Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
2. How have you learned about all of the provisions in this bill?
5. What changes in that bill have caused the Blue Dogs to now support
it?
6. Do you agree with all of those changes? If not, which do you not agree
with?
8. The Joint Committee on Taxation has estimated that the Health Care
Proposals would have no impact on 96% of small business owners
(Center for Budget and Policy Priorities). Given that the committee
never provides the basis for their estimates, and given that a majority
of Democrats make up the Committee, is it not true that this assertion
is a politically derived one, and not one based on facts?
10. The costs of this plan over the next 10 years have been estimated at
over $1 trillion by the Congressional Budget Office and from $1.2 to $6
trillion by independent healthcare research organizations (Lewin
Group, Health Systems Innovation, Brookings Tax Policy Center). This
is supposed to be paid for by a combination of higher income taxes,
new taxes on small business, and cuts in funding for Medicare. In spite
of all that funding, the actual costs are still expected to add over $200
billion to the national debt. How can our weakened financial system
survive yet another new source of burgeoning national debt?
11. Billions of dollars could be saved by tort reform that caps the awards
for malpractice suits. Wouldn’t that money be better spent on paying
to cover the uninsured, than lining the pockets of wealthy lawyers?
Will you demand that tort reform be a part of any bill that you would
vote for?
12. It is clear that the complex rules and many offices and commissions to
administer the Health Care Plan will produce a huge increase in the
size, cost, and bureaucracy of the Federal government. Won’t this just
add to the unproductive real costs of healthcare? When has any
government bureaucracy gotten smaller and more efficient over time?
13. Governors of both parties have said the changes to Medicaid in this
plan will put additional strain on already overwhelmed State budgets.
What will the impact of this plan be on Ohio’s budget?
14. Tracking stimulus money spending is inadequate say many experts [2],
the Recovery.gov website not withstanding. How do you think the
State of Ohio should track Health Care spending, and what specifically
will you advocate to minimize corruption and fraud in the system?
Workability
16. The 1974 Hawaiian experience with Universal Health Care for Children
(which lasted only 7 months) showed that the pool of eligible patients
swelled beyond expectations as people dropped private plans for the
cheaper government plan [6]. If the Government Option is adopted,
don’t you agree that this will happen to the currently debated Health
Care program, and why won’t you oppose such a program?
17. Research about socialized health care plans in Britain, Canada, New
Zealand, and Australia [7] show link after link describing the shortages
of doctors, the long wait times to see specialists (including lotteries in
several countries), and the lower percentages of successful treatment
of common diseases. Why would you support a system that mimics or
duplicates systems with proven (repeat proven) track records of
negatives?
18. Because some believe that costs will be partly managed by reducing
payments to doctors and hospitals, is it not reasonable to expect that
many will leave the medical field or stop offering services, and the net
effect will be longer wait times to see the shrinking pool of remaining
doctors and hospitals? If you do not think this conclusion is
reasonable, explain specifically why it is not?
19. On July 30, the “cash for clunkers” program, after being in operation
only days, was already in trouble by being severely under funded (the
White House was assessing its options) [8] How can you claim that the
government can estimate accurately much less administer a
government controlled Health Care program when it can not accurately
estimate something as small as this cash for clunkers program? If you
say it can, why should we believe you and don’t you worry about your
credibility?
20. News reports indicate that the House bill would make “health care a
right”. Aren’t you concerned about growing government intrusion
beyond what is mandated by the Constitution (Amendment 10) by
conferring a “so-called right”, and if you are not concerned, why not?
Do you support the 10th Amendment of the Constitution?
21. The Health Care Plan gives government officials authority to determine
benefit packages, copayments and deductibles, relative premiums, as
well as health plan expenses and profits. The government would, in
effect, control health insurance, [9] thus adding additional
bureaucracy, inefficient extra costs, and systemic delays. Why can’t
you support an approach which reduces growth in government? Why
would you want even bigger government?
22. The Health Care Bill as currently written, will limit your freedom to
choose what is in the health care plan you “choose” because the
federal government will impose a minimum list of benefits that each
plan is required to offer”.[10] While we understand that certain
standards are required on some issues, what can you suggest different
than the language in the bill, such that companies have more flexibility
in what they offer to people?
23. The Health Care Bill as currently written, has language that mandates
“community rating” which attempts to “level the playing field” but in
reality causes distortions and penalizes young people and gives
discounts to older people, and in fact de-incentivizes healthy living by
not rewarding it.[11] Can you agree here to work against community
rating where such an approach raises costs and discourages healthy
living?
Penalties
25. Subsidies would be available for individuals with incomes within four
times the poverty level ($88,000 for a family of four). Why are the
subsidies set where they are?
26. What will you say if studies after the Health Care Bill is enacted show
that jobs are lowered in your district specifically traced to
implementation of the Bill?
27. Why would you not support a plan or plan features that minimize the
changes that small business owners will have to reduce jobs in order
to afford the mandates in this bill?
29. For those businesses that do survive, these added costs are likely to
result in either slower wage growth or higher prices (and inflation to
others). These cannot be good for the economy, can they?
30. A number of factors can be identified in the Health Care Plan that will
lead to loss of jobs and suppression of job and new business
growth,[13], including rules forcing small companies to restructure to
stay below certain minimums, considerations of paying the 8% penalty
rather than actually providing health care benefits, etc. What do you
say about the potential job losses and what do you advocate changing
in this bill to minimize these job losses?
Uninsured
Medicare
33. I understand that one of the provisions in the health care bill is a $500
billion cut in Medicare benefits. The President justifies these cuts as
“We have to avoid illness and disease in the first place.”
Unfortunately, most prevalent diseases of aging—cancer and heart
disease—are largely caused by genetics and their occurrence increases
with age. These are unavoidable. Given this is such a huge part of the
funding plan won’t the only alternative be rationing care?
34. Various proposals, particularly from the White House, claim so-called
savings from reducing reimbursement rates to doctors serving
Medicare patients. [15], yet doctors are complaining rates are already
too low and many are cutting back on Medicare patients or are leaving
the field by retiring early. Do you agree that reducing doctors already
low reimbursement rates will make shortages and wait times even
worse than they are today, and if not, specifically why not?
35. Since some of the funding comes from cuts in Medicare and Medicaid,
doesn’t this guarantee that the care seniors receive will have to be
reduced? How could it be otherwise?
41. The President has said that if you like your current plan you can keep
it, but the current bill (p.16-17) is written such that changes to your
current plan (altering co-pays, deductibles, or even switching coverage
for this or that drug) will void your plan and you will be forced to the
public health care plan. If choice drives competition, and competition
reduces cost while improving quality, why are we legislating a
monopoly?
Gotcha Questions
42. I understand that Congress wanted to exempt its members from being
forced into the proposed plan. If this plan is so great, why would they
do this? Why would they need to have some different system for
themselves at taxpayer expense? (Reference Question 24).
43. I understand this plan would cover illegal aliens. Why should I be
forced to pay for people who should not be here in the first place? Why
can’t we require proof of citizenship for eligibility, just like a drivers
license? I would not receive free health care if I got sick in some other
country, even if I were there legally. Why should they?
44. Wouldn’t it encourage illegals to return home if they did not receive
free healthcare? And might that not help reduce some of the serious
unemployment problems in this country? Will you oppose a plan if it
includes coverage for illegals?
45. Do you understand that a majority of the people do not support the
plan and will long remember how their Congressman votes on the
issue? Will that have any effect on what you decide to do? If not, why?
(Recent New York Times/CBS poll shows 69% believe their health care
will decline if forced into a government plan but only 33% believe an
overhaul of the current system is required. Source: New York Times,
July 29)
49. I don’t understand why the government cannot just set up a public
plan which people who have no coverage could get into and pay some
of the costs through premiums just like I do. It would be less costly in
total, would help the people who need it, and would allow me to keep
my freedom of choice. Why don’t you support a simple plan like that?
50. This plan would implement a system in which a person’s age is used as
one factor that would determine if some types of care are allowed.
Isn’t that blatant age discrimination and unconstitutional under the
equal protection clause? Are you going to oppose provisions like this?
51. I understand that elective abortions will be covered under this plan.
My religion considers the murder of a child of any age to be a mortal
sin. Since some of my money will ultimately pay for this, I am being
forced into a morally corrupt position of supporting this murder. Isn’t
that a blatant disregard for my basic freedom of religion? Are you
going to oppose any provisions that would cover elective abortions?
Why not?
52. When you call 911 and EMS arrive, they ask for insurance. In the
Obama Health Care plan, how are emergency services covered, who
has to approve them, who reimburses who?
Research
CBO Cost Analysis
• Costs of expanding Medicaid and maintaining the Children's Health
Insurance Program until it is terminated in 2013; providing subsidies
to help people buy care; associated effects on tax revenues; and
providing tax credits to small employers who provide care: $1.28
trillion. (Source: CBO)
• New costs in Medicare, including for reforming payments to
physicians: About $370 billion. (Source: CBO)
The bill's costs are partially offset by savings and new revenue sources within the health care system
including:
Lawmakers are also proposing new tax increases to pay for the bill:
1
Won't Read Bill but Wants Constitutional Amendment for Free Health Care?!;
http://www.thefoxnation.com/politics/2009/07/30/conyers-introducing-constitutional-
amendment-free-health-care?page=1
2
Details thin on stimulus contracts; http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/techpolicy/2009-05-06-stimulus_N.htm
3
Advocates promised that the Massachusetts plan would make health insurance more affordable, but according to a
Cato study, insurance premiums have been increasing at nearly double the national average: 7.4 percent in
2007, 8 percent to 12 percent in 2008, and an expected 9 percent increase this year. Health insurance in
Massachusetts costs an average of $16,897 for a family of four, compared to a national average of $12,700.
4
Mass. Health Care Reform Reveals Doctor Shortage;
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=97620520
5
Now the state is turning to a variety of gimmicks to try to hold down costs, including possibly cutting payments to
physicians and hospitals by 3-5 percent. However, the Times quotes health reform experts who have studied the
Massachusetts system as warning “the state and federal governments may need to place actual limits on
health spending, which could lead to rationing of care.”
6
Hawaii's Universal Health Insurance Lesson; http://www.iwf.org/news/show/21103.html
7
The Problems with Socialized Health Care; (i.e., trusting politicians and bureaucrats with your health care);
http://www.liberty-page.com/issues/healthcare/socialized.html#nz
8
White House reviewing 'cash for clunkers' program; http://finance.yahoo.com/news/AP-sources-Govt-to-
suspend-apf-3529110957.html?x=0&sec=topStories&pos=1&asset=&ccode=
9
http://keithhennessey.com/2009/07/30/health-care-counterpoint/
10
5 freedoms you'd lose in health care reform;
http://money.cnn.com/2009/07/24/news/economy/health_care_reform_obama.fortune/index.htm
11
5 freedoms you'd lose in health care reform;
http://money.cnn.com/2009/07/24/news/economy/health_care_reform_obama.fortune/index.htm
12
The Coburn amendment would force members of Congress to use ObamaCare.;
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124775489445351881.html
13
Obama Health Care Will Destroy the Job Market and Private Insurance;
http://www.notoriouslyconservative.com/2009/07/obama-health-care-will-destroy-job.html
14
The Uninsured Healthcare Myth; http://freyvsfrey.blogspot.com/2009/07/uninsured-healthcare-myth.html
15
Doctors' Payments Snag Health Bill; http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124801397829262869.html
16
End-of-Life Benefit Ignites Health-Care Rhetoric,
http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/content/jul2009/db20090730_530683.htm
17
McCaughey claims end-of-life counseling will be required for Medicare patients;
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2009/jul/23/betsy-mccaughey/mccaughey-claims-end-life-
counseling-will-be-requi/