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Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Congresswoman Baldwin on Health Reform

Produced by Charlotte Robinson








In the first installment of this exclusive audio interview, Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson discusses with Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis) America’s Affordable Health Choices Act (H.R. 3200). The plan for health care reform promises to lower costs, provide better care, and keep our insurance industry competitive and fair for all consumers. In this unique format, questions were submitted from across America by Huffington Post Citizen Journalists expressing their concerns on how this bill will effect their health insurance needs. Exacerbating this issue is a virtual deluge of often-confusing and overwhelming information. Congresswoman Baldwin explains this bill in comprehensive language we can all understand.

“For the first time in more than six decades, as we begin to transform our economy and reclaim our stake in the American Dream, health care for all is within our grasp. I am proud to bring Wisconsin’s common sense and good ideas to this effort,” said Congresswoman Baldwin, who sits on the Energy and Commerce Committee and its Health Subcommittee.

Congresswoman Baldwin is the first woman elected to Congress from the state of Wisconsin, and is currently serving her fifth term. She was also the first ever openly gay non-incumbent to be elected to the House of Representatives. Baldwin explains the language she successfully added to the health care bill addressing the LGBT community. This is crucial since our LGBT community presently does not have federal rights, benefits and protections for their families.

“One of the things that is very, very frustrating for people today with regard to health care is what is known as the individual market. If you don’t get health care through your employer or through your spouse who is employed then that’s one of the most difficult ways to get health insurance. Sometimes it’s way overpriced and there’s no way you can afford it. Sometimes you’re disqualified for pre-existing conditions, and sometimes the rates are based upon factors, over which you have no control, that are discriminatory.” Baldwin added.

Baldwin is one of three openly gay members of Congress, the others being Barney Frank of Massachusetts and Jared Polis of Colorado.











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