Published: November 04, 2009 08:53 pm      

Reform proponents call for public health option

Sen. Bayh asked to pick a side

About a dozen protesters from Moveon.org, a liberal political action committee, demonstrated in front of Sen. Evan Bayh’s Jeffersonville office Wednesday.

The group voiced support for a public option and single payer government-run health insurance and said Bayh needed to take a position in the debate.

The debate over health care reform has been going on most of the year. The Senate is looking at two bills — one that provides a public option and one that does not.

“It’s time for [Bayh] to tell us which side he’s on,” said Linda Mitchell, a Clarksville resident who organized the event.

She brought with her a report from Moveon.org, which said that Hoosiers could save more than $2,600 per year if provided with a public option. And, she said, 75 percent of the 960,000 uninsured residents of the state would be covered as a result.

“With no public option [health care reform] is not going to work,” she said.

Bayh was not in his Jeffersonville office on Wednesday.

Brian Weiss, Bayh’s spokesperson, noted that a bill has not been put on the senate floor for a vote yet.

“Senator Bayh is keeping an open mind on a public option that provides flexibility to the states and does not impose a one-size-fits-all Washington mandate on Indiana families and small businesses,” he said in an e-mailed statement.

“He hopes to have the opportunity to vote on legislation that will bring down the federal deficit and make health insurance coverage more affordable for Hoosiers.”

Those at the rally spoke in favor of the public option for a number of reasons.

Dave MacCool, one of the protesters, argued that it would reduce balance sheets for small and large business alike - because they wouldn’t have to provide health care coverage.

“It’s just good economics,” he said. “GM and Chrysler may not have needed a bailout.”

Butch Ragland argued that it would reduce the number of lawsuits being filed related to medical malpractice. Most of the time, he said, people are suing doctors to get their care paid for. If their coverage were guaranteed, they wouldn’t have to sue.

“I think the public option is the way to go. And I will benefit nothing from it,” said Jerry Kessinger.

“It’s a sad state that people pay more for their health care insurance than their mortgage.”