Brad Shannon:
The Politics Blog

Brad Shannon maintains this blog. He is political editor at The Olympian and can be reached at 360-753-1688 or bshannon@theolympian.com.

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Historic health-reform vote gets lots of local pressure

• Published November 06, 2009

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Olympia bakery owner Gene Otto was among those at the U.S. Capitol this week as Congress readied for its historic votes on a comprehensive national health-care reform. The vote could take place as soon as Saturday on H.R. 3962.

Rachel Claytor of Northwestern University’s graduate journalism program had this Medill News Service story about Otto's visit. The story noted:

Otto was one of 130 small business owners from 26 different states that ascended on the Capitol building Tuesday to meet with lawmakers and demand real changes in health care. Over the past decade, the cost of health insurance for small businesses has jumped by 123 percent and business owners like Otto have felt the crunch. Otto said insurance costs have prevented him from hiring more employees and expanding his business. Otto urged legislators to vote for the Affordable Health Care for America Act. Otto said he thought the House's health care bill was the best way to increase competition between insurance companies and help to lower costs. Under the reform, individuals can choose between private plans, health co-ops and a public option.

Medill also has a video of Otto and Olympia technology consultant Kent Davis talking about health-care reform needs of small businesses.

AARP's 900,000 members in Washington also are turning up the heat this week to vote in favor after the national group endorsed the House compromise. So is the Washington Federation of State Employees in Olympia.

On the other side are Thurston County advocates for a single-payer system, who fear passage of the bill's soften public option will doom single options down the road. They are pushing for a no vote on anything that doesn't include Rep. Dennis Kucinich's proposal to let states have the option for single-payer, which Kucinich talks about here.

Spokeswoman Sandy Mates says the Olympia Single-Payer Action group is not giving up on the idea of giving states choices, and advocates plan an 11 a.m. meeting Sunday at the Mixx 96-radio meeting room at 119 Washington St. N.E.

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