Las Vegas Sun

February 12, 2012

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SUN EDITORIAL:

House takes bold action

Now it is Senate’s turn to deliver desperately needed health insurance reform

Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2009 | 2:07 a.m.

Reps. Shelley Berkley and Dina Titus, both Nevada Democrats, deserve praise for joining the House majority Saturday to approve a truly historic comprehensive health care insurance reform bill. It was a bold move that seeks to reverse generations of congressional failure by giving tens of millions of uninsured and underinsured Americans sufficient access to the nation’s health care system.

The legislation now heads to the Senate, where it will face stubborn opposition from Republicans who have no interest in fixing the broken insurance system. As Sen Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said Sunday on CBS’ “Face the Nation”: “The House bill is dead on arrival in the Senate.”

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., who supports the public option, will have his hands full not only with obstructionist Republicans but also with reluctant Democrats who want reform but aren’t sure how far to go.

We strongly urge all senators to take stock of their constituents, many of whom have no choice but to crowd hospital emergency rooms because they do not have the insurance to see a family doctor or specialist.

Millions of Americans do not have insurance because they are unemployed, work for an employer who does not offer a health benefit, or have preexisting medical conditions that make them ineligible for coverage. Many others are drowning in medical debt because they are underinsured.

There are, then, both humanitarian and economic reasons for the Senate to join the House in passing insurance reform that will result in healthier Americans and a stronger nation.

This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that the Senate cannot afford to squander. Much like passage of Social Security, the GI Bill and the Voting Rights Act, health insurance reform would represent the kind of landmark legislation that would improve the quality of life in this country for generations to come.

The major challenge for Reid is to break through a potential filibuster, a tool available only in the Senate that allows opponents of legislation to force at least 60 votes to close off debate. Given the razor-thin margin of victory for the House bill, his goal of reaching 60 votes will be much tougher.

But no one has displayed more determination to get things done than Reid. From our perspective, the Senate cannot approve reform quickly enough.

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