As many of you know, I have written extensively on CT's SustiNet program, which was slated to include a common sense, robust public option to compete with the bloodsuckers at Aetna and CIGNA. During the campaign for governor, Dannel Malloy indicated his clear support for SustiNet, but when Aetna CEO Mark Bertolini started whining and threatening from his mountainside hot tub, Malloy's true colors were revealed.
SustiNet, the best chance for a public option in the entire United States, is now dead, according to the CT Mirror. I refuse to call what's left SustiNet, because SustiNet without a public option is not SustiNet at all:
The Malloy administration and Democratic legislative leaders have reached an agreement on the proposed SustiNet state-run health plan, with a deal that calls for opening the state employee health plan to municipalities and some nonprofits, but not for offering insurance to the public.
Lesson learned? If you want a public option, vote for real progressives, like Ned Lamont. Remember what happened when Ned lost the Senate race? We got Joe Lieberman (D-Aetna), who killed the national public option. Now, we see, that electing Malloy over Lamont as the Democratic candidate for governor also meant death to the public option.
Malloy, you are a sell-out and should be absolutely ashamed. Enjoy your dinner and drinks on Aetna...
Where does this leave those of us who still envision real reform? California and Vermont: let's do all we can to support single-payer California One Care and Green Mountain Care programs.
Last, but not least, thanks to Wendell Potter for telling us months ago that this would happen if public option supporters were not beyond aggressive in supporting SustiNet.
So, I don't know -- was this Malloy selling us out to Aetna? Was it progressives not fighting hard enough? Seems to me to be a mix of both, but I won't place too much blame on progressives for this outcome -- Malloy changed his story three times in three weeks as to why he was opposing SustiNet, and he viciously deceived us during the campaign. Again, shame on you...