Sen. Karen Keiser and dozens of other state leaders from around the country are headed to Washington, D.C., Oct. 13-14 to encourage Congress to pass a comprehensive bill next month.
Keiser will be joined by Reps. Steve Conway and Brendan Williams.
“This will be my fourth trip to the nation’s capital this year,” Keiser said. “I’m going back because the stakes are high for Washington state, and I want to make sure whatever bill passes reflects our values and allows us to build on current programs that will reduce costs and make the system more efficient.”
Keiser, a Kent Democrat, is one of more than 1,000 state lawmakers who have signed letters to Congress asking for real health reform, including a public health insurance option, strong affordability protections, and shared responsibility among individuals, employers and government for health care costs.
The letter was signed by Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown and House Speaker Frank Chopp as well as members of the House and Senate health care committees.
“State legislators, mayors and governors around the country want the status quo to end and real change to happen,” Keiser said. “Our state budget can’t withstand skyrocketing health care costs. We’re closer to reform than ever before. Quitting now is not an option.”
Keiser is part of a group of about 30 state legislators from around the country who discuss health care reform each week with White House officials. She has already participated in about a dozen health care town hall meetings, another dozen panel discussions, and meetings with the state’s congressional representatives.
“We have to get this right because so many people are depending on us,” she said. “We have to change this system so that everyone gets access to affordable coverage. That’s the message we’ll be delivering.”
Keiser will meet with Sen. Maria Cantwell to discuss, among other things, possible solutions to the funding crisis facing the state’s Basic Health Plan. Earlier this month, Cantwell successfully sponsored an amendment in the Senate Finance Committee that used our state’s Basic Health Plan as model for a limited type of public plan. It directs tax subsidies to the states and lets them use their purchasing power to negotiate with private insurance carriers. Her plan could provide coverage to 75 percent of the uninsured population
In August, the National Conference of State Legislatures, which represents every state legislature in the country, voted to support federal health care reform including a public health insurance option. Representatives of 38 states supported the resolution.
Sen. Keiser’s Preliminary Itinerary (subject to change)
Oct 13th
- Meeting with Senate and House leadership
- Meetings with Rep. Adam Smith and Sen. Maria Cantwell
Oct 14th
- Meetings with Rep. Jay Inslee and Sen. Patty Murray
- Meeting with White House officials
- Afternoon press conference