Senate gives initial approval to universal health care

[cali]

MONTPELIER — Sen. Peter Galbraith, D-Windham, ran for the state Senate to be able to support a bill setting Vermont on a course toward a more consolidated health care system guaranteeing coverage to every Vermonter, he said Monday.

“This is a historic day,” Galbraith declared just before he joined 20 other senators to give preliminary approval to the health reform bill.

The 21-8 vote split largely along party lines. One Republican — Sen. Kevin Mullin, R-Rutland — voted with the Democrats and two Democrat/Progressives to support the bill, which Mullin helped write as a member of the Senate Health and Welfare Committee.

One Democrat — Sen. Robert Starr, D-Essex/Orleans — joined the seven Republicans who voted against the measure.

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http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/article/20110425/NEWS03/110425035/Senate-gives-initial-approval-to-universal-health-care?odyssey=tab|mostpopular|text|FRONTPAGE

And yes, that's Ambassador Galbraith (son of JK) who's quoted above. We have some really high caliber folks in the legislature.

[iwishiwas]

1. Lucky state.

[Scuba]

2. The model for America....

...note that physicians are trying to relocate their practices TO Vermont, so as to rid themselves of the hassles associated with for-profit health insurance.

So much for the right-wing meme about single-payer driving docs out of the biz.

[DrDan]

3. Bravo Vermont! Hopefully, once the pendulum begins to swing back to the left,

other states will see the wisdom on display here and follow suit.

One can only hope.

[Melissa G]

4. I wish it was the US senate doing this.

Congrats Vermont!

[cali]

6. I wish we had the caliber of person in the U.S. senate as in the

Vermont Senate.

[cali]

5. 2nd vote in the Senate this afternoon same vote breakdown

the Senate made some changes from the House version so it's on to reconciliation and then final votes in both houses. The Guv will sign the final bill next week.