Last week, four Snohomish County representatives, Marko Liias (WA-21st), John McCoy (WA-38th), Mary Helen Roberts (WA-21st) and Mike Sells (WA-34st), wrote a letter of support for a public option in healthcare reform to Unites States Congressman Rick Larsen (2nd).

“We write to express our enthusiastic support for the inclusion of a strong public option in the health care reform bill presently being debated in the House. As state legislators, we would be remiss if we did not voice our opinions on the current debate,” the letter states. “A strong public option is a critical fallback for the many different groups that would be covered under the reform plan.”

They go on to say, “The implementation of a strong public option would create incentives for insurance companies to charge competitive rates and become more efficient. Lower prices and better efficiency would benefit everyone, including those that presently have health insurance. In addition, the competition created by a strong public option would incentivize insurance plans to focus more on primary care and preventative medicine, leading to improved health outcomes and better care.”