Blue Mass Group

Reality-based commentary on politics.

ConCon: Is health care amendment likely to get on ballot?

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(Updated for clarity and accuracy. See above.)

The Health Care Amendment ballot initiative will be taken up second today.

The summary of today’s amendment is as follows:

SECTION 1: The People of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts hereby declare it necessary and expedient to alter the Constitution by the adoption of the following Article of Amendment:

Upon ratification of this amendment and thereafter, it shall be the obligation and duty(1) of the Legislature and executive officials, on behalf of the Commonwealth, to enact and implement such laws, subject to approval by the voters at a statewide election(2), as will ensure that no Massachusetts resident lacks(3) comprehensive(4), affordable(5) and equitably financed(6) health insurance(7) coverage for all medically necessary(8) preventive, acute and chronic health care and mental health care services, prescription drugs and devices(9).

See the webpage for the footnotes.

So, the amendment would essentially make health care a right in MA. The language is quite broad an vague, and that’s probably a good thing; it may be just mushy enough not to attract the big guns of special interests. We haven’t heard from them yet … but it’s a long time ’til November. For now, the initiative has broad, even overwhelming support in the polls.

Just to be crystal clear, since there seems to be some confusion: This is not the MassACT ballot initiative, which would covered a lot of people through an enlargement of Medicaid (aka MassHealth). That was taken off the ballot by the coalition that pushed it, since they felt it was better to lobby within the framework of the new health care law.

I wonder how much this amendment will tie together the competing strands of the health care movement in MA, getting the incrementalists and the “single-payer now” folks to get together and pool energies. I think it’s terribly unfortunate how much ill will there has been between the camps. That only helps the special interests (PhRMA et al.), who are squatting on a gold mine of indifference and perceived powerlessness on the part of the public.

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Comments

  1. first, they cow ACT into tossing many thousands of petition signatures into the dumpster and going on home.

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    and now the final moore/trav 1-2 punch to kill the healthcare amendment.

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    tom delay would be proud.

  2. I’m back and still saying “keep the faith and keep fighting”. 

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    Knowing what we’re up against is crucial even if it means major GI upset and maybe starting to use sleazy hardball tactics as adeptly as our opponents do.  Anyone have any compromising photos of the afore-mentioned persons?  If so, send them on over!

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    Health care WILL be a right in our Comonweatlh and in our country one day; I’ll go to my grave celebrating that or fighting for it.

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    We need YOU join this struggle; sign on at http://www.HealthCareForMass.org

  3. in the post, they were simply the names of the leading actors witnessed at today’s State House charade about there being any logical reason to send the HC Amendment to a “study” other than to kill it.

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    Those actors included Senator Richard Moore, Sen. Spilka, Rep. Mariano (don’t take my word, see ConCon transcript including testimony from Rep.s Wolf, Smizik and Eldridge that exposes the charade), and Senate President Robert Travaglini who used blatant strong-arm tactics to get Senators to CHANGE THEIR VOTE from No to Yes on sending the HC Amendment to a study. 

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    You’ll probably have to view a tape of the proceedings to get the full effect of Travaglini’s coercive tactics–make sure you have the sound turned up to not miss his laughter. 

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