In today's edition of Politico's The Arena, SEIU Secretary-Treasurer Anna Burger comments on what can be done about the nation's economic policy:

If there is a power vacuum, the new Administration and Congress are working fast to fill it. Already President-elect Obama and Members of Congress have shown they're serious about fixing the economic crisis--by taking serious steps toward fixing America's health care system. We cannot fix our economy without fixing our health care system. President-elect Obama's first cabinet appointment of widely regarded "health care champion" Tom Daschle as HHS secretary is one sign. Montana Senator Max Baucus's "Call to Action" is another.

And it looks like Americans are with them. Voters cite health care reform as their number one economic issue. Businesses leaders testify that our failed health care system threatens economic competitiveness in a global economy--a world where other nations do not put the price of health care on their products.

As Senator Baucus recently said, the cost of inaction is greater than the cost of reform. If we want to fill the vacuum and fix the economy, it's time to fix health care.

More responses from 'policymakers and opinion shapers' on Politico here.