Moving toward a path to real reform

November 9, 2009 by Eva Rodriguez-Saenz 

With health bill approved in House, we must keep pushing

H.R. 3962 – the Affordable Health Care for America Act – has passed in the House of Representatives for the betterment of the people.

Health care reform will not be the end of the Democratic Party, as some GOP pundits wishfully expect. It will not instate socialism in America. It will not kill our seniors nor will it bankrupt the nation.

As we neared the House vote on Saturday, it became very clear that the health care debate had transcended arguments over numbers and figures. The real issue was the question of governmental involvement in the lives of Americans.

Why is health care reform good for America? Because the current system has failed to adequately provide reasonable and affordable choices for millions of Americans.
As Congress voted, Americans anxiously awaited.

Perhaps the saddest part of this national debate has been that factual information has been misplaced and  baseless rhetoric has taken hold.

No matter how prolonged the debate or dialogue is between opponents and proponents, the reality is that some Americans will simply have to see the reform in action to believe it.

For some Americans, dislike stems from non-factual, personal philosophies on other issues, like abortion or illegal immigration.

Many fear that abortion will be endorsed under the reform bill. The reality is that the H.R. 3962 refers to the Hyde Amendment  of 1997, which only permits federal funding for abortions in cases of rape or incest, or when the life of the mother is in danger.

Already, concessions have been made to add wording that would further request individuals purchasing medical insurance not to utilize tax rebates for such procedures. Repeated emphasis on such wording comes as a great loss to women’s reproductive rights.

The bottom line is that those who oppose health care reform and use such arguments are unable to get past personal biases on a woman’s right to her reproductive system. These are the same individuals who would never subscribe to the need for reform.
The other fear tactic being used to prevent reform is the possibility that undocumented immigrants may be able to receive medical care on federal funding.

Those who oppose health care reform on this basis would not support it unless the wording specifically excluded people without citizenship access to any kind of medical facility or medicine even if their life was at risk.

If all else fails, the tactic is to turn to patriotic rhetoric: Critics immediately latched onto the fear of socialism, communism and some even compared the Obama administration with Adolf Hitler and Nazism.

As we remain almost a full year away from elections, politicians are weighing in the pros and cons of supporting H.R. 3962.

As some lie dormant, intimidated by the response from constituents that have bought into the scare tactics, there are still those who have decided to look ahead and responsibly answer the call to enact health care reform.

It’s refreshing to see that even Nevada possesses some independent thinkers. Congresswoman Dina Titus speaks on behalf of the needs of a majority of her constituents and rejects fear tactics.

“For more than six months, I have discussed the need for health care reform with my constituents and time and again I heard from small business owners who are struggling to afford health care coverage,” Titus said.

We cannot claim to have the world’s best health care system when millions of Americans are unable to afford basic coverage.

The legislation would allow 18,900 small businesses in Titus’ district to obtain affordable health care coverage while providing tax credits to help reduce costs on insurance.

The cost associated with this bill is especially problematic for many because of the tumultuous economic times we live in.

But this bill will help create a system that will attempt to clean existing defunct programs and create revenue for self-maintenance, thereby lessening the economic burden on the country.

This is a budget-neutral bill. Critics point at the GOP’s alternative would cost less. Of course it would cost less because the initiatives are less far-reaching and simply not enough to solve the real problem.

Will this bill be the perfect solution? Probably not.

Like any other bill, it is bound to have flaws, but the benefit most definitely outweighs the cost. The cost of inaction is greater at this point. In previous years, politicians have walked away from the debate, but that is no longer possible.

Now more than ever we need progressive, responsible solutions to problems that have built up through inaction.

Health care reform is not only an issue of the political left, as proved by the support of the American Association of Retired Persons, the American Cancer Society, American Medical Association, labor unions and moderate politicians.

This claim is merely a political tactic used by GOP leadership hurting from a failed eight-year administration.

Now we look to the Senate to pass some sort of similar reform. If passed, both plans would need to be reconciled and that will also, no doubt, be a similarly difficult process.

We must not stop here. We must keep going and keep supporting the responsible Congressional representatives who are choosing a responsible approach to solving a national need.