Sen. Burris Joins Democratic Senators in Debunking Myths of Health Insurance Reform

October 15, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Roland W. Burris this morning joined seven of his fellow freshman Democratic Senate colleagues in back-to-back speeches on the Senate floor to deflate some of the myths spread by opponents of health insurance reform. This is the third time that the freshman Senators have taken to the Senate floor to discuss the urgent need to reform our broken health insurance system.

In addition to Senator Burris, the other freshman Democratic Senators also speaking from the floor included Tom Udall (D-NM); Michael F. Bennet (D-CO); Edward E. Kaufman (D-DE); Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH); Mark Warner (D-VA); Jeff Merkley (D-OR); Mark Begich (D-AK).

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“45,000 Americans die every year because they don’t have health insurance and cannot get quality care,” said Senator Burris. “The system is broken and the time for action is long past, and I believe it’s time to restore choice and accountability to the healthcare system. The only way to achieve meaningful healthcare reform and bring costs down is through a public option that creates real competition in the system. Let me be clear on this: I will not vote for any health bill that does not include a public option.”

Senator Burris is an ardent advocate for the inclusion of a public option in any health insurance reform bill and is the only Democratic Senator to vow not to vote for a bill that does not include a public option.

Source: Senator Roland W. Burris