Repealing Obamacare

Liberal propaganda tends to follow a mantra that is handed down by the White House or the DNC, and once put into circulation is repeated by every Democrat in the government and liberal in the news media until it is so overused it becomes meaningless. A good example from a few years ago is "mean-spirited." A current example is going to be "extremist."

On the health care front, a common tactic is to trash the American medical system in favor of Canada's or England's socialized medical systems, which are paraded as the greatest in the world. It may look that way to a socialist, but when you realize that everyone in Canada who can afford it, comes to America for treatment, it begins to paint a different picture. The inefficiency of the Canadian system is clearly seen in the death of Actress Natasha Richardson, whose injury need not have been life threatening, but only became so because she couldn't get immediate help.

Another example from England is Margaret Hutchon, who was a former National Health Service director. She had been waiting since last June for a follow-up stomach operation at a hospital where she was a member of the board of directors. The surgery had been put off four times until she became so weak that when she finally had the surgery she died. Even her position on the board couldn't help speed up her treatment.

I recently sent a letter to Missouri Senator Claire McCaskill concerning repealing Obamacare. In response I received the e-mail below. It illustrates just how out of touch with reality liberals really are, and how deceptive they are in their explanations. When McCaskill claims that repealing Obamacare would kick "young people" off their parent's health coverage, she fails to point out that she's not talking about teenagers. No, she's talking about 25 year-olds who should have their own jobs and their own healthcare plans. When she complains that repealing Obamacare would cause the already insured to cover the costs of the uninsured who show up in emergency rooms, she fails to explain that Obamacare will do the same thing. Where do you think the government gets the money to cover the costs of the uninsured? From the insured!

My reply to the Senator's explanation of her position is at the bottom. It is not lengthy, neither does it address every issue she raises, nor does it need to. Liberal agendas are easily defeated by the truth, and the cost of Obamacare alone is enough to relegate it to a garbage scow headed out to sea.

April 1, 2011
Dear Reverend Patterson,

Thank you for contacting me regarding the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. I appreciate hearing from you and welcome the opportunity to respond.

As you may know, on January 5th, 2011, Representative Eric Cantor introduced H.R. 2, the "Repealing the Job-Killing Health Care Law Act". The bill would completely repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (H.R. 3590), which was signed into law by the President last year. The House passed H.R. 2 and Senator Mitch McConnell offered the bill in the Senate as an amendment to the Federal Aviation Administration authorization bill. The amendment failed to win passage.

I opposed this amendment. Repealing the Affordable Care Act would, among many other things: significantly increase our federal deficit; allow health insurance companies to once again have free rein to deny Missourians coverage based on pre-existing conditions; kick young people off their parent's health coverage; leave those already insured to shoulder the costs of "free riders" who show up in emergency rooms without healthcare coverage; and let healthcare costs continue to skyrocket in a way that bankrupts families, businesses and our government alike.

You should know, however, that I am and always have been open to making improvements to the Affordable Care Act, a bill that was produced after hundreds of hours of debate and that incorporated ideas from both sides of the aisle. In fact, moments before the vote on the healthcare repeal amendment, I joined my Republican and Democratic colleagues in passing an amendment to remove a burdensome 1099 tax reporting requirement included in the healthcare law. I am also open to proposals to remove what is commonly referred to as the "mandate" in the health reform bill, so long as those proposals would produce a system that retains the ability to end discrimination by health insurance companies against persons with pre-existing conditions, increases coverage of uninsured Americans, won't drive up premiums, and addresses the vexing problem of free riders. In addition to having an open mind on how laws can be improved, I also know that many Missourians do not like the "mandate" and I therefore feel I have a duty to them to consider alternatives.

The fact of the matter is that there will be more improvements made to the Affordable Care Act. As with all legislation, we learn in time what works and what does not, as well as how to make them better. I am pleased that the President recently endorsed one bipartisan proposal that would allow states to opt out of parts of the bill, including the mandate, before the requirements go into effect in 2014. States would be able to retain a "waiver" if the state can demonstrate that it has developed its own system to expand coverage for its citizens, hold down health costs, provide important safeguards to health insurance consumers, and not add to the federal deficit. I will continue to work with my Democratic and Republican colleagues alike who bring forward good ideas to make the original legislation better.

Most Missourians support the goals of driving down costs, increasing access, and banning the egregious practices of insurance companies. You can learn more about the changes brought about through the new law by visiting a non-partisan website like the one sponsored by the Kaiser Family Foundation (http://www.kff.org/). Individuals and families who are interested in learning more about their insurance options can visit www.healthcare.gov, which provides a consolidated, personalized list of all of the public and private coverage options in Missouri and the details of these plans. In addition, I have included with this letter some important information dispelling several widespread myths and clarifying facts about the healthcare law. You can also view this information on my websitehttp://www.mccaskill.senate.gov/?p=issue&id=313.

Again, thank you for contacting me. Please do not hesitate to contact me in the future if I can be of further assistance to you on this or any other issue.

Sincerely,

Claire McCaskill
United States Senator

April 6, 2011

Dear Senator McCaskill,

Thank you for your response. I am surprised that you could write something like this with a straight face.

You state that repealing Obamacare would increase the deficit "significantly," yet with the bill not even fully implemented it will add 105 billion to the debt, and the CBO projects it will add a trillion dollars to the deficit over the next ten years. I suggest to you that these figures are significantly higher than what they would be if the bill is repealed. All you are doing is adding another useless federal bureaucracy requiring thousands of jobs which will be another monumental drain on the economy and will only red tape services, making the entire health care system slower and less available than it is now.

That scores of organizations, mostly unions, and even some states have applied and been given waivers to get out of Obamacare should give you some clue as to the disaster that the bill really is. That many states have filed law suits challenging the constitutionality of the bill should be another clue. That a majority of the people were opposed to the bill when it was passed with your vote, and at least 59% are in favor of repealing it now, suggests that you care less about the concerns and needs of your constituents than your own political agenda.

I have no doubt that a majority of Missourians are in favor of driving down costs and making health care more accessible. Obamacare does neither. In fact, it does just the opposite, and is more "egregious" than the current system. Ultimately Obamacare will destroy the best medical care in the world.

It makes me wonder if you do any independent thinking or if you are just another mouthpiece for failed liberal socialist causes. If you really want to help, repeal Obamacare and lift the ban on interstate insurance services. Make the system competitive and you will drive the costs down and make medical care more accessible.

Sincerely,

Lance Patterson