**STAFF UPDATE**Congressman Garamendi is boarding a plane back to the district. He will be able to answer additional questions this week. Thank you for participating everyone.
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Greetings Kossaks. With everyone’s attention focused on health care reform this week, I wanted to make myself available to you today for the hour to discuss health care policy or anything else that is on your mind.
First, an introduction: I served eight years as California’s first elected State Insurance Commissioner, where I authored a health care bill that cleared the legislature that would have insured almost every Californian if signed into law. It became a primary model for President Bill Clinton’s 1991 health care reform proposal. I also served as the chair of the California State Senate Health Committee, where one of my proudest accomplishments was a bill that expanded community clinic access to millions of unserved and underserved Californians. I am a long time supporter of single-payer health care and think every American deserves access to Medicare.
More over the flip...
Since I arrived in the House of Representatives, I have vigorously fought for a comprehensive health care reform bill that includes strong affordability language and a robust public option. I was one of the first signatories of the Polis-Pingree letter calling on the Senate to pass a public option through reconciliation.
I was also proud to help author legislation by Representatives Perriello and Markey that removed the health insurance industry’s monopoly protections. I was particularly active in public and private conversations in making sure that there were no loopholes inserted into the bill that would allow the industry to continue price fixing.
Below are two recent videos that will give you a sense of where I stand on health care reform, and I look forward to answering your questions.
--John Garamendi