Tester statement on Finance Committee passage of health care reform plan

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – Senator Jon Tester today released the following statement after Senator Max Baucus and the Senate Finance Committee passed a health care reform plan with a bipartisan vote of 14-9:

“No one has worked harder for health care reform than Max, and this is an impressive achievement.  Max always puts Montana first, and Montanans know that we can count on him to look out for rural America and our seniors.

“I want to take this opportunity to congratulate Max and the Senate Finance Committee for their progress on the vital effort to reform the health insurance industry for America’s working families.  This bipartisan vote is a big step forward.

“I have said from the beginning of this debate that we must pass health care reform because the status quo is the worst option for working families.  We need reform in order to reduce costs, preserve patient choice, emphasize prevention and improve access, especially for rural America.  

“As the bill moves to consideration by the full Senate, I am confident the final product will strengthen what currently works in our nation’s health care system and begin to fix what is broken.”