Sen. Olympia Snowe this week significantly advanced the cause of health care reform.
When the Senate Finance Committee voted Tuesday on its moderate bill to expand and improve health care coverage, the result was a 14-9 bipartisan tally. The bipartisanship was entirely Snowe’s; otherwise, the vote followed party lines.
Her support keeps her in a powerful position as the bill develops, and it is clear she intends to use it. “Is this the bill that I would want? Far from it,” she said before the vote. “But when history calls, history calls.”
Some conservatives are reluctant to acknowledge Snowe as a loyal Republican because she has not followed the GOP strategy of criticizing from the sidelines, but she has been a bulwark for moderate and conservative interests on health care. Support for a public health insurance option has faded in the face of her opposition.
After the vote, Sen. Susan Collins also spoke up in favor of establishing “a truly bipartisan bill.” Her statement doubled the number of Republican senators who have indicated a willingness to collaborate on the most important issue before Congress, and it is likely the percentage will to continue to grow.
As others take note of Snowe’s influential role, they may calculate that participating in the preparation of key legislation might be in their own best interest and the best interests of their constituents.
“We are going to get this done,” President Obama predicted after Tuesday’s vote. It would be gratifying if the 13-9 Senate Finance Committee vote became a turning point in the political struggle for health care reform.
The Senate Finance Committee bill weathered a strong attack from the insurance industry this week. The industry publicized a study claiming it would drive up insurance premiums. The argument was that taxes, fees and Medicare cutbacks would shift much of the costs of reform onto those who already have insurance.
Besides a natural resistance to paying new taxes and fees, the industry raises a legitimate question about coverage. The bill requires everyone to sign up for health insurance, but provides no significant penalty for those who fail to do so. This omission works against the goal of providing affordable coverage for all.
But although insurers appear prepared to dig in their heels against reform legislation, their potential allies ”“ rank-and-file Republicans ”“ aren’t in much of a position to influence the final bill. Unless real bipartisanship emerges at the end, the success or failure of health care reform remains largely in the hands of Democrats.
Health care reform has advanced farther this year than it has in a generation. After coming so far, support for a compromise solution has strengthened with the realization that the present system assures protection for almost no one.
As Sen. Snowe said Tuesday: “We have a problem that is growing worse, not better.”
— Questions? Comments? Contact Kristen Schulze Muszynski or Nick Cowenhoven at 282-1535 or kristenm@journaltribune.com or nickc@journaltribune.com.
Comments are not available on this story.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
