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Alaska senators open fire in weekend health care debate

by Rebecca Palsha
Friday, November 20, 2009

ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- The Senate is expected to vote Saturday to open a make-or-break debate on the health care reform bill. Sen. Mark Begich is a yes vote on the reform bill, while Sen. Lisa Murkowski is a no.

The vote comes days after new recommendations call for later and less frequent mammograms, as well as the release of new guidelines for cervical cancer screenings. Pap tests should be performed less frequently in younger women and those with no risk factors for the disease.

Lawmakers escalated their Capitol Hill fight over the health care bill on Friday.

"The real concern and focus here is that we in this legislation give to the secretary of Health and Social Services a great deal of control, a great deal of authority," Murkowski said. "And also two councils -- medical councils -- that are not elected, that are not appointed, to allow them to make medical decisions about whether or not our procedures will be covered. So it's just kind of a peek under the curtain, if you will, of what we can anticipate with a government-run program."

"It's important that we keep to the facts, and the facts are very simple: this bill saves lives, saves money, protects Medicare and stops insurance abuses," Begich said. "This bill is not just about making sure insurance companies are held accountable, and doing the right thing for the people who buy insurance, for the people who have insurance today, but also creating jobs and making sure the private sector continues to grow."

The Senate and House bills would provide coverage to millions of the uninsured by expanding Medicaid, and subsidizing private insurance for people with moderate incomes.

"One of the real dangers, I think, that we are talking about with this health care proposal the Democrats have put before us is the concern about rationing and the rationing of our health care," Murkowski said. "And we're seeing that play out a little bit."

"Let us debate it, discuss it, put our ideas on the table," Begich said. "And end up with a product, hopefully, that I believe will improve the health care system of this country."

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid needs all 60 Democrats to vote in favor for the bill to move into debate.

Contact Rebecca Palsha at rpalsha@ktuu.com