Louise responds
Sunday evening I posted about the Rochester HR676 group gathering signatures to deliver to Congresswoman Slaughter. I posed a question at the end, asking why Louise is not sponsoring the bill. I had poked around with Google trying to find an answer. I still haven’t found one, but in checking the mail which piles up on our counter that night, I did find a response from Louise, herself.
You see, back when I was encouraging everyone to call their Reps, I called Louise and spoke with her office staff. I requested a response as I had with Senators Schumer and Gillibrand. I guess Louise took that seriously, for I received a 3 page letter:
Thank you for contacting me in support of H.R. 676, the United States National Health Care Act. I appreciate your views on this important issue, and certainly agree that all Americans must have access fo affordable health care.
(So far, so good)
While I am sensitive to your concerns, I am not a cosponsor of H.R.676, which establishes a universal health insurance program with single payer financing. This legislation would create a publicly financed, privately delivered health care system that expands the already existing Medicare program.
Ok, so she explains to me what HR676 does, but nowhere is it clear why she doesn’t support it. She goes on to list eight principles for reform:
- Making health care affordable
- Aiming for universality
- Guaranteeing choice
- Protecting families’financial health
- Providing portability of coverage
- Maintaining long term fiscal sustainability
- Improving patient safety and quality care
- Investing in prevention and wellness
To this I say, “Check, check, check, and check.” Each of these principles is consistent with HR676.
This post ends, confused, as it began-
“Why, Louise? You are regarded as the most liberal member of the House. Why are you ignoring the will of your constituents?”
Related posts:
Why? It’s obvious and can be found online. She receives a good chunk of change from the Health Care Industry–enough apparently for her to sell out… I expected more from her as well.
Well, Louise and/or her staff have repeated told health care reform advocates that she doesn’t sponsor legislation that “isn’t going to pass”. OK, fine but what of principle and more importantly what of leadership?
Louise sponsored the Generic Discrimination legislation - 13 years in the making meaning that it didn’t have the votes to pass for 13 years or so.
Louise has an opportunity to lead 3rd most powerful Rep, very safe district - etc etc etc. Instead she is choosing to wait and play it safe.
Imagine Louise holding a town hall meeting and explaining how she arrived at her position on health care.
I imagine Louise can do pretty much whatever she wants and still count on being re-elected every few years until she’s dead.
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