December 22, 2009 06:32 PM UTC

Will Udall and Bennet vote against health care reform bill?

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• by: Another skeptic

The Denver Post says Udall and Bennet should vote against the health care reform bill.

We call on Colorado Sens. Mark Udall and Michael Bennet to take a principled stand against the travesty the Senate legislation has become.

We do so because the deal-making and the concessions made to reach 60 votes have created a bill so poisonous to the stated ideals of both senators that they should be unable to attach their good names to its passage when it comes up for a scheduled vote on Christmas Eve.

To buy a “yes” vote from Sen. Ben Nelson, for example, the bill will fully fund the Nebraskan’s home-state Medicaid program, at a cost of hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars over the next decade.

Better to take up the quest for true health care reform next year and try once again to craft meaningful legislation than to accept this ghastly gift to the insurance industry and hodgepodge of pricey perks to legislators.

Without a public option, without an expansion of Medicare and without other significant changes that stand the greatest chance of holding down surging costs, the Senate’s legislation would leave working Americans pretty much where they are today: facing the prospect of double- digit inflation in insurance premiums for as far as the eye can see.

In fact, health care inflation could actually escalate.

Businesses, too, will continue to be rocked by higher costs.

Yes, 2010 is an election year and Democrats need to show they can make progress on major issues.

But shouldn’t the immediacy of a political race be all the more reason to demonstrate to constituents an ability to show true leadership?

Tolerating a bad bill simply to say you passed something would be irresponsible.

Agree?

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