March 24, 2010 08:16 PM UTC

Health Care Coalition Urges Passing Reconciliation Bill Without Amendments

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• by: peacemonger

Health care groups “Change That Works” and “Health Care Now”, a coalition of many groups working on health reform across the state, dispute David Sirota and others’ call to add the public option to the Reconciliation bill. Here is a statement released this morning.

Change That Works – Colorado and Health Care for America Now – Colorado (HCAN) Call on Senators to Vote No on All Amendments to Reconciliation

Thanks to the tireless work of our President, our Democratic House and Senate leaders, 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 and to the student loan program are included in H.R.4872, the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act. This bill will make health insurance more affordable to families, close the Medicare prescription drug donut hole, and increase federal support for Medicaid programs. It will also end wasteful subsidies in the student loan program and use the savings to give more young people the opportunity to attend college by increasing Pell grants to nearly $6,000, making them available to more students, and making important investments in minority serving institutions and community colleges. Many of these ideas were advanced with bipartisan support.

We ask Senators Bennet and Udall to support this bill, without amendment. A “no” on amendments is a “yes” on health care and college affordability. (Emphasis added by blog author.)

According to the Health Care for America Now website, the following groups are members in Colorado :  

9 to 5 Colorado

AFL-CIO

AFSCME

Colorado AFT

Colorado Education Association

Colorado for Health Care

Colorado Jobs with Justice

Colorado Progressive Action (NWFCO/CCC)

Colorado Progressive Coalition

Essence of Illumination and Therapeutic Massage

FRESC

Health Care for All Colorado

National Asian American Pacific Islander Mental Health Assn

National Physicians Alliance

New Era Colorado

Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains

Progress Now Action

Rocky Mountain District Council of Labor

SEIU Local 105

Sisters of Color United for Education

Universalist Church of Greeley Social Justice Committee

Women’s International League for Peace & Freedom

United Food and Commercial Workers Local 7

Colorado Nurses Association

Colorado Coalition for the Medically Underserved

American Federation of Teachers

American Friends Service Committee

Colorado Voices for Coverage Coalition

Communication Workers of America

Democracia USA/ Democracia Ahora

Denver Area Labor Federation

Greeley Interfaith Association

Healthcare United

Jefferson Unitarian Church – Peace, Justice, Liberty Task Force

Lambda Community Center

Network of Spiritual Progressives

Northern Colorado Aids Project

Rights for All People/Derechos Para Todos

Colorado Nurses Association

Hunger for Justice

Other groups not mentioned above which have issued similar statements include:

Change That Works – Colorado

Progressive Outreach – Colorado