Sticks figures for health care reform.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid announced on Monday that the health care reform bill that he brings to the floor of the senate will include a public option.

Thank  you Senator Reid for reading my letter and giving us the public option back.

Give us a public option.

Dear Senator Reid,

Last Tuesday, the Senate Finance Committee passed a health care reform bill that does not include a public option. By Thursday, an article in the Union Leader (Manchester, NH) highlighted NH Senator Shaheen’s hesitancy to support this bill.  But with unemployment rising last month in New Hampshire to 7.2 percent, to 13.3 percent in your own state of Nevada and the economic recovery barely sputtering to life, we can’t afford to wait.

Currently, those lucky enough to be employed are beholden to their employers for affordable health coverage. With a public option, citizens could fuel an entrepreneurial swell of new, creative businesses while freeing up much needed jobs across the country, and they could do so without risking their own health and wellbeing.

I am in strong support of the Senate HELP Committee bill, which does include a public option and is the result of Senator Chris Dodd’s efforts, and draws upon decades of work by the late Senator Ted Kennedy.

For the health of Americans and our economy I implore you to include this public option in the healthcare reform bill brought to the floor of the Senate.