Perhaps a better question is, "Did the opt-out idea begin in my shower?" Like so many ideas, this one came to me in the shower. After drying off, I told my wife about this new idea I had about healthcare reform. Her response as usual was, "So, what are you going to do about it?" She knows that I am very good at coming up with ideas, but not so good at acting on them.
First some background. Although my ID is edinphx, I now live in Portland, Maine. I'm a retired pilot, currently working as an aviation/aerospace consultant, mostly for government agencies (NASA, FAA, NOAA, etc.) I came to know Senator Snowe and members of her staff back in 2005 when I was retained by Gov. Baldacci to help win Maine's fight to save three military bases from closure during the latest BRAC round. During that effort, I spent several months working with the entire Maine delegation, and their staffs, as the primary number-cruncher. We were successful in saving two out of three bases from the chopping block.
Let me say that have the highest regard for Senator Snowe, though I disagree with her on many issues. I'd like to think that our BRAC success gives me some special access to the senator, but it really doesn't. However, I do feel comfortable walking down to her local office and chatting with members of her staff.
My interest in health care reform is that of a concerned citizen who believes that you shouldn't have to be over 65 (as I am) to have access to affordable healthcare. Earlier this summer, I signed up as a volunteer with the MSEA/SEIU 'Change That Works' Campaign. To be fair, I haven't done as much as I should. I hosted a house party and attended a few health care reform rallies, standing in the pack cheering and waving signs. I also pay regular visits to my senators' and representative's local offices.
It was in early August when I dropped by Senator Snowe's office to make my case for a strong public option. I met with her top staffer, Cheryl Leeman, who listened to my concerns, took copious notes, and told me that Senator Snowe strongly supports health care reform but doesn't support the public option except as a last resort. I expressed my personal admiration for the senator and my thanks for her hard work for the people of Maine (all true). But, I respectfully argued that in pursuing the trigger option, the senator could give the appearance of caving in to the health insurance industry. I urged her to think seriously about finding another way to maintain her cherished independence while supporting the public option from the start. As you know, that never went anywhere.
Several days passed and I kept trying to think of some clever way to convince Senator Snowe to switch positions. Then, it came to me in the middle of a shower, "Why not turn her trigger plan on it's head?" Instead of introducing the public option only in states where private plans fail, why not start with a national public option and allow individual states to opt out by legislative action or referendum. This would give most of us the confidence that we would have the PO, yet allow conservative senators to boast that they are fighting to "keep the guvment out of our healthcare" in their home state.
So, I made another appointment with Cheryl Leeman. We spent nearly an hour talking about my opt-out idea. My goal was to convince the senator to modify her trigger option into one that would work better for her and for the American people. Cheryl admitted that she thought it sounded like a great idea and she promised to pass it on to the DC office that afternoon. I kept my fingers crossed. Once again ... nothing but a standard response letter stating her support of the trigger option.
Meanwhile, I tried talking up the idea with some of the local HCR organizers, including Alec Maybarduk, local organizer for the Change That Works Campaign. I told him about the opt-out idea and about my meeting with Cheryl Leeman. Alec liked the idea enough to bring it up (unknown to me) with the DC legislative team during their next conference call. Apparently, someone in that group thought it was an idea worth pursuing. I don't know what happened next. I assumed the idea was dead until I started reading about it on DKos several weeks later. Was someone else pursuing the same idea on a separate thread? Who knows? Either way, I'm glad the idea is catching on. I only wish I could convince Senator Snowe to sign on.
I'm not writing this because I seek any recognition ... that's not my style. I'm more than happy to be the number-cruncher in the back room. However, it sure would be nice to know what really happened so I can go back to my wife and tell her, "This time I did act on one of my ideas ... and it's making a difference." So, if anyone reading this has any knowledge about how the opt-out provision made it's way through Capitol Hill, would you mind sharing it with us?
Thanks ... I think I'll go take a shower.