Author: Sant Kumar
After 10 months of acrimonious debate, the House of Representatives passed a far-reaching health care reform bill on Nov. 7. The bill passed 220-215. Joseph Cao (LA) was the only Republican voting for it, while 39 Democrats voted against the bill.
Through the Affordable Health Care for America Act, President Obama and most Democrats look to provide health care for all Americans and lower the cost they pay for health insurance. The bill primarily focuses on six objectives: coverage and choice, affordability, shared responsibility, controlling costs, prevention and wellness and workforce investments. In his remarks before the vote from the White House, President Obama said, “This is a vote that can bring us one step closer to making real the promise of quality and affordable health care for the American people.”
The 2007 Commonwealth Fund Biennial Health Insurance Survey found that close to 50 million Americans were without health insurance, and 25 million more were underinsured. The survey also said that the number of people who are underinsured has grown 60 percent to 25 million since 2003, and the highest rate of underinsurance is in families with incomes under the poverty level, about $20,000, who make up 31 percent of the population.
Director of Health Services at Oxy Richard Youngblood said, “If the Senate passes their bill, I think it will be a step towards helping everyone understand the complexity and political environment health care resides in.”
Zachary Windheim (sophomore) feels that health care problems are too often ignored by the generally affluent Oxy population. “There are so many people uninsured right now, it’s hard for us to see because many of us at Occidental are well off, but the numbers are pretty sad. We need change, and I think we need to give this bill a try.” But, he added, “How can progress be made if the Republican party and the Democratic party so strongly oppose one another?”
Following the vote, the Republican party released a statement which said, “Today with help from their liberal House allies, President Obama and Nancy Pelosi finally got what they have been creating behind closed doors these past months – a government-run health care experiment that will increase families’ health care costs, increase the deficit, increase taxes on small businesses and the middle class, and cut Medicare.”
Matthew Nixon (sophomore) supports the Affordable Health Care for America Act, but questioned whether or not the government can effectively overhaul the system. Nixon said, “There is so much bureaucracy in government . . . The problem is the majority of politicians are concerned with incumbency rather than helping the people.”
There is still a long way to go before health care reform becomes law. Now, the Senate must vote on its own health care bill, then their bill must be merged with the House’s by the conference committee. And finally, the conference committee’s compromise bill must be passed by both chambers before it can go to Obama’s desk.
This article has been archived, for more requests please contact us via the support system.
