Health Care Reform: Failure of "public option" might open the door for single-payer

The key battle for single-payer health insurance is in the House Energy & Commerce Committee. There, the chairman, Henry Waxman (D-CA) -- my representative -- showed his true colors by ending a committee meeting early in order to shut down Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-NY) who had the temerity to offer an amendment in support of single-payer (the fear is that it might pass, just as Rep. Dennis Kucinich's amendment to let states adopt single-payer healthcare passed the House Education and Labor Committee last week by 25-19). Waxman justifies keeping single payer "off the table" by citing the need for compromise if anything is to get done in Congress. Trouble is, since he and Barack Obama, NancyPelosi and Chris Dodd "compromised" by closing the door on a single-payer system before negotiations with the conservatives even started -- 86 House Democrats had already signed on to a single payer bill (HR 676) before the current process began, by the way -- all the leaders have left to offer up in a compromise is the so-called public option.

The public option, an insurance provider supported by taxpayers to compete with private insurers, should have been a final offer, if it was presented at all; it should never have been the opening bid. It is beginning to look as if the endgame on health care will come down to a choice between a bad plan and no plan. If there is no plan this year at least the door remains open to real change down the road.

In any case, with the Obama-Pelosi-Waxman public option now likely to fail, there is another, possibly last, chance for single payer. If ever there was an issue worthy of a revolt by the rank and file, this is it. The physical health and financial welfare of tens of millions of Americans are being sacrificed to protect a hive of economic parasites. Obama, Pelosi et al know this, even if they are unwilling to take on the special interests who profit obscenely now. At Democrats.com, a site that services the Democratic wing of the Democratic Party, a chart divides the Democratic members of the Energy & Commerce committee into four categories: supporters of single-payer; those leaning in that direction; the public-option-only crowd (combined with a few profiles in courage who "won't say"); and the Blue Dogs, House members who are so conservative they really shouldn't be allowed to pass as Democrats, but are too smart to make believable Republicans.

No matter what their current position, all these elected officials will get a boost from hearing from you, the supporting and leaning no less than the rest; the public-option-only supporters, some of whom have bet on single payer in the past, may not have a horse in the race much longer and may be salvageable. Rep. Jane Harman is among the leaners, so if you live in California's 35th it might be worth your time to give her a call (other leaners are Diana DeGette-CO, Christopher Murphy-CT, Frank Pallone-NJ, Bobby Rush-IL and Peter Welch-VT). Rep. Waxman's office phone is 202-225-3976: the chairman is probably too invested in the leaders' plan to have his mind changed by calls from mere voters, but at least when the Democrats lose the House in 2010 and the Oval Office in 2012 he won't be able to say he couldn't see it coming.

A new webpage makes finding members' office numbers easy and, as a bonus, offers a "lobbying phone log," a simple way to create a public record of your exchanges with congressional aides. If you want also to submit a written advocacy message, click on the "AFTER recording" link on the page. But don't fail to take advantage of the form for documenting what the people's representatives say to you and how you are otherwise treated.