On January 22nd a letter was sent to every State Committee person that said in part: "It is an honor and pleasure to request your support for Pennsylvania's nation leading health care reform bill, the Family and Business Health Security Act (SB 400 and HB 1660). You will be presented with the opportunity to endorse the resolution for this first in the nation state single payer bill this weekend." The letter was jointly signed by State Senator Michael O'Pake (a co-sponsor of the bill); Chuck Pennachio, PhD; and Walter Tsou, MD, MPH.
The stage was set. Excitement and apprehension abounded as supporters of the resolution were both thrilled at the opportunity and nervous about the outcome.
The first indication that it would be a momentous weekend came Friday evening, and no one was particularly expecting it. It came in the form of a Candidates Forum presented by the Women's Caucus.
The forum included all five announced candidates for the Democratic Gubernatorial nomination. The second question addressed to the panel was posed by Cindy Purvis, President of HealthCare4ALLPA: "The Pennsylvania General Assembly is working towards passage of a single-payer healthcare bill for PA. Governor Rendell has said that if such a bill were to come to his desk he would sign it into law. Where do you stand on single-payer healthcare?"
None of the five candidates rejected single-payer out of hand. State Auditor Jack Wagner said "I basically support single-payer healthcare," but he demurred at specifically answering the question. State Senator Anthony Williams said "I have no problem with the consideration and passage of a single-payer system," but he stopped short of committing to signing the bill. The other three candidates were less equivocal.
Montgomery County Commissioner Joe Hoeffel said " As Governor I would sign a single-payer bill." Suggesting that it would be difficult to pass the legislation he added that "I will do everything in my power to move [single-payer] forward" We do need healthcare extended to all Pennsylvanians."
Scranton Mayor Chris Doherty said "Yes, I would support a single-payer system" adding that he sees his own constituents "wait" for needed healthcare because they can't afford it. "They wait. They wait too long. If we are to be a true progressive State and a State that thinks ahead, we need to change our healthcare system and have people have access to quality healthcare" The single-payer system will allow [that]."
Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato responded "Yes. If a bill came to my desk for a single-payer system I would sign it," adding that the current system left much to be desired, was much too expensive, and commenting that when three private insurance companies recently submitted bids to Allegheny County the three bids were nearly identical in price.
That wasn't all. By Saturday morning it seemed as if almost everyone in attendance was sporting a "Vote for the Single-Payer Resolution" button. Congressman Joe Sestak, a candidate for the U.S. Senate, was telling this writer and others that he supports state single-payer, and renewed an earlier promise to introduce a bill in the House of Representatives shielding Pennsylvania from an ERISA challenge if it enacts single-payer legislation (Senator Arlen Specter has made a similar pledge for a Senate ERISA-Shield bill). Sestak also promised to help secure grant funding to pay for an Economic Impact Study.
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