Wendell Potter: Why I'm Not Joining the Call to "Kill the Bill"

[ProSense]

Wendell Potter

Why I'm Not Joining the Call to "Kill the Bill"

Like many people who hoped the stars had finally aligned for a fundamental overhaul of our health care system, I have been going through all of Elisabeth Kubler-Ross' stages of grief and loss -- denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance -- as I've watched what has been happening in the Senate. I moved toward acceptance this morning as I watched the Senate pass its bill, but -- being an incurable optimist -- I'm still hopeful that the legislation can be improved when Senate and House conferees meet to determine what the final bill will look like.

But even if all the problems of the Senate bill can't be fixed in conference, Congress must send the president a bill to sign -- and soon. My position on this puts me at odds with many of the wonderful reform advocates I have met in the six months that have passed since I switched sides in this national debate -- going from being a spokesman for the health insurance industry to being a vocal critic of it -- in testimony before Senator Jay Rockefeller's Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee last June.

Over the past few days, some organizations that have worked so hard for many years for comprehensive reform, especially those that have advocated for a single payer system like Canada's, have joined groups on the opposite end of the political and philosophical spectrum in calling for defeat of the legislation. "Kill the Bill" is in the subject line of many emails I've been getting lately.

I understand their frustration, but I believe that when they stop and think about the real consequences of what they demanding, they will realize that for all its disappointing compromises and flaws, even the Senate-passed bill should be viewed as a foundation that can be built upon in years to come. Ted Kennedy, who advocated for a "Medicare for All" type system before many of today's activists were born, would truly have been proud of this beginning. He would not have liked everything about the bill, that's for sure, but he understood what it means to live in a political world and that compromises -- even big ones -- almost always have to be made on the journey toward an ultimate destination.

We will not be arriving at that final destination with the bill that reaches the president, but we have started the journey. Progressives must keep in mind that even leaving the station has not been a possibility for 15 years. We must not forget what happened in 1994 -- the last time we thought the stars had aligned -- when opponents of reform prevailed. We must also not forget that many of the reforms in the Senate and House bills are critically important. Yes, insurance companies likely will try to game the system in their relentless quests to meet Wall Street's expectations, but many of the practices they have used for decades to do that will become illegal. We also must not forget the importance to lawmakers of the future of having a foundation to build upon. They will not have to start from scratch as current and past lawmakers have always had to do. And future lawmakers will be able to fix problems not addressed by this legislation as well as the unintended consequences that inevitably will arise.

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[Eric J in MN]

1. Until there is a merged bill,

...we won't know if ANY of the problems with the Senate bill will be fixed, let alone "all the problems of the Senate bill."

At very least, the merged bill should keep the House repeal of the anti-trust exemption.

[johnaries]

4. Agree, especially on the anti-trust exemption repeal.

K&R

[pinto]

2. Kick

So instead of sending more "Kill the Bill" emails, we need to turn our attention now to leaders in the House, insisting they stick to their guns on important elements of their bill and improve on what the Senate has passed. It will not be easy to merge the two bills to the satisfaction of reform advocates, but at the very least the House should add language to strengthen the regulation of insurance companies and close the loopholes that would allow them to circumvent the intent of the legislation.

There will be plenty to do later -- including paying close attention to how this legislation is implemented, changing the way the Senate conducts its business and getting real campaign finance and lobbying reform enacted -- but let's get this part done now. Millions of people are counting on it. Many of them won't live to see the next debate if we do exactly what the opponents of reform hope we will do, and that is to join them in trying to "Kill the Bill."

I tend to agree. This is where we're at. We'd do well for many Americans in advocating for a better final bill than advocating for no bill at all. ~ pinto

[Proud Liberal Dem]

3. Uh-oh

It looks like "they" have gotten to Potter too. The corporate overlords within the insurance industry have done a magnificent job of not only blackmailing and beating President Obama, Congress, Howard Dean, et. al into silence and submission to their goals to get everybody to push for a massive bailout of their industry. Now they've gotten Wendell Potter back in line with their nefarious aims -Of course, this has all been in service to the true "Lords of the Country" (e.g. The Republican Party) who have wanted this HCR bill all along.

:sarcasm:

:rofl:

[Connie_Corleone]

6. Personally, I think they're pod people.

They're here already! You're next! You're next, You're next...!

[Proud Liberal Dem]

7. Yikes!!!!!! Run away!!!!!! Run away!!!!!!!

:hide:

[POAS]

9. We must immediately

drag them all into the bathroom and drown them in the bathtub, it's what Grover would want!

[moondust]

5. K/R for Wendell.

He's been invaluable in this debate and deserves many thanks.

[Hekate]

8. KnR for Mr. Potter, and thanks to him. nt

[CreekDog]

10. Come on folks, some of you know how to handle this: Call the man names

make fun of him

mock him

treat him as if you never knew him and never liked him

treat him like someone your family has disowned

[jefferson_dem]

11. The "Kill the Bill Club" is looking more and more empty.

Only a tiny collection of dead-enders straggling 'round.

[freddie mertz]

13. Potter calls them "wonderful people" in the quoted text.

He does not hate and demonize the more hard-core progressive opposition in the way that you and the OPer do.

You guys seem to have a lot of hatred in your hearts.

[jefferson_dem]

14. No hate here.

Just calling it like I see it. Foolish political positions should be identified as such. And I also question the motivation of some who foolishly espouse "kill the bill." Sorry if that offends you.

[freddie mertz]

16. I am not offended personally. I completely understand the logic of both arguments.

And frankly, at this moment, and not sure where I fall on the issue.

Right now, I am committed to the "try to pressure them to mend it in reconciliation" position.

That should be something everyone can agree with.

[jefferson_dem]

17. Points well-taken, Freddie.

Keep fighting the good fight! :thumbsup:

[freddie mertz]

19. Thanks. After all, the battle is still not over. This thing will go to at least Feb.

And we are perfectly within our rights to petition House and Senate representatives to put their influence (and votes) where their words have been on this issue.

60 Dem Representatives have a signed a letter pledging to vote against a bill which has no public option.

There are the people we should hold to task.

[GeorgeGist]

12. So much progress ...

to look forward to. So much cowardice standing in the way.

[kayla9170]

15. Will the Kill the Bill Crowd now say.....

Rahm got to Mr. Porter also..... :sarcasm: K&R for Mr. Porter looking out for the American public and health care improvement for many uninsured that need it.

[POAS]

18. Their vindictiveness is so unbecoming and yet

predictable.

[mzmolly]

20. K and R

:hi:

[flpoljunkie]

21. Wendell Potter is right. He also says we need to change the way Congress works.

There will be plenty to do later--including paying close attention to how this legislation is implemented, changing the way the Senate conducts its business and getting real campaign finance and lobbying reform enacted--but let's get this part done now. Millions of people are counting on it. Many of them won't llive to see the next debate if we do exactly what the opponents of reofmr hoppe we will do, and tat is to joining them in trying to "Kill the Bill."

It will be very difficult to get Congress to level the playing field when it comes to their re-elections. We must hound them mercilessly and remind Obama he was for public financing of federal campaigns when he was in the Senate. We need his leadership or it will not happen.