Socialized healthcare agenda touted at Monday event
Face The State Staff Report
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DENVER - In a celebration of healthcare proposals touted by a liberal healthcare reform organization, about 200 people from around the state joined Gov. Bill Ritter for a Monday rally at the state Capitol.
Sponsored by the Colorado Consumer Health Initiative, the second annual Health Care Day of Action armed participants with partisan talking points and a clear message: Affordable, accessible and accountable healthcare should be made available to all. Ritter, a Democrat, drew cheers of support from universal health care supporters when he acknowledged their shared vision and touted his “building bocks” approach that he says will expand coverage and lower costs.
Sharon Melvin, 63, and a resident of Anonito, Colo., traveled from the western slope to share her views with lawmakers, but admits that she is no expert on health care and is doing her best to learn. Melvin and her husband own and operate an RV park, and they have trouble finding affordable insurance. “I won’t be able to stop working until I’m 80 in order to remain covered,” said Melvin.
But Republicans questioned the day's semantics, while offering an alternative approach. Rep. Spencer Swalm, R-Centennial, brushed off the group’s intentions because he said it appeared to be “pretty loaded by supporters of a single-payer system,” which Swalm points out is no different from universal health care.
FTS Staff Photo
“I am not in favor of universal healthcare and socialized medicine,” said Swalm. “That would create an enormous tax burden for our children."
Swalm is sponsor of House Bill 1311, legislation that would target people who are currently uninsured and offer them an affordable plan with capped coverage and low monthly payments. Swalm says that while such a system is not perfect, some insurance is better than no insurance. CCHI singled out HB 1311 in their prepared materials and urged people to oppose it on the basis the limited coverage - yet to be determined - would be insufficient.
Another proposal singled out by the CCHI is House Bill 1327, sponsored by Rep. Cory Gardner, R-Yuma, which would allow Coloradans to buy health insurance across state lines. Proponents say allowing individuals to buy out-of-state policies would provide additional options free from restrictive in-state mandates on health insurance coverage.
Democrats are sponsoring all the bills supported by CCHI, which is affiliated with several groups that support the expansion of taxpayer-funded healthcare, including the Service Employees International Union, the Colorado Progressive Coalition and the Bell Policy Center. As Face The State has previously reported, the SEIU was one of Ritter's largest 2006 campaign contributors.