by David Safier
Yesterday, Grijalva stood at a microphone in front of the Congressional Progressive Caucus and stated his position on health care. All of it is worth listening to, but here is the passage where he states his bottom line.
We from the beginning have been promoting single payer, and in absence of that . . . we are now saying that we must have a public option that is meaningful, that has Medicare as its provider network, that has Medicare-plus-five as its rate, that we don't negotiate with private insurance companies for the rate on the private option, and that . . . this health reform will not be paid off the backs of small businesses, poor people and working families. [I cut out a few inconsequential verbal stumbles that disrupt the flow of his ideas.]
Agree or disagree with Grijalva's stand -- and I basically agree -- you know exactly what he wants from health care reform, and you know his current position is a compromise from his original desire for a single payer system. If I had a statement this clear from Giffords, I would be able to agree or disagree with her on the issues rather than having to divine her intentions from general statements filled with vague caveats.
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