On health care reform: this is a good bill

Yesterday, I voiced my support for health care reform with an op-ed in the Chicago Tribune. I am grateful to those who saw my speaking-out for what it was: a former legislator reaching out to Congress to step up and solve one of our nation's greatest problems. As I told FoxNews, "It's a matter of voting for a good bill."

Look, if you take even one step beyond the partisanship and dig down into the numbers, you will find that most Americans want health care reform. And if you want to know why this is a good health care reform bill, I recommend a recent informative article by the Associated Press.

Here's what I wrote in the Tribune:

I've been a Republican all my life, when I served in the Illinois legislature, when I worked for members of Congress and when I served in Congress. During the 2008 presidential election, I supported Republican Sen. John McCain. I have always been — and still am — a fiscal conservative, an advocate for a smart, but restrained, government.

For those reasons and others, most people wouldn't expect me to be an advocate for comprehensive health care reform. But the truth is, I believe there is no bigger issue to solve and no better chance to solve it than now.

If I were still a member of Congress, I would proudly vote for the bill that President Barack Obama is championing and I would urge my colleagues to do the same, not because I don't believe in fiscal discipline, but because I do.

We do not need to look that far down the road to see the pain that failure to pass health care reform will cause. Americans of every background, class, race and political persuasion are suffering. We have the best health care system in the world, yet more than 40 million Americans lack access to it, a reality that is morally reprehensible. Health care is an essential, as important as food, water and shelter. Those who don't have it are left without the tools to survive.

In the coming days, Congress has a chance to change that. The bill that will be voted on will reduce the deficit by about $1 trillion over the next two decades, and will reduce waste, fraud and abuse in the health care system. It will slow the rate of growth in health care costs and put America back on the path toward fiscal sustainability.

The bill will give families and small business owners greater control over their own health care. It will expand coverage to more than 31 million Americans and will include tax credits to individuals, families and small businesses, giving them the same choices that members of Congress have to purchase private coverage. It will create state-based exchanges that will bring competition and transparency to insurance markets. And it will put in place common-sense rules of the road to hold insurance companies  accountable and end some of the most outrageous practices of the insurance industry.

Never again will people be denied coverage because they have a pre-existing condition. Never again will insurance companies be able to raise rates unfairly — like the 60 percent hikes expected in Illinois.

While the ultimate vote on health care may not be bipartisan, the ultimate bill certainly is.

There are several Republican ideas in the bill. It allows Americans to buy health insurance across state lines. It increases the bargaining power of small businesses by allowing them to pool together — much like large corporations or labor unions — to bargain for a better insurance rate. It gives states the flexibility to come up with an alternate health care plan, and it gives them resources to reform our tort system by developing new ways to deal with medical malpractice.

I also feel compelled to remind my former colleagues that contrary to what many people have been saying, the bill explicitly prevents federal dollars from being used to fund abortion. It ensures not only that those seeking abortion coverage will be required to pay for it with their own money, but also that their personal money will never be commingled with federal funds. As a former congressman with a 100 percent pro-life voting record, I'm comfortable supporting this bill.

There isn't one member of Congress who represents a district that is without a health care crisis. There are good, hardworking men and women in every part of this country who work for a living, but not at a business that offers the opportunity to purchase health insurance. On their own, the cost of insurance is just plain out of reach.

During my time in Congress, I was known for reaching across the aisle. I did it not for the sake of bipartisanship alone, but in order to get important things done.

Now, my former colleagues have the opportunity to change the lives of their friends and neighbors for the better by voting for health care reform.

Comments

[Michael E. Bailey]

This is a good health care reform bill. It addresses the worst abuses in the system and does it in a way that it won't be a budget buster but will preserve impohrtant access to and quality of care. It should be passed as soon as possible. Thank you for your support of health care reform and best wishes, Michael E. Bailey.

[Joy Weaver]

Unfortunately, Mr. LaHood, you have lost all credibility with your former supporters in Illinois and Capital Hill.

[De Nice]

An excellent article on health care reform.

[Christoff]

Thank you Sir! I wish more Republicans had the courage and foresight to do what is necessary not only for the to save our federal budget from exploding but also to provide a means for all American's to get the medical treatment they need.

[Jim Holmes]

The Rasmussen Poll as of March 6th shows 42% Favor and 53% OPPOSE Healthcare. It's been made clear at Town Hall meetings and abundantly clear through the last Massachusetts election that the American people are AGAINST this bill. Further our economy cannot handle another 1 trillion dollars of debt. We need to focus in on improving the economy/jobs and not bloating our debt even further.

[Waltboyes]

Dear Secretary LaHood, thank you for speaking out honestly. This is not the best bill we could have had, but it is a decent start. Once we get this going we can eventually move toward a system of excellent health care for everyone. We have good models around the world to study and in fact, steal from...get the good and leave the bad. We can do this, but only if Congress votes to approve this bill.

I am just emerging from bankruptcy caused by my late wife's decade and a half of health care costs and bad insurance plans. I started out, since I too am a conservative, with the belief that single payer health plans were the work of the Devil...but now I think differently. We aren't there yet, if we ever do. Although one wonders...why is single payer healthcare akin to demonic possession, until one turns 62? Then, magically it is transformed into Medicare!

Go, Secretary, go!

Walt Boyes
Aurora IL

[william johnson]

Mr. Lahood,
Respectfully your opinion and stance on the healthcare bill could not be more wrong and it is sad that you have been blinded by the liberal pied pipers. I will keep it simple for you and make it easy to understand, you can’t cover millions of people with a system that has proven to be a failure. Also, medical insurance in the capitalistic United States of America is not a right. You and your “Buddies” continue to corrupt this great nation while saddling my children with an ungodly amount of debt. If you need proof that socialized national healthcare doesn’t work, look at Canada and take your pick of countries in Europe. That is not who we are. You are a Liberal Democrat in sheep’s clothing and every day I become more ashamed of the thugs the State of Illinois continues to churn out. I am sure you could care less as you will be in the special government healthcare system where your freedoms won’t be predicated on a panel of godlike members or a computer program that will take all the little statistics, crunch numbers through cold criteria, and decide when you will live or die. I have a good name for the Program (Government Obediential Death). You are a part of the problem. I hope we have a chance in the future to meet again, (yes we have met and I did shake your hand), so I can provide you with more emotion to my words of distain and you will have a personal chance to rebut as I am sure this communication will be responded to with canned rhetoric, if at all.
Sincerely your Independent Illinois Voter
William Johnson

[Mary Anne Walsh]

I hope that the 45,000 people that die every year + whoever we aren't counting are waiting outside of the gates of heaven to turn the selfish people away who wouldn't help them when they needed it. "Love one another as you would love yourself".

You want to stop health care, talk about in hell with the 5-7 companies, that left alone, will soon be too big to fail too.

I should be dead. The month after I was diagnosed with a brain aneurysm, Blue Shield dropped me (and I was on COBRA)!

[Ken in Texas]

You, my friend, are an idiot. Or, you cannot read. How much did the Pelosi-Obama-Reid machine pay you for this. Man, I cannot believe how far this administration is willing to go. You may fool a few, but we the people are on to all these shenanigans.

[Ken in Texas]

Now I know why there are no posts here, you are not allowing anyone to see what the American people really think. I will assume that when there is a post, it will be from someone that agrees with you. And I am sure they will have a bundle of food stamps in their possession. Pitiful.

[Lea]

With so many different options, it is not easy to know which to choose.
When choosing personal medical insurance plans, never base the decision solely on the monthly premium.
Most importantly, Know Your Health Care Needs.

[John Miksits]

I normally come to this site looking for guidance on highway matters not healthcare.

[Deb Leath]

If this was such a good bill and not a debt to the country that it will never recover from, then why is it covering abortion with federal tax dollars?? Talk about a waste of tax payers money. That topic should be left between the doctor and the patient. I DO NOT believe in abortion for ANY REASON and I do not want to participate in the killing of the innocent. Women have a choice NOT to get pregnant (in most cases). USE IT! I don't want to pay for their mistakes. Sell out the unborn children for 30 pieces of silver!...DO health care right or don't do it at all. Regardless of the facts, we are paying for the uninsured regardless of the number of tatoo's, cars, satelite dishes, electronics and drugs. Congress is the enabler of WASTE and corruption!

If government health care was so great, then why do people in England who are denied hip replacement surgery go to France and pay for it out of their own pockets? And why do people in Canada have to wait for 6-8 months for surgery, while living in excruciating pain? What about those who come to the U.S. for care they are denied in Canada? These are members of my own family....first hand knowledge! Do your homework. Does the government run anything efficiently? Mr. LaHood, if this is such great care, then YOU sign up for it!

[Mad Illinois Conservative]

Mr. Lahood,

If the system you support is so good, please answer why Unions, the Senate, The House and the Presidential cabinet are provisionally excluded for certain aspects and judgements imposed by this bill. If it is good for all Americans, why are not all Americans held to the standard? Apparently what is good for the "gander" is not always applied to the "goose"

[Chris Small]

Yes we all want healthcare reform. What about limiting the amount a lawyer can earn from a lawsuit? Wouldn't this lower the malpractice suits and lower the costs of healthcare? That is right most of you have lawyer ties. Its the govements judicial system that is the problem feeding these low scum lawyers. Change your though process and quit making bad bills and go after the people who make healthcare costs so much with stupid lawsuit from stupid lazy people. I am curious how many lawsuits are really justified or from people who are just trying to get a free dime.

[George Grant]

Thanks for an informative blog. Health care reform is such an important issue for Americans and that we are finally on the road to reform will only make us stronger.

[Mike Rebounder]

I agree that we all want and need health care reform but being a disabled vet I am currently provided health care at no cost through the VA. I am very curious to see how this reform will end up effecting these benefits.

[Health Insurance Advocate]

I appreciate your blog, but I'm not sure if this website is an appropriate vehicle for your political views.

[serial numbers]

I DO NOT believe in abortion for ANY REASON and I do not want to participate in the killing of the innocent. Women have a choice NOT to get pregnant (in most cases). USE IT! I don't want to pay for their mistakes. Sell out the unborn children for 30 pieces of silver!...DO health care right or don't do it at all.

[Phil Tinnitus]

I totally support health care reform as well and thanks for doing your part Mr. Congressman.

[Neely Pratt - Cult Persuasion]

A good republican congressman who knows what's important for his nation. I salute you sir.

[Tinnitus Miracle]

An excellent article on health care reform. If only more Republicans had the courage to do what is right to save our federal budget from exploding.

[Ernst Rothers]

Every hard working man should be able to purchase health insurance - so voting for the health care reform is the first step to a better healthcare for all of us!

[Alexa]

Health care reform is something that everyone has been waiting for: for a very long time!

P.S. This is very powerful: "I would proudly vote for the bill that President Barack Obama is championing and I would urge my colleagues to do the same, not because I don't believe in fiscal discipline, but because I do."

[Sarah]

Glad to see you willing to voice your true position! I know that health care in this country is definitely in need of reform. My husband and I are both self-employed and have to pay for our own medical coverage which gets mind-bogglingly expensive at our age. Including my recent laser eye surgery, our medical costs are truly becoming debilitating for us. Something needs to happen!