First State to Get Universal Health Care?

Vermont's Times Argus reports that "the Vermont House took a historic step Wednesday toward providing health benefits to the state's 63,000 uninsured. Despite fierce opposition from Republicans, the Democrat-controlled House gave preliminary approval to a health care reform plan designed to provide coverage to all Vermonters."

During the debate, Republicans "harshly criticized the proposal" because "they believe is the first step toward establishing a single-payer, government-run health care system." But, as I've noted in an earlier piece for the Nation Magazine, the Washington Post's national poll found in 2003 that almost two-thirds of Americans say they prefer a universal healthcare system "that's run by the government and financed by taxpayers" as opposed to the current private, for-profit system.

Additionally, local doctors and small business in Vermont are supporting the bill. As WCAX-TV notes, "doctors were pleased to see the proposal picking up steam" because "they say universal access to health care would help them provide better care, and would not drive them from the state." Similarly, the president of Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility said, "We believe this bill will move Vermont in a direction that is good for the economy. A program of this type will make Vermont a more desirable place to do business."

Keep your eye on this bill. If Republicans have their way, they will once again block a major step forward on health care. But if progressives prevail, we might finally see a state become the first to offer universal access to health care. And once one state takes such an important step, it will open up the possibility of such a step in states all over America. With more than 40 million Americans without health insurance, this is long overdue.