Who controls health care cost?

Max Baucus, the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, doesn’t want a single-payer health care system. Baucus has accepted more campaign contributions from insurance companies in recent years than almost any other senator. He excluded single-payer advocates from his committee’s hearings on health care reform, despite the fact that many Americans want a single-payer plan.

Do you feel like the banks, insurance companies and their lobbyists have more control over Congress than you do? Do you feel like your insurance company has control over you but you have no control over it? Are you tired of health care costs going through the roof?

We need an honest national discussion about health care. I’m afraid this won’t happen as long as members of Congress feel more committed to their big-money supporters than they do to the American people whom they are supposed to serve.

Washington Public Campaigns is sponsoring a forum on health care reform at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, May 27, at the Lair Auditorium at Spokane Community College. Come participate in the discussion or just come to listen and learn. We might just get what we want from Congress if we demand it.

Rosemary Johnson

Spokane