Ann Raynolds is a single payer activist in Norwich. Below are excerpts from her interview with Senator Dick McCormack, the primary sponsor of the single payer Senate bill (S.88). Senator McCormick sees some rays of hope for the present legislative session in Montpelier in terms of his single payer bill, but he also reminds us that ultimately, single payer will not become a reality in Vermont without the involvement of a wide array of citizens from many walks of life:
Ann Raynolds: How goes it in Montpelier?
Dick McCormack: As the late Senator Howrigan always answered that question, it’s too soon to tell. As to health care specifically, there are still many unknowns; exactly what’s coming out of Washington, where some key players REALLY want to take this, how the coming governor’s race will affect it etc.
AR: Please give us your candid assessment of all the hoopla around Health Care.
DM: Again it’s early enough that I can’t say with certainty if things are actually going very well or if I’m in a fool’s paradise. That said, I couldn’t imagine things going much better at this point. S.88, one of several health care bills but the one on which as a chief sponsor I’m most focused, has gotten some very favorable attention. It has 15 sponsors and co-sponsors, needing only one more to pass the Senate. Senate Health and Welfare Committee Chair (and candidate for governor) Doug Racine has mentioned this publically. His vote would pass the bill. Senate President Pro Tempore Shumlin(also a candidate) is a co-sponsor and expressed his pride about that to the large gathering of supporters who rallied at the State House the first week of the session. A skeptic will note that neither Racine nor Shumlin has made a firm public commitment to actually pass the bill but they’ve both affiliated themselves with it and both expressed sympathy. This is a good thing.
Topper McFaun’s hospital bill has been reintroduced in the House. The Poirier bill is a more complex “moderate” mix of private insurance and public subsidy.
House and Senate Health & Welfare have held joint hearings, including a well attended public hearing and in-session committee hearings as well. The crowd at the public hearing was overwhelmingly pro single payer. The few opponents did not make a very strong impression. The quality of pro single payer testimony was generally good, sometimes quite eloquent, but the more impressive achievement was the sheer numbers that filled the House Chamber. Dr. Deb Richter spoke and she was great.
I testified before a joint in-session hearing and felt I’d done a good job. Obviously I’m not the best judge of that as I usually think I’ve done a good job.