The Healthcare Debate: An Activist's Perspective

House lawmakers are set to start their debate on health care coverage today. They'll be considering legislation proposed earlier this week by Speaker Sal DiMasi.

Today's session caps a series of bills, plans and studies released over the past year. At the core of all these efforts is a push to expand access for the estimated half-million people who are uninsured in Massachusetts. The state government is under pressure from a federal government deadline to have a plan to offer coverage to the uninsured by mid-January.

To help us understand what is at stake in the debate we turn to John McDonough, executive director of the consumer advocacy group Health Care for All.