The Nebraska Democratic Party State Central Committee met in Omaha this weekend. One of the most important things to come out of the meeting was a resolution, passed nearly unanimously, to support a healthcare plan with the public option. It will be interesting to see how the sole Democratic representative from Nebraska, Sen. Ben Nelson, will react to this.
The text of the resolution was for all intents and purposes identical to one previously passed by the Lancaster County (NE) Democrats last Sept. 15. Lincoln, NE, the state's capital, and second largest city, resides in Lancaster County.
Here is the text of the resolution, as passed by the Lancaster County Democrats:
Public Option Resolution
(Revised and adopted by LDPCC on September 15, 2009)
WHEREAS, the heath care system of the United States is in crisis, with almost fifty million Americans lacking any health insurance, tens of millions more lacking adequate coverage, and millions more who do have private coverage paying increasingly unaffordable premiums, resulting in inadequate access to care and premature death, illness, or financial ruin for millions of Americans; and
WHEREAS, public polls show that a majority of Americans want health care reform to offer the choice of a robust public option in order to inject real competition into the marketplace and, in the words of President Obama, “keep the insurance companies honest:” and
WHEREAS, some in the healthcare insurance industry and their allies have organized and funded groups of extremists to disrupt efforts on the part of the majority and administration to discuss the issue with the American people reasonably, and have demonstrated an unwillingness to compromise in any way to pass meaningful health care reform;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Lancaster County Democrats urge our members of Congress to vote for such health care reform proposals that contain a robust public option at all stages of the legislative process including conference and reconciliation, and encourage legislators to pass such reform;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Lancaster County Democrats shall send a copy of this resolution to all members of Congress who represent any of our members.