Vermont Digger: Editor’s note: This commentary is by Terry Doran, who is co-author (with Con Hogan and Deb Richter) of “At the Crossroads: The Future of Health Care in Vermont” and “Gridlock: The Unhealthy Politics of Health Care in Vermont.” He lives in Montpelier.
It’s no surprise that Gov. Shumlin decided against presenting a financing plan for a universal health care system to the Legislature. Practically speaking, the numbers were unfavorable. Politically speaking, the Legislature’s mood was unfavorable.
Those of us who have long advocated for a publicly financed single payer universal health care system – often referred to somewhat inaccurately as a single payer system — and who attended the governor’s announcement did not hear him say the word “never,” or that Act 48 – the enabling law passed three years ago by many of the same legislators – is dead.
It will be interpreted that way. Funeral orations are being declaimed all over the state, and nation. But are they right? We think not for at least three reasons. Click Here to read the rest of the commentary.