Following is the text of the letter:

March 24, 2010

Dear Senators Udall and Bennet:

Thanks to your support, the tireless work of our President, members of Congress and advocates around the country, the health reform bill signed into law achieves a milestone on behalf of the health and well-being of the American people. Beginning immediately, no longer will small businesses have to choose between providing health insurance and hiring another worker and no longer will parents have to fight insurers to cover a child with a pre-existing condition. As reform reaches full implementation, not only will 32 million more Americans gain insurance, but Medicare’s life will be extended and the country’s fiscal condition will improve with more than a trillion dollars in deficit reduction.

Important improvements to the health care reform package are included in H.R.4872, the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act. This bill will make health insurance more affordable for families, close the Medicare prescription drug donut hole, and make needed changes in the provisions to fund health care reform.

We ask you to support this bill, without amendment. A “no” on amendments is a “yes” on health care.

Sincerely,

AFSCME

Colorado Consumer Health Initiative

Colorado Center on Law and Policy

Colorado Change that Works

Colorado AFL-CIO

Colorado Public Interest Research Group

Colorado Health Care for America Now

Main Street Alliance

Moveon.org

Progress Now Colorado

SEIU Colorado