Editorial: Rep. Tammy Baldwin...Health Reform in The States
A Cap Times Editorial
Written by The Editor of Madison, Wisconsin Capitol Times
Jan. 30, 2007
Ever since Hillary Rodham Clinton made a bumbling attempt more than a decade ago to reform our dysfunctional health care system, federal officials have stood on the sidelines and watched as things grow worse.
This country needs a universal response to the crisis of 45 million uninsured Americans and at least that many underinsured. But it is neither wise nor moral to wait for the feds to get their act together.
Smart supporters of heath care reform recognize that it is time to let the states experiment with solutions. And U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin, D-Madison, has taken the lead on this front.
Make no mistake, Baldwin remains a supporter of the necessary federal reform: a single-payer health care system. But she understands that the political will necessary to create a single-payer system has not been developed at the federal level.
So she has joined two Republicans, Ohio Sen. George Voinovich and Georgia Rep. Tom Price, as well as two fellow Democrats, New Mexico Sen. Jeff Bingaman and Massachusetts Rep. John Tierney, in sponsoring federal legislation to allow states to experiment with various efforts to reduce the number of the uninsured through a federal-state partnership.
Under the plan, Wisconsin could enact a state-based single-payer system, while Iowa could set up a system based on health savings accounts and Minnesota could set up a system of tax credits.
Ultimately, the systems that work best will provide inspiration to other states and the feds. The key is to ensure the flexibility to allow successful experimentation, and Baldwin's legislation does that.
The road to comprehensive health care reform is a long one, but this bill is a sure step in the right direction. Tammy Baldwin is to be commended for advancing it.
Please see http://www.madison.com/tct/opinion/index.php?ntid=116831&ntpid=0 for complete details on this story.
