Grijalva fights for stronger House healthcare bill

Rep. Grijalva stands strong for the common good.

TUCSON -- In a curt, terse letter delivered yesterday, public option champion, and progressive caucus co-chair US Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-AZ7) says he wants to see some major changes to the House's health care bill--reflected in a so-called manager's amendment--before it comes to the floor.

• Americans in every state in the nation must be able to take advantage of the benefits of the bill; thus the bill shall explicitly state that the public option must be available without any triggers or opt-out provisions.
• If the Secretary is forced to negotiate provider reimbursement rates in the public plan, a ceiling shall be determined and set for such rates.
• The bill shall fully repeal the McCarran Ferguson Act for health and medical malpractice insurance, as oppose to merely amending the Act.

Included with the letter is bill text for a stronger public option than the one in the bill that was unveiled yesterday. Grijalva is asking for a floor vote on that amendment, but Pelosi has been pretty clear that she doesn't want to bring it up.

Go, Raul!

- adapted from TPM