Word from the White House: Bipartisan Support for Health Insurance Reform Continues to Build

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7TH, 2009 AT 1:38 PM
Word from the White House: Bipartisan Support for Health Insurance Reform Continues to Build
Posted by Jesse Lee
It's no secret that institutions of all stripes focus their communications on certain messages day to day. We thought it would all be a little more open and transparent if we went ahead and published what our focus will be for the day, along with any related articles, reports or documents.
Supporting article: "Schwarzenegger Endorses Obama Health Care Effort," ABC News, 10/6/09
Supporting article: "Thompson joins former Democratic leader to push for health reform," Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 10/5/09
Supporting article: "Obama finds support outside party and Washington for healthcare plan," Los Angeles Times, 10/6/07
Talking Points: Bipartisan Support for Health Insurance Reform Continues to Build
· Bipartisan support for health insurance reform continues to grow around the nation.

· Yesterday, Republican California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger added his voice to the growing chorus in support of reform.
o He said he shares the President’s goals of "slowing the growth in costs, enhancing the quality of care delivered, improving the lives of individuals, and helping to ensure a strong economic recovery."
o And he called on "colleagues on both sides of the political aisle at the national level to move forward and accomplish these vital goals for the American people."

· Earlier this week, former Bush Administration Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson joined Democratic former House Majority Leader Dick Gephardt in issuing a statement in support of reform. "Failure to reach an agreement on health reform this year is not an acceptable option," they said.
o The bipartisan duo pointed out that there is "substantial common ground" between the various bills making their way through Congress and pointed to "broad support for key provisions… that would forbid insurance companies from denying coverage to people with pre-existing conditions, dropping coverage when people become ill, or imposing spending coverage caps on people when they get sick and need coverage."

· And New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who originally ran as a Republican and is now an Independent, praised the reform proposals in Congress for "incorporating Republican ideas" and said the bill deserves bipartisan support.
o He added that reform has "great potential to reduce costs for families, businesses and government at every level over the long term, while extending coverage to many millions of the uninsured and investing in proven, cost-effective public health strategies."

· And last week, former Senate Republican Leader Bill Frist – a surgeon – said even he would vote for health insurance reform. He said that even though he’d probably "take heat" from his party, "that’s leadership."
· These latest endorsements join a wide array from across the spectrum.
o More than 1,000 state legislators from every corner of America have signed onto letters citing the urgent need for health insurance reform.
o 22 Governors from states across the nation also signed a letter calling for reform.
o Leading groups representing doctors, nurses, consumers, seniors, and even drug and insurance companies have all agreed that the status quo is unsustainable.

· The message is clear: inaction is not an option.

· President Obama’s health insurance reform plan will give Americans who have insurance unprecedented security and stability. It will give Americans without insurance quality, affordable options. And it will lower the cost of health care for our families, our businesses, and our government.