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November 24, 2009

Senate Surmounts First Procedural Test to Begin Debate on Health Care Reform

The New Jersey State AFL-CIO applauds New Jersey’s U.S. Senators, Frank Lautenberg and Robert Menendez, along with those in the Democratic caucus that successfully voted 60 to 39 to begin a floor debate on the most consequential health care legislation in over 40 years. There is no excuse for those that voted against bringing the health care bill to the Senate floor. The Senators that voted “no”, in effect, have tried to deny the American people of one of the most necessary and long overdue debates in recent history.

This vote is proof that there is a determined will among most legislators to do right by their constituencies. Working families, who are tired of exorbitant health care costs, limited insurance choices, and poor insurance regulation, can celebrate this recent vote as a major step towards reaching a consensus in the Senate and ultimately achieving comprehensive reform.

However, in the coming months, we must do everything in our power to defend the interests of working families, making sure that the final form of legislation does not place an undue burden on working families. For example, we must determinedly stand against the taxation of employer provided health benefits, continue to advocate for public option, and make sure by solving our health care dilemma we begin to solve our economic problems.

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