I’m not sure how many people have actually read HR 3200.  It’s a long, tedious and quite boring read-1017 pages (must be why our representatives in Washington don’t read them before they vote)…

Wait, wait,wait…  Check out the title of this document: To provide affordable, quality health care for all Americans and reduce the growth in health care spending, and for other purposes.

What is the “and for other purposes” at the end?  Seriously, if it’s a health care bill shouldn’t it stick to health care?  “Other purposes” should probably go in another bill..  Sorry, a bit of common sense speaking.  Anyway…

Section 1233: Advanced Care Planning Consultation

Ugh.  Dull, dull, dull.  But what it says, in a nutshell, is that it will require senior citizens (age 65 and older) to meet with their doctor every 5 years to discuss living wills, durable powers of attorney, end-of-life services, any life-sustaining treatment orders, and health care proxy.  Of course the bill is littered with “if subject to”s and “striking (K) or inserting (K)” and all kinds of other notations which should tell anyone that lawyers should not be making our laws.  (Oops, sorry, that’s another soapbox.)

Of course this has nothing to do with the fact that the new healthcare bill will cut Medicare and Medicaid- which covers the elderly and infirm.  Hmmm…  If all the old and sickly people die I suppose that would cut our overall health care costs…

I wrote a letter to one of my senators last week:

Senator Grassley:

As I watch from Iowa all the changes that are flying through the House of Representatives and the Senate I am becoming more and more convinced that our politicians have forgotten that our country was founded as a Republic and not a Democracy. It seems that politics within the Beltway has become an “us vs. them” mentality and everything is all or nothing.

I know that you have a history of “crossing the aisle” and working with Chairman Max Baucus. With so much at stake if nationalized health care is passed I hope you will stop and consider the ramifications of a national plan before helping to pass yet another large program that America can not afford.

Americans have yet to feel the sting that the recent Cap & Trade bill will inflict. This act directly void’s the President’s promise to not raise taxes on those making under $250,000 as it will raise the costs, via taxes, on everything from electricity to gasoline to natural gas. Here in Iowa it will raise our already high heating costs exponentially. And will serve very little proven purpose beyond raising money for certain individuals and hedge funds. In fact, nearly every European nation that participated in the Kyoto Protocol has higher emissions today than when the treaty was first signed and many have faster rising emissions than we do here in the United States.

As has already been proven by Hawaii’s attempt to insure every child in their state, which failed in seven months, and Massachusetts’ attempt to provide coverage for every citizen, which has bankrupted the state, government run health care is expensive and unsustainable. I would urge you, sir, to consider all the ramifications of such a bill, thoroughly read the bill and listen to your constituents before voting.

And I, as a person who pays out of pocket for the insurance of her family, would like to keep it that way. Government run programs have a way of costing too much and providing too little (re: Amtrak, U.S. Postal Service, the DMV, Social Security, and many others).

I would have written to Senator Harkin but the last time I contacted his office I was yelled at, told that I couldn’t “expect the Senator to read the entire bill” (I thought that was his job?!?) and hung up on.  Since he’s one of the most liberal senators on the Hill I kind of figured it was fruitless to even try.
Within 36 hours I had a reply, and I think the Senator may have even read my email due to one line in his response- which I have made bold:

Thank you for taking the time to let me know your thoughts and concerns. It’s important for me to hear from you.

Like you, I’m opposed to a government-run health care system. While I am currently in negotiations with Republican and Democratic senators over health care reform, that does not mean I support the creation of a government-run health care system. I am taking part in these negotiations in an effort to try to improve the health care system that will make the current system better, not worse, for employers, employees, individuals and family budgets. It is my fear that without my presence in these pivotal negotiations the legislation that could be passed by the current Congress would be detrimental to patients and taxpayers for many years to come.

Like you, I support a market-based approach that allows people the freedom to choose their health plan while maintaining certain protections to ensure that they are receiving high-quality health care. Putting the government in charge of health care would give the bureaucracy the power to tell you what treatments you can and can’t have and which doctors you can see. Most Iowans tell me that they would rather have control over their own health care instead of Washington making those decisions for them.

As Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Committee, I am working to address the high costs of health care, as well as the growing number of uninsured people in the country today. With the right approach to reform, Congress can drive down health care inflation by reducing waste and inefficiency in the system, making insurance more affordable for everybody, and make sure that everyone can access the system.

I have met with President Obama and leaders in Congress and voiced my concern over the hazards of the federal government increasing its presence in the health care system. A government-run health care plan as part of health care reform would drive costs up, limit individual choice, and negatively affect quality. In fact, when has a government program every saved money?

I will continue to fight against the creation of a government-run health care system as Congress continues debating the subject of health care reform.

Again, I’m glad you contacted me with your concerns. Please keep in touch.

Sincerely,

Chuck

Be sure to let your elected representative know what you want and waht you think.  Do not forget: they work for you.  No matter what they think.  AND IF THEY DON’T WORK FOR YOU MAKE SURE YOU VOTE THEM OUT!  Many are worried right now as congressional elections are every 2 years- and many are coming due.  Just sayin’.