[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 19]
[House]
[Page 25236]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       PUBLIC OPTION MYTH BUSTER

  (Ms. EDWARDS of Maryland asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. EDWARDS of Maryland. Mr. Speaker, it's been 126 days since the 
Republican leadership promised a health care bill and today, 126, still 
no bill. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to set the record straight. The 
American people overwhelmingly support a robust public health option. 
And despite months and months of insurance companies, lobbyists and 
even political leaders spreading the myth that the American people 
don't support a public health insurance option, we have clear evidence 
to the contrary. A poll released by The Washington Post and ABC News 
earlier this week confirmed that 57 percent of Americans support a 
public health insurance option.
  The American people realize that the current system is broken, the 
status quo is unacceptable and the time for real health care reform is 
now. But instead of supporting reform, the party of ``no'' 126 days 
later, and insurance profit-mongers continue to work to kill reform and 
defend a system that discriminates against people with chronic 
illnesses, a history of domestic violence and continues to see premiums 
and deductibles skyrocket, forcing 14,000 Americans each day to lose 
their health care coverage.
  Mr. Speaker, the American people have spoken and it's time for all 
Members of Congress, Republicans and Democrats, to listen. They want 
real health care reform, a robust public option to expend coverage, 
create real competition and bring down costs.

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