City Room™ - Politics - Burris Critical of Senate Health Care Bill

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City RoomTM Public Affairs coverage from our award-winning staff

Burris Critical of Senate Health Care Bill
Produced by Sam Hudzik on Tuesday, November 03, 2009

Burris talks to reporters Monday at Stroger Hospital. (WBEZ/Sam Hudzik)

Illinois U.S. Senator Roland Burris is criticizing a compromise version of a government-run health insurance plan. Democratic leadership is expected to include that measure in healthcare legislation.

Burris says he'll only vote for what he's calling a "strong public option" that he says would lower costs and boost the accountability of insurance companies. The Chicago Democrat says Senator Harry Reid's proposal to let states opt-out of the government plan presents complications.

BURRIS: That would mean that the state legislatures would pass a law that would then determine whether or not they'd be a part of the plan, and I know how insurance companies work.

Clarifying what he meant by that, Burris brought up concerns that insurance lobbyists and campaign donations could influence state politicians.

Democrat leaders are unlikely to need Burris' vote to pass healthcare legislation, but they may need it to avoid a filibuster from Republicans, most of whom oppose any government insurance plan. Burris is declining to say if he'd vote to stall a bill he doesn't agree with.

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