This might not be news to anyone reading this blog, but we have a big problem with healthcare ‘round these parts.

Too many people are without any coverage, costs are sky rocketing, and businesses are having trouble staying competitive while offering healthcare to their employees.

We need to do something now – and luckily there are three great bills in the legislature aimed at just that. The Bus is supporting several approaches to making sure that Oregonians are healthy, including the Health Kids Plan (HB 2201), the Health Oregon Act (SB 329), and the Oregon Better Health Act (SB 27).

Some Bus volunteers have concerns about a particular provision of SB 27, and rightfully so. It seems like this is a good space to discuss how we go about talking about what we choose to work on, and why. A really good description of this stuff can be found on the Bus website, but I copied it here. Get ready… it is kinda long

“A Vehicle for Hands on Democracy

The Bus Project exists as a vehicle for regular Oregonians to give some precious time towards the public interest. Rather than offering endorsements of a candidate, policy, or event – The Bus drives volunteers towards opportunities to make a substantive impact on the things we choose to support. We have never wanted to spend all of our time at meetings as a debating society, but rather doing work.

Each election year BusPAC volunteers gather to discuss which legislative races are in most need of some grassroots loving. In considering races, volunteers weigh a number of concerns and hopes – including (1) where or not our feet on the street could have a determinative impact, (2) how dedicated the candidates are to the 6 E’s, and (3) a candidate’s commitment to grassroots and the public interest. And in this analysis we don’t, of course, purport to support everything that all of those candidates do. Similarly, the Bus Project facilitates volunteers to engage in 6 E issues that they care about. We don’t claim to support every provision within that legislation.

For example, two of the most important bills this legislative session contain provisions we have serious concerns about. Senate Bill 27, the Oregon Better Health Act, is a bill that takes exciting and important first steps towards fixing our broken health care system. Section 11 sets up a number of committees, including “a subcommittee to make recommendations concerning how to address the issue of medical liability….” While the provision itself does not implement any tort reform, some friends of ours criticize it on the grounds that the ensuing conversation could open the door to limits on access to civil justice. A majority of our convened policy volunteers would prefer the legislation without that provision, and we offer no particular support for that part of the bill.

HB 3540 removes the worst abuses of Measure 37 and ensures fairness for communities, for small landowners, and for Oregon’s taxpayers. The reform package also clears up the valuation confusion by introducing a universal methodology and asking large claimants to prove claims are justified. Unfortunately, claimants can build up to three homes without proving a loss in value, and they can also transfer their rights to new owners, and mot of our volunteers who have weighed in don’t like those portions. But it is clear that we cannot let Measure 37 stand as is, and on balance the Measure 37 reform is worth fighting for.

Quoting Donald Rumsfeld and our affiliate Onward Oregon “We take the bills that we have, not the bills that we might want to or wish to have at a later time.” In supporting candidates and legislation, BusPAC and Bus Project volunteers devote their time with the hope of making Oregon a model to the nation. In doing so, we recognize that the public interest will not often not be best served by the amalgamation of single-issue politics – we may disagree with a candidate’s view on a particular issue or a bill’s particular provision. At the same time, we will work tirelessly to facilitate volunteer-action and a 60% progressive coalition to move Oregon forward.

And we thank you so much for your support on that front.”

And there you have it.
We didn’t write this bill - and like so many bills, we aren’t sure we love everything in it. We really do think it is important we start doing something on health care right now. The legislature is a great place to do it. It gives so many people an opportunity to weigh in so we can get the right bill for all of us.

All we want, is for all Oregonians to be happy and healthy. Kinda like this guy. Well, maybe not exactly like that guy, but you get the idea.