Now that the health care reform fight has moved to the U.S. Senate, North Carolina’s Sen. Kay Hagan is seen as a key figure in determining what kind of reform comes out of Congress. Hagan supports reform, but has made noises about being “flexible” on the public option part of a reform bill. Our view is that not including a public option would be disastrous, with little to keep the health insurance companies honest in terms of premiums and coverage. You can be sure that Hagan is going to have her ear bent every which way by health industry lobbyists — including the galling folks who run Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina – who are urging her to oppose a public option. It’s up to supporters of real health care reform to contact Hagan and tell her to stand up to the insurance interests. This is how real politics works, folks, so go beyond your vote for Obama, and make some calls if you want to help move a progressive agenda forward.
Here are phone numbers for Sen. Hagan: Toll Free, 1-877-852-9462; D.C. office, 202-224-6342; and the Charlotte office, 704-334-2448.
This article appears in Nov 10-16, 2009.
“Our” view, Grooms? Last time I checked, you were not a spokesperson for the Democratic party. But good idea to remind the ignorant voters what they should actually be doing instead of just following partisan ideals to a T because it fits into their lifestyle and how they want to appear.