Chair Thurman Warns Republicans: Being the Party of No on Health Insurance Reform Just Won’t Cut It

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NEWS
FROM THE FLORIDA DEMOCRATIC PARTY

For
Immediate Release: Sept. 9, 2009

Tallahassee,
FL – Congresswoman Karen L. Thurman, Florida Democratic Party Chair, issued the
following statement after President Obama’s addressed a Joint Session of
Congress about his health insurance reform plan:

“Tonight,
President Obama made an overwhelming and compelling case to the American people
about the need to pass health insurance reform this year.

“The
core of his plan is simple: provide more security and stability for people who
have insurance, provide quality, affordable care to those who don’t, and rein
in skyrocketing costs that are crushing American families, businesses and the
government itself.

“The
President’s plan will protect Floridians from unfair insurance industry
practices. It’ll prohibit insurance companies from discriminating against
someone for a preexisting condition and it’ll stop them from dropping someone’s
coverage when they get sick, and need help the most.

“Too
many of Florida’s residents and small businesses are struggling under the high
costs of care. Reform will bring down costs, but creating a Health Insurance
Exchange – a kind of one stop shop for health plans. It’ll also provide new tax
credits to help people buy insurance and create a public insurance option to
increase competition, lower costs and expand choice. What’s more, the
President’s plan won’t add to our deficit –  it’ll pay for reform upfront
– and it takes the best from Democratic and Republican ideas.

“We
are closer than ever to passing comprehensive reform and President Obama has
laid out a clear path forward. Unfortunately, Republican leaders in Florida
have decided to stand in lock-step opposition to reform. They want to maintain
the status quo and hurt President Obama politically. Opponents of reform have a
choice. They can either stop playing partisan games and come up with their own
reform proposal, or they can start explaining to the American people why it’s
better to stand by and do nothing at all as thousands more Floridians face
skyrocketing costs and lose their coverage every day. 

“While
it’s unfortunate that Republicans in Florida seem poised to nominate a
gubernatorial candidate who, while in Congress, fought to dismantle Medicare,
repeatedly voted to cut billions out of health care, and worked to make it
harder for the government to crack down on health care fraud, Florida’s
Republican leaders should know that being the ‘Party of No’ on health insurance
reform just won’t cut it.

“Floridians
support President Obama’s plan for health insurance reform. The time for action
is now.”

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