Congressional Black Caucus backs public Medicare-like program

By GottaLaff

Go CBC!

The Congressional Black Caucus says that a public plan similar to Medicare must be included in the healthcare overhaul, a sharply different position than some of their more conservative fellow Democrats.

ConservaDems are not real Dems. We do not have a 59-soon-to-be-60 seat majority. It's in name only. K? K.

The 41-member group also said in a letter to President Obama that such legislation also should address historic disparities in healthcare. The letter notes that CBC members' constituents are disproportionately under-insured or uninsured.

Unfortunately, I keep going back to this. Unacceptable. Do me a big fat favor. Read this post from last night, and then go make yourself heard.

The letter, sent Friday, was signed by CBC chairwoman Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), Rep. Donna Christensen (D-V.I.) and Rep. Danny Davis (D-Ill.)

The CBC position squares with that of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, who on Friday called for an expansive, Medicare-based public plan that is "available to all individuals and employers."

But earlier last week, the conservative Blue Dog coalition issued guiding principles that said a public plan should be a last-resort if private insurers are unable to contain costs and provide coverage. The group of 51 conservative Democrats stressed that it wasn't endorsing the inclusion of a public plan, and is "concerned" about a Medicare-like option.

The CBC is joining with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus in a news conference Tuesday that will call for the health care overhaul to address racial disparities.

Once again, please go back to this post and take a second look. This is too important to ignore.