Medical News Today
01 Nov 2009
The American Medical Student Association (AMSA) urges Speaker Nancy Pelosi to keep her promise and allow a vote on a single payer substitution amendment to the House health care reform bill, to be introduced by Representative Anthony Weiner [D-NY].
“The American people were promised a vote on single payer on the House floor,” says Farheen Qurashi, AMSA Jack Rutledge legislative director, “We ask Speaker Pelosi to live up to her commitment and continue the open and appropriate legislative process in health care reform that we have seen thus far.”
Rep. Weiner plans to submit an amendment that would replace much of the House health care reform bill with single payer language modeled upon Representative John Conyers [D-Mich.] HR 676. He withdrew this amendment from committee proceedings in July in response to a promise by Congressional leaders, including the Speaker, that legislators would be given an opportunity to vote on the amendment in a full session of the House.
Now, Speaker Pelosi indicated she may restrict any House floor amendments – a backpedal on her promise. In addition, the merged House bill, unveiled yesterday, removed language from an earlier approved amendment in committee by Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio), that would facilitate states’ ability to enact single-payer within their borders. The Speakers’ restriction on amendments removes any chance to reinsert this language that has already seen bipartisan support.
Advocates are urging Speaker Pelosi to continue the open lawmaking process that was applauded at yesterday’s press conference by allowing Members of Congress to pursue these important amendments.
“As a physician-in-training and a single payer advocate, I strongly urge Speaker Pelosi to uphold her promise to Rep. Weiner and the American people by allowing a floor vote on the single payer amendment,” said Iyah Romm, second year medical student at Boston University and AMSA Regional Director. “Only a single payer system can provide the change we need – simplifying payment, eliminating unnecessary bureaucracy, and investing the subsequent savings into a solitary goal, providing care to all.”