Backbencher of the Week

This week I finally get to recognize one of my favorite members of Congress because this week's Backbencher of the week is Rep. Dennis Kucinich(D-OH-10).  I initially voted for Kucinich in the 08 Iowa Caucus before switching to Obama in the 2nd round of voting.  My initial support for Kucinich was because he supported an immediate withdrawal from Iraq and was the only supporter of a single payer health care system.

Congress is in the midst of the big health reform debate.  Two House committees and a Senate committee passed a health reform bill.  One of those committees was the House Education and Labor Committee; which Kucinich belongs to.  During the mark-up of the bill, Kucinich proposed an amendment that would allow states to create their own single payer systems.  Kucinich's amendment passed 25-19-2.  If the amendment stays in the bill through all the stages the U.S. may be on the way to some form of a single payer.

For gaining a small but necessary victory for single payer health care Dennis Kucinich is this week's Backbencher of the Week.  Congratulations Rep. Kucinich.