After last night's debacle where Creigh Deeds said he would consider opting out of a federal public option for health care, I asked both of his ticketmates what their position was on this issue.Very nice. Thanks to Ben Tribbett for contacting Creigh's ticketmates and asking them about their position on this crucial issue facing America. I certainly hope that Steve Shannon will weigh in as well, just as Jody Wagner has. Frankly, the public option is a no-brainer: it's politically popular, will help "bend the cost curve downwards," and will help keep the insurance companies honest. What's not to like?
Jody Wagner, our nominee for Lt. Governor was the first to get back to me. Jody's husband is a doctor, and from that she knows first hand how difficult the current system is. Her husband, Dr. Alan Wagner treats many patients without health insurance for free- but when they need other specialized care it is very difficult for him to find the uninsured other doctors who will help for free in a timely manner. Jody also said that she has seen the system as a small business owner and the limited options that are available to her business to insure their employees.
Jody believes that any federally run public option should not be a financial burden on the states and it should cut costs for individuals and increase access. She strongly believes that if and when that type of bill passes Congress that the next Governor whether it was Governor McDonnell or Governor Deeds should participate in that program and she will fight to make sure they do. In short, without taking any direct swipe at Creigh- Jody said unequivocally that she would fight any attempt to "opt out" of a federal health insurance option.
P.S. In my humble opinion, this is an example of the progressive netroots at its best right here.
UPDATE #2: Wagner adds that she supports the public option "as long as it doesn’t result in higher taxes for Virginians and is revenue neutral." How on earth the public option could result in higher taxes for Virginians is beyond me. Also, I'm not sure what "revenue neutral" means exactly in this context, perhaps Wagner's referring to Medicaid expenditures by the state? Got me, but here's a study indicating that "[the] public option would on average have premiums 11 percent cheaper than private insurance and the public option would end up also making private insurance cheaper."
UPDATE #2: Here's a statement from Steve Shannon's campaign.
I'm against the federal government taking over health care, but at the end of the day if they are talking about expanding the Medicare program so that small businesses and individuals can buy more affordable health care through fair competition with private insurers, I don't think we should rule that out right off the bat. I trust Senators Warner and Webb to get it right.I'm baffled by the first 90% of this statement, but I agree that Senators Warner and Webb are likely (not guaranteed, however) to get this right.
