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John McCain’s Town Hall Meeting – August 26, 2009

John McCain's Town Hall Meeting - Aug 26, 2009

A very passionate crowed attended John McCain’s town hall meeting held at the North Phoenix Baptist Church.  Even while waiting for the doors to open for seating, people became engaged in discussion with others about the bill and other political concerns facing the US today.

The pastor of the church welcomed everyone and said a prayer for all.  Betsy Bayless, CEO of Maricopa Integrated Health System gave a brief speech and introduced Senator John McCain, who received a standing welcome.  After giving his thank you’s and covering the etiquette of town hall meetings, he started his introduction into the health care issue when a woman in the crowd started yelling out comments and Senator McCain politely asked her to be quiet or leave.  She was escorted out while the crowd applauded.  I was sitting only a few seats from her and couldn’t understand a word she said, so other than creating a public display, she did nothing to further her personal cause.

The meeting continued, with no further outbreaks, no riots, not even one picket sign that I could see.  Individuals were allowed to speak, often with the crowds’ applause.  Depending on which side of the fence they spoke on, they might also have faced a mixed response with applause and booing, but all remained civil. One young lady voiced her concerns on government spending and how it will affect her grandchildren, and told Senator McCain to give her 10 minutes of his time and she could tell him how to fix it.  She was about 10 years old and you have to give her a lot of credit for speaking up.  Maybe a political career is in her future!

Senator McCain showed the Senate bill, the equivalent of House bill.  He did not go into many details about the bill, but did state there are earmarks in the bill, one of which covers union pensions.  He said we have the highest quality health care in the world and we need to preserve it and make it affordable.  He stated the spending going on in the government today is generational theft and we cannot continue to expand without the ability to pay for it.

He shared the Congressional Budget Office reports which indicated the president and democrat’s bill expands government, does nothing to decrease medical costs, and will in fact increase costs over time instead of decrease them.  He indicated the Mayo Clinic also spoke out against the bill indicating it misses the opportunity and does the opposite of what was intended.  He also stated the drug companies made a deal with the White House.

Like the House, the Senate has some alternative bills, which resemble a similar philosophy to those by the House.  They include keeping patient choice, providing tax incentives for individuals and families who purchase insurance outside an employer-based plan, would create new risk pools to insure the high risk population (pre-existing conditions or chronic illness), would make health savings accounts more affordable, would support wellness and fitness programs and would allow the sale of insurance policies to cross state lines.

Whether you agree with the bill, or disagree with it, some very strong emotions and concerns are surfacing.  After the meeting adjourned, there was a heated debate in the hallway, with the man opposing the bill asking the man for the bill if he had read it.  The answer was no.

After attending several of these town hall meetings I have noticed some consistencies.  Those who are speaking up in opposition of the bill are usually older (meaning over 40), in the military, or currently have insurance with a health issue and are afraid of losing their coverage.  Those who are speaking up for the bill are usually younger, without insurance or with a pre-existing or chronic illness and no coverage; they believe a government option is the only way for them to obtain insurance.  There is one glaring difference – many who oppose the bill have read the bill – those for the bill have not.  If you are for the bill and haven’t read the bill, then you are no better than those members of Congress who pass bills without actually reading what is in them.

John Shadegg’s 2^nd Town Hall onAugust 25, 2009

Rep. John Shadegg - Phoenix Town Hall, Aug 25, 2009

AZ-Rep. John Shadegg held his 2^nd of 3 Town Hall meetings last night in Phoenix, Arizona.  There was a good turn out, not quite filling the high school auditorium with people from all ages and backgrounds, including some from other districts because their representatives were not holding town hall meetings.  Everyone was welcome and encouraged to speak freely, but maintain the respect of others.  There were no protestors, not even one picket sign from any point of view.  Two state representatives, Carl Seel and Sam Crump, also made an appearance at the meeting.

Unlike Shadegg’s first town hall meeting, many of the attendees seemed to already be familiar with H.R. 3200 as there were few questions directly relating to specifics in the bill.  Rep. Shadegg introduced his alternative bill, H.R. 3218, which I have previously covered.

One of the concerns expressed was; “Is H.R. 3200 constitutional?” – that is still questionable.  Tom Coburn of Oklahoma has introduced a bill, Enumerated Powers Act (Introduced in Senate) S 1319, which would require Congress to specify the source of authority under the United States Constitution for the enactment of laws.  Some Congressmen, including Rep. Shadegg, are asking that question – what authority under the US Constitution allows for the enactment of this bill?

A small number of people expressed their support of a public option, and most of those individuals either had no insurance or a pre-existing condition or chronic illness.  They felt the only way for them to get insurance coverage was through a government option.  They were not concerned how this bill might affect anyone else, they were just thinking about their own situation.  Even though other options were explained to them, they seemed to want what they considered an easy solution in the form of a government option and remained clueless or didn’t comprehend the alternatives.  They just didn’t seem to want to take responsibility for their own health care.

There was a concern voiced about the possible involvement of the insurance industry’s role in the creation of the bill, as it expands the restrictions of ERISA.  ERISA applies to all group insurance policies and limits the responsibility of the insurance company even if they willfully deny coverage that results in death.  The case of Corkran v United Health Care was the case sited, in which the Corkran family lost their baby at birth due to United Health Care’s refusal to authorize treatment prescribed by Mrs. Corkran’s doctor.  Through discovery it was found that United Health Care’s doctor agreed with Mrs. Corkran’s doctor, but treatment had still been denied.  The Corkran’s could collection nothing for their loss.  Did the insurance companies agree to cover pre-existing conditions and chronic illnesses in exchange for this protection?  How will ERISA affect your treatment or ability to receive proper treatment?

Discussion and questions took place on the alternative bill, H.R. 3218, which provides insurance to all Americans through the enrollment of their choice with no government takeover.  Through new pooling mechanisms and tax credits, individuals would be able to make their own decisions and choices on health insurance policies.  If you like your company-offered plan you can keep it.  If you don’t, or are not insured, then you would be given tax credits to purchase a plan for you and your family.

One clarification on the H.R. 3218 plan that had not been previously addressed was covering the person who didn’t purchase a plan.  People are known.  If you have ever had a social security number the government knows you exist.  If an individual failed to respond and did not purchase insurance then money equivalent to the credit would be deposited into a fund.  If one of these individuals visited an emergency room or doctors office, information could be obtained from a national data bank and determine if they were one of these individuals.  If so, treatment would be made under this fund and they would be offered the option of enrolling in a plan of their choice.

Rep. Shadegg also stated he has previously submitted a “Patients Bill of Rights” as well as an amendment enacted in 2006, the “State High Risk Pool Funding Extension Act of 2006.”  This act allows states, with the use of federal funds, to create state high risk pools.  Some states never responded.

The Improving Health Care For All Americans Act
H.R.3218

Health care in America can be reformed to make health care services more affordable, more personal, and ensure all Americans, including the sick, those with pre-existing conditions, and those who cannot afford the cost of health care, receive the care they need. Unfortunately, most of the talk in Washington has been centered on giving more control to government at the expense of patients and their doctors.

The Improving Health Care For All Americans Act takes a radically different approach: it puts American families back in control. It provides bottom-up health care reform, not top-down government control. This plan controls cost, and expands choice, access, and portability in health care.

MAJOR PROVISIONS:

If you like what you have, you can keep it. Americans with employer-provided care can keep it without any change. Approximately 83% of Americans like the health care they currently have. Our bill seeks to first do no harm. Unlike other proposals, our bill will NOT tax your employer-sponsored plan to pay for a government takeover of health care. Every American who has employer-provided care now, and likes it, may choose to keep it and keep the tax exclusion on employer-provided health benefits they currently have. Alternately, they may choose to take a tax credit to purchase a new health care plan that best fits their needs from an expanded list of pooling mechanisms sponsored by groups such as alumni associations, service clubs and other organizations. If you like what you have, you can keep it.

NOTE: Under the Democrats’ proposal, every policy in America will have to change within five years to conform to the one-size-fits-all “standards” set by the new Health Benefits Advisory Committee (Sec. 123 of H.R. 3200).

Americans who don’t have employer-provided care (or those who don’t like the care they have) may buy their own plan on the same tax-advantaged basis as employer-provided coverage. Americans who pay income taxes may buy a plan of their choice and get a dollar for dollar reduction in their tax bill up to $2500 for individuals and $5000 per family. Americans who don’t pay income taxes will get the same amount from the government to buy a policy of their choice. This will ensure that all Americans, rich or poor, can get affordable, quality coverage of their choice. They will control their health care.

NOTE: Under the Democrats’ plan, compulsion and penalties are used to force Americans in to a plan not of their choosing. The bill has employer mandates (Sec. 311), and penalties (Sec. 313), individual mandates (Sec. 301), and penalties (Sec. 401), compliance audits and enforcement bureaucracies (Sec. 142). Compulsion does not work. The Improving Health Care For All Americans Act assists and incentivizes every American to get covered.

Expanded options for the purchase of low-cost health care from new pooling mechanisms. Today the only health insurance pool available to Americans is their employer’s pool. Small businesses cannot get the cost savings available to big businesses and individuals can’t get into any pool to control costs at all. The Improving Health Care For All Americans Act dramatically expands the insurance pools Americans can choose to join by allowing churches, alumni associations, trade associations, and other civic groups to set up new insurance pools and offer affordable health care packages to their members. This will make health care more affordable and portable while not locking individuals into staying at a job simply to keep their health coverage. Families should not be forced to choose between leaving their employer and having health care.

NOTE: The Democratic plan creates one new option – a government-subsidized, government-controlled and government-run bureaucracy (Sec. 221). The Improving Health Care For All Americans Act creates literally hundreds, if not thousands, of new alternatives.

I attended the Town Hall Meeting of Rep. John Shadegg in Scottsdale, Arizona on August 8, 2009. Amazing enough, there were no mobs – only a crowd of very concerned American citizens. They were there to ask questions and get answers to the most important legislation in history – the National Healthcare Reform package.

The turn out was much more than anticipated, filling all the seats in the cafeteria as well as any available area inside the building for standing, with even more people standing outside. In Arizona in August this is quite a turnout as temperatures are well over 100 degrees. The crowd remained courteous and respectful to Rep. John Shadegg, as well as all who presented their questions, whether for or against the proposed plan. It was pleasure to start the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance, the meaning many people in this country seem to have forgotten. Only one television station was present at the beginning of the meeting.

Rep. Shadegg had the democratic healthcare bill and the amendments with him and referenced it as needed. He stated he has read the bill and showed the annotations and comments he made on his copy. He explained how the proposed plan would affect American citizens.

He also showed and explained the Republican alternative plans, that unlike HR3200, offered an alternative that would not destroy what is currently working, would allow people to keep their current plans, would offer alternative purchasing options to those who don’t have or don’t like their current plans, would ensure people with pre-existing could get coverage, gives a tax credit to help offset the cost of healthcare insurance if it is not employer paid – and most important – GIVES THE PEOPLE THE CHOICE AND CONTROL OVER THEIR HEALTH!

The floor was opened to questions asked in calm and intelligent manners, with no one becoming disruptive. Even when one group came in with their signage against John Shadegg, the group simply continued on; no fighting broke out.

The answers confirmed many of fears people have about the democratic plan, despite the fact that the president still insists these are false. Has the president read the plan? Most disturbing is that even if you have coverage now, you won’t be able to keep that coverage as it stands today because it will be forced to change, everyone will be forced to purchase one of these plans or be penalized if they don’t, the government will decide what plan you get and what treatment you may or may not receive, the Medicare Advantage plan is being dropped, the plan leads to rationing of care, and if you happen to be in your golden years or if you or a family member has a serious illness you may not be able to receive treatment but will be given “end of life” counseling based on the governments decision – not yours, your families and your doctor’s decision. You will also not be able to sue your insurance company for any wrongdoing, whether it be accidental or intentional – PERIOD.

This insurance option is so well received by the Democratic Party that when it was suggested they participate in the same plan they rejected it. I heard that one democratic represented said “I wouldn’t give this plan to my dog.” Government employees and government officials will NOT be participating in this plan – they will keep their elitist plans, and they CAN sue their insurance company for wrongdoing.

Even though the meeting was only scheduled for 1 ½ hours, Rep. Shadegg wanted to give everyone the opportunity to speak, so he held the meeting over for an additional hour or more. When I left he was still fielding questions privately with the audience. Rep. Shadegg respected all those who attended, was straightforward in his answers and is a representative Arizona can be proud of.

I will be posting more on the plans in another blog.

Standing Room Only at Rep. John Shadegg's Town Hall Meeting