Echoing a
doctrine placed before the Senate in July by Senator (and doctor) Tom Coburn (R) Oklahoma,
Congressman (and doctor) John Fleming (R) Louisiana, has proposed House Resolution 615, which, if passed, would bind Congress to use the health care plan that is being proposed for the American people. If it is the right solution for the masses, it must be the best alternative for Congress. So, they should jump at the chance to be bound to it for their health care needs. If it isn't the best, or the correct solution, then they will have an incentive to make it right; they will only have that incentive if they
must use it exclusively. Many thoughtful citizens expect we will all be forced to the public plan when private insurance companies are forced out of the market by the unfair business advantages afforded a government run health care provider. For, a government run system does not need to worry about the bottom line, (see existing systems Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid which perpetually run deficits), they just continue on even when profit (or even breaking even) is not possible; a private firm must make a profit to remain viable.
From
Fleming's website:
House Resolution 615
Over the past few months, members of Congress and the American people have come to know the details of the Administration's proposed health care plan. Call it whatever you like, I believe this proposal is nothing more than government-run health care. As a physician, I am amazed at the number of bureaucrats in this House who are quick to claim a government-run health care plan is the reform this country needs. In response to this, I have offered a resolution that will offer members of Congress an opportunity to put their money where their mouth is, and urge their colleagues who vote for legislation creating a government-run health care plan to lead by example and enroll themselves in the same public plan.
Under the current draft of the Democrat healthcare legislation, members of Congress are curiously exempt from the government-run health care option, keeping their existing health plans and services on Capitol Hill. If Members of Congress believe so strongly that government-run health care is the best solution for hard working American families, I think it only fitting that Americans see them lead the way. Public servants should always be accountable and responsible for what they are advocating.
Together we will work to ensure that any plan that is good enough for American families is good enough for every member of Congress.
The Congressmen on
this list have already signed on to the Resolution, if your representative isn't among them, get their butt in gear.
Post Script- I would expand the idea proposed by Sen. Coburn and Rep. Fleming to include all Federal employees. And, I would begin that transition by abolishing the
current carrier for Federal employees. Let them all use the public plan Congress is proposing. Sounds fair to me.
The other option that would begin to satisfy the inequities between the options offered government employees and private citizens coverage opportunities would be to open the Federal employees' carrier's policies to all Americans. Let us all get the advantages our (government) employees receive, let us pay for insurance at exactly the same rates they are charged, let us receive exactly the same services they are granted. Equal opportunity for all, shall we say.
