Jared Polis with Boulder constituents. (August 17, 2009)
BOULDER -
With Democratic members of the U.S. House and Senate increasingly divided over the need for a public option as part of comprehensive health care reform, a few hundred residents of one of the nation's more liberal congressional districts turned out Monday night to tell their congressman, Rep. Jared Polis, to keep that public option, however controversial politically, in the final bill.
"It's the most essential part of the bill," said Leigh Kirkland, in direct response to Sunday's statement from U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius that the public option "wasn't the most essential" part of the reform package.
"That's why we're here tonight," Kirkland said. "This is the only way we're going to be able to provide coverage for people who can't afford it right now. It's the best way to keep costs down. It's essential we keep fighting for it. People's health cannot be left in the hands of companies that are motivated by profit."
That argument, not surprising in Boulder, was all the louder after the apparent backsliding on the public option from Sebelius and even President Barack Obama, who said Saturday during his town hall meeting in Grand Junction that the public option was "just one sliver" of the overall reforms.
Rep. Polis, D-Boulder, spent about 5-10 minutes with several small groups of people who lined up early Monday afternoon and were eventually seated around patio picnic tables at Southern Sun Brewery.
"I was an insurance broker for years and had a hard time finding insurance companies that would give reasonable rates, or any coverage for the matter, to people with preexisting conditions," said Duane Deyoe, of Boulder.
"My grandson has a disease and can't walk," said Amy Kaplan. "But when his parents applied to get him a wheelchair, the claim was denied because it didn't qualify as a durable vehicle. The only way for them to get coverage that covers his needs is with a public option."
And on the stories went.
Polis heard dozens of them. And before each group, he reiterated his support for a public option, which he said "will allow people to choose. Some people trust the government to provide them health care; some trust private insurers more. With this being an option, we'll get the best of both worlds and people will be able to choose."
But, Polis did not indicate a preference for a public option as either a co-op or a Medicaid model, saying that either one could work -- and he would not commit to voting against a final bill that does not include a public option, as 60 House Democrats have done.
"It's the most essential part of the bill," said Leigh Kirkland, in direct response to Sunday's statement from U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius that the public option "wasn't the most essential" part of the reform package.
"That's why we're here tonight," Kirkland said. "This is the only way we're going to be able to provide coverage for people who can't afford it right now. It's the best way to keep costs down. It's essential we keep fighting for it. People's health cannot be left in the hands of companies that are motivated by profit."
That argument, not surprising in Boulder, was all the louder after the apparent backsliding on the public option from Sebelius and even President Barack Obama, who said Saturday during his town hall meeting in Grand Junction that the public option was "just one sliver" of the overall reforms.
Rep. Polis, D-Boulder, spent about 5-10 minutes with several small groups of people who lined up early Monday afternoon and were eventually seated around patio picnic tables at Southern Sun Brewery.
"I was an insurance broker for years and had a hard time finding insurance companies that would give reasonable rates, or any coverage for the matter, to people with preexisting conditions," said Duane Deyoe, of Boulder.
"My grandson has a disease and can't walk," said Amy Kaplan. "But when his parents applied to get him a wheelchair, the claim was denied because it didn't qualify as a durable vehicle. The only way for them to get coverage that covers his needs is with a public option."
And on the stories went.
Polis heard dozens of them. And before each group, he reiterated his support for a public option, which he said "will allow people to choose. Some people trust the government to provide them health care; some trust private insurers more. With this being an option, we'll get the best of both worlds and people will be able to choose."
But, Polis did not indicate a preference for a public option as either a co-op or a Medicaid model, saying that either one could work -- and he would not commit to voting against a final bill that does not include a public option, as 60 House Democrats have done.
