I was at the "Winning Health Care Reform in 2009" today morning. There were close to 200 folks at the forum which focused on healthcare in America. The forum features Senator Clinton, Former Senator Tom Daschle, Gov. Patrick (MA), Gov. Rendell, Gov. Sebelius, Gov. Strickland and other elected officials. Sen. Tom Daschle said that United States is far away from a achieving quality health care system but with Senator Obama as our president, we are on our way to bringing a quality health care system. He has advocated for low-cost, transparency, and quality--and freeing the decision making process from Congressional influence and special interest. He suggests creating an independent board that can bring an effective decision-making process that brings an end to the healthcare crisis.Our fundamental problem in healthcare is the lack of a robust health-care framework in the country. However, a strong system would require us to learn from foreign countries and from the American experience. He strongly recommended that the country remain persistent and remain on the offensive to "get the job done" and pass universal health care. A live healthcare poll conducted in the room here found that Senator Obama will bring low-cost, access, and quality healthcare in America.Senator Clinton had been introduced as a friend of those who care for affordable and quality healthcare. She has led the fight for healthcare in 1993-1994, expanding children’s access to health services and insurance coverage—and has been a strong advocate of healthcare through her lifetime. She is hoping that progress can be seen this week through the convention and can be able to carry it forward to our respective state. .What are Hillary’s principal objectives with respect to healthcare? She had outlined four main objectives. (1) High-quality and affordable health care for everyone without any exception: As she says, the “system cannot leave people out” or folks cannot be left to be "cherrypicked in a seamless system.” Like other elected officials, Hillary Clinton emphasized the need to place objectives to develop an institutional framework for the healthcare system.
One important point about politicians that we should recognize is the ability to look into the eye and make promises. But it is the political process that makes impact that can be realized for years to come. For example, the legislators have to come to a consensus with respect to the legislative language for a bill to pass through Congress. In this context, Hillary Clinton emphasized about bridging a political consensus in Congress—requiring the need to “translate words in the legislative language.
As a former First Lady, She said the transition team has “ridiculously” less time to prepare for Office. Hence, it is essential to get working right away on legislative agendas, particularly healthcare. She ended the symposium by ensuring that Democrats were united and were rallying behind Senator Obama as the next president.