Congressman Responds to Health Care Protestors

Congressman Adam Schiff (D-Pasadena) issued a statement Friday in response to protestors who held a rally against the proposed federal health care bill now being considered by Congress.

In an e-mail to Pasadena Now, Congressman Schiff said that he believes “it is a moral and economic imperative that everyone have access to affordable health insurance — regardless of employment, income, age, or health status.  Any comprehensive health care reform bill must do three things: reduce cost, expand access, and ensure quality.

“The bill in progress takes important steps to extend health care to the millions of Americans who lack health insurance, but much more needs to be done to reduce the costs of health care to all Americans. As health care costs go up four times faster than wages, the current level of spending is unsustainable, and I am working to include further cost containment measures in the legislation.

“I also believe that a public option should be part of the health reform as a means of expanding access and forcing competition with the private plans to reduce costs.”