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Local health care reform advocates put pressure on Ross

By Amy Riggin/OF THE COMMERCIAL STAFF
Wednesday, July 22, 2009 9:01 PM CDT

Local health care reform advocates are among many in recent days who are pushing U.S. Rep. Mike Ross, D-Ark., to support legislation backed by President Barack Obama’s administration.

Last week Health Care for America Now (HCAN) and Arkansas ACORN announced the release of a new TV ad asking Ross to reconsider his opposition, along with a report from HCAN outlining “significant health disparities witnessed by minorities, a large constituency in Southern Arkansas.”

Conservative House Democrats signaled on Wednesday that Congress is far from fulfilling Obama’s goal of overhauling health care, just hours before the president planned another televised appeal to lawmakers to get the job done.

“We are making progress; however, we have a long way to go,” Ross, chairman of the Blue Dog health care task force, said in a statement.

He said they would continue to work with the administration and Democratic leaders on legislation they can ultimately support.

“Congressman Ross represents a part of this state that is populated by a huge proportion of minorities,” said Candis Collins, director of the Arkansas chapter of HCAN. “Our current health care system has left people in Southern Arkansas lacking access to adequate health care, creating wide disparities in the health of minorities.”

Collins went on to say that Ross has been “a consistent leader in fighting for the best interests” of his constituents.

“We are releasing this advertisement asking him to reconsider his opposition to historic health care reform and ensure that all Arkansans have access to quality, affordable health care,” she said.

HCAN’s report says minorities in Arkansas’ Delta live shorter lives and suffer from poorer health. They experience higher infant mortality rates, are more likely to be uninsured, have lower quality care, are less likely to have primary care physicians and have less access to standard tests, procedures and drugs, regardless of income.

“We must make significant improvements to our health care system to increase access to services for rural and minority Arkansans,” said Maxine Nelson, Jefferson County chair of ACORN. “Current legislation in Congress would do just that and this advertisement is part of our efforts to encourage Congressman Ross to support that bill.”

Obama’s timetable of votes in the House and Senate before Congress’ August recess is slipping as moderate and conservative Democrats — the so-called Blue Dog Democrats — demand additional cost savings.

These fiscally conservative Democrats on the Energy and Commerce Committee — the last of three House panels still working on legislation — huddled with Chairman Henry Waxman, D-Calif., and a senior administration official Wednesday.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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