Cantwell backs Wyden health plan

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Story Published: Jul 7, 2008 at 4:13 PM PDT

By Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) - Sen. Maria Cantwell has become a co-sponsor of the Healthy Americans Act, an effort to overhaul the nation's health care system led by Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon.

Cantwell, a Washington state Democrat, says the bill would provide affordable and portable, high-quality health care for virtually every American. With 47 million uninsured Americans, including nine million children, she says Congress cannot sit idly by and hope that the health care crisis will fix itself.

The Healthy Americans Act also is co-sponsored by Sen. Robert Bennett, a Utah Republican. It would replace employer-based health insurance with a system in which the government would require, subsidize and oversee private health care plans that are chosen by individuals.

Cantwell is the 16th senator to co-sponsor the bill.

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