Congressman Dave Obey says, while Congress may be taking its time to complete a reform package, the status quo is definitely not sustainable. “You’re going to have double the number of uninsured that you have today, unless you have major changes in the health care system,” said the Wausau Democrat.
“When Harry Truman tried to reform the health care system, it was costing us four percent of our total national income, when Dick Nixon tried to do it, it was costing us eight percent. Today it’s costing us seventeen percent, and within ten years it’s going to cost us twenty five percent.
Obey insists that, absent some reform, twenty five percent of domestic product could go to health care in another ten years. Given the complexities of the debate, Obey says there’s no hurry in Congress. “There is no definite time line,” said Obey. “It will take as long as it takes, to overcome the misinformation being put out by the insurance lobby.”
“You’ve got 535 people who have different opinions,” said Obey. “That’s the way the country works.” Obey said if he had to bet, he’d wager a final vote on health care reform will come “right around December 23rd, at midnight.”
WXCE’s Kurt Mayer submitted this report
