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Congressman Likes Newly Combined Health Care Bill
He says it's a bill that's not perfect, but a local Congressman believes the health care reform bill introduced Thursday by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi puts the country closer to something that's been worked on for generations.

17th District Democrat Phil Hare says the bill, which he describes as the combination of three separate bills worked on by House Committees, is the best health care reform bill he's seen yet, and that, in his words, 85% of the bill covers things he's heard from constituents from all the in-person and telephone town hall meetings he's held.

Hare, in a conference call with reporters, said a public option remains in the bill -- and that's a good thing for a group of people he continues to think of.

"Most of those are people like the people from Galesburg who lost their jobs because to poor trade policies quite candidly but it will allow them to go into a public option and have health insurance without having to buy very expensive COBRA insurance that has high deductibles."

The Rock Island Democrat says under the new bill, the so-called Medicare "Donut Hole" would be gradually reduced, and would be eliminated by 2019 instead of 2024 as was the case in other bills.

He says pre-existing conditions will still be removed, anti-trust exemptions for insurance companies will be eliminated, and the bill's reforms will not add to the federal budget deficit.

Hare believes everyone, even insurance companies, should be happy with the bill.
10 30 09 by Newsroom
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