by MN Senator John Marty

"If anyone...has a better approach that will bring down premiums, bring down the deficit, cover the uninsured, strengthen Medicare for seniors, and stop insurance company abuses, let me know."
-- President Obama, State of the Union 
January 27, 2010

An open letter in response to President Obama's State of the Union request for a better approach to health care reform:

Dear President Obama,

During your State of the Union address, you explained why you are fighting for… Continue

SAN FRANCISCO — Democrats in California revived a bill on Thursday that would create a single-payer, universal health care system in the state.

While the move came as questions arose over the prospects of Congress adopting national health care legislation, the author of the California bill, State Senator Mark Leno, said that the timing was coincidental. Mr. Leno said it was basically a long-planned reintroduction of a 2009 proposal that was effectively tabled because of its potential cost. But… Continue

Everyone knows what happened last night in Massachusetts. Rather than spend time commenting on that, this post will focus on what it means for health reform. There are five remaining options for health reform to pass:


1 Ram it through. This would require the Senate and House negotiators to finish negotiations to merge their bills (which have been going on for months), as soon as possible. They would then need to send the merged bill to the Congressional Budget Office, who would take 5-1… Continue

By Benjamin Domenech

For decades the loudest and most influential U.S. Senate voice in favor of nationalized, government-run health care was the late Edward M. Kennedy. Now Kennedy's final political decision carries ramifications no one could have expected: the future of the nation's health care system.

As Kennedy's health deteriorated a year ago, political insiders speculated he would retire and make way for a chosen heir while his party was riding high and a special election victory seemed a… Continue