from the desk of mr chrisattack

Dear Chris:

I certainly agree with your concern that the Senate only weakened what was already a relatively weak House health insurance reform bill. Watching the mishandling of this vital reform and barely securing the necessary 60 votes—58 Democrats and 2 Independents to 39 Republicans, I share with you the following statement that I just issued:

Opening up this Senate health care package reveals much good wrapped up with unwise taxes on employer plans and too little competition for insurance monopolies.  Let’s take time for a little Christmas cheer now that the Senate finally acted, but make and keep a New Year’s Resolution in the House demanding at least a little more consumer and taxpayer protection.  By much earlier rejecting the procedural approach upon which both the Bush and Reagan tax breaks relied, the Senate Leadership chose the wrong path, making approval subject to a super-majority 60-vote requirement and the tyranny of the least committed Senator.

There remain many issues to resolve between the House and Senate in conference committee?”a conference that will likely be under considerable pressure from both the Senate and the White House to do most everything the Senate way.  Probably only modest changes from conference can be expected to a Senate bill that already has much to be modest about.

No single issue has consumed more of my time this year than working to secure meaningful health insurance reform fully paid for in the most progressive way possible.  In repeated meetings within the Ways and Means Health Subcommittee, in our Democratic Caucus, and in other Leadership gatherings, I have advocated for the strongest possible Medicare-type public option as the best way to contain soaring costs and provide more choice and more competition. And I have urged that in achieving an essential pay-as-you-go approach?”we should crack down on tax avoidance schemes that have unfairly shifted the tax burden to working families and small businesses instead of taxing those who already have comprehensive, employer-provided health insurance.  These are two key issues among many that the Senate resolved in the wrong way.

Whatever version of the bill is finally brought to the House for a vote in January, I will remain actively involved seeking the most reform that we can get the votes to achieve.

Please continue to let me know how I can better serve you on federal issues.

Sincerely,
Lloyd Doggett