Douglas Alexander: “I cosponsored Senator Wyden and Senator Bennett Healthy Americans Act last year to support a legitimate bipartisan…”

“I cosponsored Senator Wyden and Senator Bennett Healthy Americans Act last year to support a legitimate bipartisan effort that combines "private markets" and "universal access." I am willing to do so again this year, because health care reform is too big of an issue for one party to tackle on its own. Our only chance of achieving true, meaningful reform is if both parties work together. However, I do have reservations about this legislation--I see it as a work in progress and would not vote for it in its current form. For example, the current budget figures are unrealistic. In order to maintain budget neutrality, as drafted, the bill would shift a new burden on middle-income Americans. We have not yet discovered a way to solve this problem without increasing the cost of the bill. Another problem I have with the bill is that the mandated level of standard benefits is too high. As drafted, typically young, healthy Americans would be forced to pay for a richer level of coverage than they might now choose or possibly be able to afford. I commend the efforts of Senators Wyden and Bennett to reach across party lines on this important issue, and look forward to working with both of them to further improve this proposal.”