Reform Rx – Delay is Death

Senators Snowe and Collins have both signed off on the “centrist” letter urging President Obama to slow down the progress of health care reform. They basically argue that a bipartisan bill is needed and add concerns about costs. This message might have resonated in 1994 or possibly even at the 2009 opening of the current congressional session but not now.

These six signing Senators do not represent the center as they purport. The center is the vast majority of the public who continue to support substantive reform now even with added tax authority to pay for it. Instead this group is effectively the doorway leading to watering down what citizens need and desire. Their motivation must be suspect.

Delay is death for a robust public option. Delay is a lobbyist lifeline to spend another $1,400,000 per day on influencing congress, and even more on misleading advertising to support every possible effort to create public doubt in the government role in health care. Our Senators are not being perceptive to history, health care needs, or the overriding desire for change among their citizens. They are listening to the louder better financed voice.

Reform progress could be parlayed into paralysis. Our reaction to this letter needs to be loud and swift. Call them; please do not delay.

Senator Olympia Snowe: 202-224-5344
Senator Susan Collins: 202-224-2523