U.S. congressional candidate Dennis McDonald announced Monday that he backs a single-payer health care plan. His stance is not only at odds with many Republicans, but also some elected officials in his own party. Montana Sen. Max Baucus, who is spearheading reform in the U.S. Senate, has been lukewarm at best to the single-payer option. And many Democratic committee leaders are looking at a plan that would compete with, but not eliminate, private health insurance.
For McDonald, that’s not enough. From a press release:
Melville, Mont. – US Congressional candidate Dennis McDonald is today announcing his support for a single-payer health care plan. Over 100 million Americans are uninsured or underinsured, and when coupled with the high costs of health care it is clear that we can delay no longer in enacting comprehensive health care reform.
There is overwhelming public support for a single payer plan here in America. And as families continue to struggle financially across Montana, providing relief from high health care costs is a priority for McDonald.
According to McDonald, “Families in Montana are struggling, and right now we have the chance to seize on health care reform that will ensure everyone has access to the medical care they deserve. The rumors that we cannot afford a single payer plan are false, rather, what we cannot afford is further delay.”
McDonald, chair of the Montana Democratic Party, is hoping to unseat Rep. Denny Rehberg, R-Mont., in 2010.