The Colorado House has abandoned legislation that would have laid the groundwork for a statewide single-payer health care system, the AP/Denver Post reports. State Rep. John Kefalas (D) said on Wednesday the bill was introduced to aid the estimated 800,000 uninsured state residents, as well as those who are underinsured. The bill would have established a central health care authority, headed by a 23-member board of directors, to create the single-payer system.

Kefalas said he asked his colleagues to terminate the bill because he did not have enough votes to pass it. According to the AP/Post, the program would have cost more than $1.4 million over the next two years and would have been financed with gifts, grants and donations. Kefalas said he might try to pass the bill again in 2010. He said, "The progress made demonstrated broad agreement about the need for meaningful health care reform that guarantees quality, affordable care for all Coloradans" (AP/Denver Post, 4/15).