Vermont lawmakers head back to D.C. to tackle health care

(NECN: Anya Huneke) – Vermont’s congressional delegation has headed back to the nation’s capital to get back to business, with health care reform a top priority. All three support the President’s plan, including the public option. As Independent Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders headed to his gate at the Burlington International Airport Tuesday, he was greeted by a sign-bearing crowd. Their support is for Sanders’ work on health care reform, which advocates hope he will continue as Congress comes back into session this week. Lawmakers are hitting the ground running- with health care at the top of the agenda, and a speech from President Barack Obama scheduled for Wednesday night. Sanders – who held spirited town hall meetings on the issue this summer – says based on what he’s heard, reform is urgently needed. Sen. Bernie Sanders\(I) Vermont: “I received hundreds of emails from Vermonters telling me their experiences with healthcare today- it makes you cry- it does. It’s extraordinarily disturbing to see people say their brother died because he went to the doctor too late.” Rep. Peter Welch\(D) Vermont: “Americans know health care needs improvement.” Democratic Congressman Peter Welch outlined his intentions before he boarded the same flight to D.C. Tuesday– to fight to get a bill through the house that does three things: regulates insurance companies, extends coverage to tens of millions of Americans, and offers a public option. Welch: “I’m a strong supporter of a public option– I believe it’s a useful tool in keeping insurance companies honest.” As Vermont’s congressional delegation heads back to Washington members know they’ll face some strong opposition to the president’s proposal– especially the public option- which Sanders and Welch both worry will be dropped from the plan. Whether they would support a bill without a government-run plan- neither would say. They’ll wait to hear the president’s message. Welch hopes Obama will take the opportunity to clarify what isn’t in the bill, including so-called death panels and coverage for illegal immigrants. Welch: “Much of the opposition to health care is to a bill that doesn’t exist.” There’s also opposition among special interest groups with deep pockets, sanders says, who seek to deprive this country of something it desperately needs.