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Nic Swiercek pumped his fist in the air Tuesday night during State Sen. Brenda Council’s speech on the need for a health care overhaul.
After all, he’s a 24-year-old college graduate without health insurance.
“I’ve got thousands of dollars in student loan debt,” he said. “The last thing I need is more debt from unaffordable health insurance.”
Swiercek listened carefully, nodding his head as Sens. Tom White, Jeremy Nordquist and Heath Mello joined Council and former Sen. Dennis Byars in calling for changes in the health care system.
More than 75 people, including a number of young adults, attended the event at Nomad Lounge, sponsored by AARP, the Center for Rural Affairs, Change That Works Nebraska, Nebraska Appleseed Center for Law in the Public Interest and Nebraska Health Care for America Now. Following the senators’ speeches, health overhaul advocates wrote letters to lawmakers and received training on how to urge Congress to act.
“We need something to happen on the federal level,” Swiercek said. “Health care is unaffordable right now. If I have a health care crisis, I have nothing to catch my fall.”
In Congress, proposals from Democrats for health care changes have drawn criticism from Republican lawmakers, who have questioned the cost and effectiveness of Democrats’ plans.
Republicans also have attacked a proposed new government insurance plan, often called the public option. Supporters say it would exert some control over health care costs by providing competition.
Critics say such a national plan is nothing more than an expensive, heavy-handed government takeover of health care.
White, Council, Nordquist and Mello are all Democrats. But Byars, a Republican, said it’s ridiculous for political affiliations to play a part in this issue.
“This should be a nonpolitical situation,” he said. “It’s about the benefit of the people. Every single person in this country deserves affordable health care.”
Contact the writer:
444-1336, leia.mendoza@owh.com
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