Sen. Lincoln: Passage of Health Reform in the Senate Finance Committee Another Positive Step Forward

Lincoln: “In the final analysis, I will vote for or against the final version of health insurance reform on the floor based on what is best for Arkansas.”

October 13, 2009 -- Washington – Citing an unsustainable status quo in health care, U.S. Senator Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.) today voted to move the Senate Finance Committee’s health care reform proposal forward after twenty-two months of work crafting a deficit-neutral bill that lowers costs over the long run.

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While noting the historic moment, Lincoln stated that today is just one step in the process to enact common-sense reforms that will benefit Arkansas’s families and small businesses and stipulated that her ultimate support of a final health care reform bill will depend on how it benefits Arkansans.

“I voted for the Senate Finance Committee’s health care reform bill because health care costs are already rising too fast for Arkansas individuals and families, and it’s critical to move this process forward,” said Lincoln. “Although this isn’t a perfect bill, I believe that opposing all reform is simply not an option. Today’s vote is a positive step forward to improve health care for Arkansas’s families and small businesses. However, we must keep in mind that this is not the final product and the process will continue for weeks and months before a bill can be signed into law.

“In this bill, we have worked hard to ensure seniors will not see a reduction in the Medicare coverage and benefits they have always relied upon. However, those assurances may not be strong enough so as we move forward, I’ll work to guarantee our seniors that cuts to Medicare will not result in reductions to their coverage and benefits. I also want to put Arkansas doctors and patients back in control of health care decisions, rather than bureaucrats from insurance companies or in the government.

“I have heard from many Arkansans who want to be a part of this process. They would like the opportunity to read the legislation. I agree with them, and will continue working to ensure that Arkansans have an opportunity to study the final bill for 72 hours before we vote on the Senate floor.

“I remain encouraged by a thorough analysis from the Congressional Budget Office that indicates this bill will reduce the deficit, create health insurance exchanges so that future health care costs for families will go down, and maintain the coverage people already have through their employer or the individual insurance market.

“Although the bill is not perfect, I am also quite troubled by the health insurance industry’s eleventh hour attempt to discredit a bill that was crafted through a transparent and participatory process dating back to last year. I think this tactic raises real doubts about their true commitment to health insurance reform all along. My own amendment, to reduce taxpayer subsidies of health insurance executives’ excessive compensation, has even come under attack from these same health insurance companies.

“In the final analysis, I will vote for or against the final version of health insurance reform on the floor based on what is best for Arkansas.”

Source: Senator Blanche Lincoln