Public consultation means engaging all sides in frank and open discussion

Nov 09, 2009 Letters

Dear Editor,

Over the weekend the Obama administration scored a major political victory when their Health Care Insurance Bill was passed by the House of Representatives.

After scores of meetings, speeches and countless debates, the bill was narrowly passed through the House with a final vote of 220-215 with only one Republican — Rep. Joseph Cao of Louisiana — voting for the measure; 39 Democrats voted against it.

Even though this is just the beginning, it is still something to celebrate since this legislation would require most Americans – at least 96 percent of them – to carry health insurance and provide federal subsidies to those who otherwise could not afford it. It also means that large companies would have to offer coverage to their employees. Both consumers and companies would be slapped with penalties if they defied the government’s mandates.

This is indeed a bold move by the House of Representatives to signal their intention to see that all Americans can have access to quality health care across America.

But the job is not over. The Senate still needs to begin floor debate on their version of insurance reform. That debate may begin early next year.

If the senate decides to enact their version of Health Insurance Reform then members from both the House of Representatives and the Senate would have to meet further to discuss measures of compromise. The results of what compromises were achieved would then again have to be voted on by both the House and the Senate, which means that those persons who cast tough votes over the weekend would once again have to vote early next year.

However, optimism is high and it is my firm belief that with the House of Representatives setting the mood in the passage of this bill, that the Obama administration should be able to prevail with overall majority in the Senate as they continue to press on with their universal health care plan.

Those persons who follow international politics, and especially those who have been paying keen attention to the serious work being put in by the American politicians in forging ahead with Health Care Reform, would have noticed the extent to which public consultations were utilised. President Obama has utilised every channel possible to reach the American people and to get their views on how they felt about his universal health care plan. He was open to all views harsh and critical as they might have been from both Democrats and Republicans!

My fellow Guyanese, please note that public consultation is not a term to be used rhetorically nor loosely. It means engaging all sides in frank open discussion.

Richard Francois