A little while ago, the U.S. Senate's health committee voted 13-10 to approve a crucial health care reform bill (the "Affordable Health Choices Act"). In response, the committee's chairman, Sen. Ted Kennedy, seriously ill with brain cancer, issued a moving statement. Among other things, Sen. Kennedy says that the American people "will not stop until quality, affordable health care is the birthright of every American." Thank you, Sen. Kennedy. Now, let's get this done!UPDATE: ThinkProgress has analysis of the House version of this bill, including a few key points. First, "the bill pays for itself" and "won’t inflate the deficit." Second, "the CBO coverage tables undermine the conservative claim that a public option would eliminate private insurance and erode employer-sponsored coverage. The House bill actually increases the number of people who receive coverage through their employer by 2 million (in 2019) and shifts most of the uninsured into private coverage." Third, this legislation would "cover 94 percent of Americans" with health care. Great stuff.
