I recently wrote my two Florida Senators regarding the health care bill. I asked if they had read the bill. This was their response:

Dear Mr. Hojnowski:

Thank you for sharing your views on healthcare reform. In the coming months, Congress will deal with a great number of issues critically important to the future of our nation. One of the largest issues is how to reform our system of health care.

I support affordability and access to quality health care. Right now, the costs are too high and too many people don’t have health insurance; the solution can't be worse than the problem. Any attempts at reform should not destroy the high quality of care we have in the United States. Reform elements need to contain costs, preserve access to quality care, and avoid adding to an already overwhelming federal deficit.

I am studying all of the healthcare reform options before the Senate and you can be sure I will make the best decisions I can for the people of Florida and the rest of the nation.

It is an honor and privilege to serve the people of the great State of Florida in the United States Senate. I take great pride in being a native Floridian, and I look forward to the tremendous opportunity to better the lives of all Floridians. I assure you I will work hard to represent our state to the best of my ability in the U.S. Senate. If I can be of any help to you, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely,

George S. LeMieux
United States Senator

Dear Mr. Hojnowski:

Thank you for contacting me about health care reform.

On October 13, I joined a bipartisan majority in the Finance Committee and voted to pass the America's Healthy Future Act of 2009. This bill would allow those who are happy with their insurance keep what they’ve got, including veterans and seniors on Medicare. It also creates state-based exchanges where those without coverage, or those who are unhappy with what they have, can get coverage at an affordable price.

The bill also would hold insurers' feet to the fire, requiring them to cover everyone and preventing them from dropping someone who gets sick. Additionally, it contains several measures aimed at reducing overall medical and prescription drug costs and eliminating waste and fraud in the system.

Among the improvements I added to the bill is a provision that would preserve benefits for an estimated 800,000 Medicare Advantage enrollees in Florida and another provision that would protect tax benefits for seniors who have high medical expenses.

As for a public-option, there were two similar proposals to establish a public insurance plan as part of the health care legislation. I voted for Senator Schumer's plan because I believed it would offer help for consumers through fair competition to private insurers and stood the best chance of final passage. Unfortunately, it was defeated by the committee 13-10. Right after the vote, Senator Schumer promised he’d keep fighting to get his proposal included in the broader health care bill; he’ll have my backing.

The America's Healthy Future Act will now go to the Senate floor, where it will be merged with another bill passed by the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee earlier this year. I am hopeful that a final bill will pass by the end of the year. Regardless of where anyone stands on the specifics, I think we all can agree that the system we have can be unfair and too costly, and needs reform. Again, I appreciate hearing from you on this important issue. Please don't hesitate to contact me in the future.

Sincerely,
Senator Bill Nelson

I guess I know how I will be voting next election cycle.