Jan Schakowsky on health care reform

In the latest video of a series on the health care reform in America, Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky talks to TRNN Senior Editor Paul Jay about the reality of a public health care plan. Schakowsky is a member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, and an advocate of universal health care. Though the Baucus Finance Committee has rejected the single-payer option as a viable possibility in the health care debates, Schakowsky believes in US President Barack Obama's commitment to a public health care plan. "I have every confidence that the president is making it clear to all the decision-makers that that's got to be part of the plan, " Schakowsky says. "And, of course, in the House, Charlie Rangel, chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, has made it clear that he doesn't think, and I agree, that it will pass the House of Representatives without having a robust public health-insurance option included." American insurance companies have stated that a public health insurance plan would place them at a competitive disadvantage. Schakowsky says that the existence of a public insurance option will prevent private insurance companies from excluding patients "because of a pre-existing condition." "[This] is a very dangerous time for members of Congress to resist a really good plan that at the end of the day does say to all Americans, you're going to be covered if you want to buy health insurance," Schakowsky says. She believes that the private insurance companies are afraid that a public plan would not be regulated like private plans. However, she says that there will likely be a "very similar package" of regulation for the public health plan. "I think we're going to see by the end of the year—and what we're talking about, the president's telling the Senate Democrats today, by October of 2009 he wants a bill on his desk," Schakowsky says. "This is really exciting. And the president is aware of the momentum he has right now." To view the complete video, please click on the link below: http://therealnews.com/t/index.php?option=com_content&ta ... For Press Inquiries, please contact: Sharmini Peries Senior Editorial Board Member Email:  sharmini@therealnews.com


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