OUR VIEW: Promise keeper

Back in August, U.S. Rep. Rick Boucher promised an Abingdon town hall meeting that he wouldn’t vote for any health care plans that figured on the government competing with private businesses. He told that summertime gathering that the private sector generally doesn’t fare well when public money is shoring up the competition. Referencing the Cash for Clunkers program that had just run out of money, Boucher said he wasn’t sure the government could run a health care program, even if he wanted it to.
This week, the Democrat from Abingdon kept his word, voting no to HR 3962, the Affordable Health Care for America Act. Though the bill squeaked through the House 220-215, we’re thankful our congressman stood on his principles.
We haven’t read the entire nearly 2,000-page bill and cannot argue its merits; however, we agree with Boucher’s earlier comments that this is too important a measure to consider lightly.
Boucher has been a voice of reason and moderation in the health care discussion. He’s hunted for alternatives. He’s questioned figures and facts. He’s understood why many of his constituents are wary, and he’s been wary too.
We agree with the congressman that something has to be done, just so it’s not something we’re all going to regret. Like it or not, any legislation that is rushed through or only squeaks by with a thin plurality is more than likely going to wind up in the regret bin.
Just before his vote, Boucher reiterated the reasons why this bill would get a no vote. First, he still worries that a public option would have an end result of shutting down Southwest Virginia hospitals. His reasoning makes sense. Since hospitals lose money on Medicaid and Medicare patients, the same would likely be true of government-plan patients. If Boucher’s fears are even half right, it would be catastrophic for this region.
We would also agree with Boucher that the “status quo is unsustainable.” Reform is needed. Health care costs must come down and everyone must have access to good insurance. If anyone is arguing differently, check his or her motives. Boucher earlier backed a solid-sounding plan that would have funded cooperatives to introduce free-market competition to the insurance world. He pointed out that when a single company dominates the market, there is no check on it. It is a monopoly. We’re sad that idea appears to have gone down with the Sen. Max Baucus bill. Then again, the public option was dead just a few months ago, back in August, when Boucher waded where many of his colleagues feared to tread and made a promise.
The congressman said then and now that reform requires bipartisanship.
“The best ideas of Democrats and Republicans alike should be drawn upon to fashion the final legislation,” he wrote before the most recent vote. “That did not happen as the House bill was constructed.”
Here’s hoping smarter heads prevail, that what Sen. Mark Warner calls “radical centrists” will look closely at all issues and craft health care reform that works and makes sense, no matter the time it takes to do so.