Letter from Sen Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) in response to my concerns about the Health Care Reform bill. He makes a strong case in simple, clear and caring language.
Why don't Democrats use this as a basis for media talking points?
Democrats must keep the message clear, simple, accurate, digestible, usable in Twitter and sound bites. The Democrats have been weak on communicating the benefits of this bill. And they must allow emotion as well, the main emotion being that the people of the US will be better for this bill and that the bill could have been better but is still a worthwhile accomplishment.
Text of Sen. Whitehouse's letter
Why don't Democrats use this as a basis for media talking points?
Democrats must keep the message clear, simple, accurate, digestible, usable in Twitter and sound bites. The Democrats have been weak on communicating the benefits of this bill. And they must allow emotion as well, the main emotion being that the people of the US will be better for this bill and that the bill could have been better but is still a worthwhile accomplishment.
Text of Sen. Whitehouse's letter
Thank you for contacting me about comprehensive health care reform. I appreciate hearing from you on this vital issue.
Like you, I know this bill isn't perfect, and there are certainly provisions I would add or change if I had sole control over the Congressional pen. Most prominently, I am disappointed that the bill does not include the public option provision I originally drafted in the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee with Senators Brown and Hagan. I also believe the bill would be stronger if it included my amendment onmedical bankruptcy, which would have made the bankruptcy process less expensive and more humane and accessible for debtors burdened by medical expenses beyond their control.
That said, I believe the Senate's passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act on December 24, 2009 is a landmark achievement and the foundation for a new direction in our broken health care system - this is not the end of health care reform, but a strong beginning.
Specific benefits of the bill
Under the bill, health insurance would be made available to more than 30 million Americans now without coverage, health care costs would be lowered for small businesses, and our nation's long-term budget deficit would be lowered. The bill will make it illegal for insurers to deny coverage for pre-existing conditions and requires all insurance companies to create a fair, effective appeals process for customers whose claims have been denied. In addition, affordable, comprehensive health insurance will be available through newly created insurance exchanges where premium increases are regulated and out-of-pocket costs and deductibles are capped. There are also quality improvements and waste reduction measures that promise to significantly reduce the cost of care, while improving the quality of that care. These measures don't get credit in the scoring of the bill for deficit reduction purposes, but I am confident that they will prove to be very helpful and important ? this is an area where I worked hard. These are just some of the important provisions in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act that will not only change the status quo, but serve as a starting point for future reform.
Although we may disagree on this matter, I firmly believe that voting against this bill would keep us locked in a health care system that has consistently failed to provide quality, affordable health care options for all Americans. In spite of its limitations, I am proud of what this bill accomplishes, and confident that it is an important step forward in reforming the status quo. I look forward to sending the bill to the President's desk for his signature as
soon as possible.
Once again, thank you for contacting me on this important issue. I hope you will stay in touch with this or any other issue of concern to you.
Like you, I know this bill isn't perfect, and there are certainly provisions I would add or change if I had sole control over the Congressional pen. Most prominently, I am disappointed that the bill does not include the public option provision I originally drafted in the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee with Senators Brown and Hagan. I also believe the bill would be stronger if it included my amendment onmedical bankruptcy, which would have made the bankruptcy process less expensive and more humane and accessible for debtors burdened by medical expenses beyond their control.
That said, I believe the Senate's passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act on December 24, 2009 is a landmark achievement and the foundation for a new direction in our broken health care system - this is not the end of health care reform, but a strong beginning.
Specific benefits of the bill
Under the bill, health insurance would be made available to more than 30 million Americans now without coverage, health care costs would be lowered for small businesses, and our nation's long-term budget deficit would be lowered. The bill will make it illegal for insurers to deny coverage for pre-existing conditions and requires all insurance companies to create a fair, effective appeals process for customers whose claims have been denied. In addition, affordable, comprehensive health insurance will be available through newly created insurance exchanges where premium increases are regulated and out-of-pocket costs and deductibles are capped. There are also quality improvements and waste reduction measures that promise to significantly reduce the cost of care, while improving the quality of that care. These measures don't get credit in the scoring of the bill for deficit reduction purposes, but I am confident that they will prove to be very helpful and important ? this is an area where I worked hard. These are just some of the important provisions in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act that will not only change the status quo, but serve as a starting point for future reform.
Although we may disagree on this matter, I firmly believe that voting against this bill would keep us locked in a health care system that has consistently failed to provide quality, affordable health care options for all Americans. In spite of its limitations, I am proud of what this bill accomplishes, and confident that it is an important step forward in reforming the status quo. I look forward to sending the bill to the President's desk for his signature as
soon as possible.
Once again, thank you for contacting me on this important issue. I hope you will stay in touch with this or any other issue of concern to you.
Sincerely,
Sheldon Whitehouse
United States Senator
United States Senator
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