Vermont Senate panel unanimous on health reform

[cali]

Apr 14, 2011 |

Vermont Legislature committees don't ordinarily clap or shout "yahoo" when they vote out a bill, but Wednesday, members of the Senate Health and Welfare Committee celebrated their unanimous recommendation on the contentious health reform bill.

"It is done," Chairwoman Claire Ayer, D-Addison, declared following the 5-0 vote on the committee's revised version of the bill, which would put Vermont on the road toward creation of a government-financed health insurance plan called Green Mountain Care by 2017. The legislation, a priority for Gov. Peter Shumlin, already passed the House.

Just a few days ago, Ayer said she hadn't thought her politically diverse committee would reach agreement on this bill, which would set the state on a course toward a unified health care system covering all Vermonters.

The deciding factor may have been language added in the hour before the vote.

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http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/article/20110414/NEWS03/104140303/Vermont-Senate-panel-unanimous-health-reform?odyssey=nav|head

[xchrom]

1. recommend

[Casandia]

2. This gives me hope .... but I live in Michigan

that has a republican controlled house & senate, and a newly elected republican governor who never held a public office before, enacting policies written by an right-wing group (Mackincac Center). Vermont is going in the right direction, but Michigan is slipping into the dark ages.

[bluethruandthru]

3. Great news!

I'm moving to Vermont! :)

[joeunderdog]

4. Repukes are not going to like this when it works.

Good healthcare is not in their business plan.

[jtrockville]

5. Not one kind word in the comments section. Strange.