Earlier this week the Affordable Health Care for America Act was passed by the House of Representatives. My congressman, Greg Walden of Oregon’s 2nd Congressional District voted against that act. He has yet to explain his vote, and tomorrow I will deliver the following letter to his office in Oregon as part of a Health Care Reform rally. Thought it might be of general interest. The Committee on Energy and Commerce has developed a district by district analysis which you too might find of value.
Dear Congressman Walden:
I’m a constituent of Oregon’s 2nd Congressional District who supports meaningful Health Care Reform.
I’ve lived in Bend for the last 3 years, was a registered Republican for 48 years, and founded and was CEO for 16 years of a successful microcomputer company. I have a pretty good idea of what small business owners and individuals face regarding insurance costs and coverage.
The attached report from the Committee on Energy and Commerce, a committee of which you are a member, suggests that you voted against the better interests of 23,200 small businesses, and at least 665,000 people in your Congressional District: 417,000 people who receive employer-based coverage, 142,000 Medicare beneficiaries and another 106,000 who are uninsured. I know there is no simple solution to the present situation, but voting against meaningful reform seems to me to be a dereliction of duty to those you represent.
I would like to understand the primary reasons you voted against Health Reform legislation that will benefit over 23 thousand small businesses and over 665 thousand of your constituents. I’ve looked on your web page and found nothing. I can see that you have invested considerable time and energy on improving flexibility for rural hospitals to provide emergency care, and I applaud you for that. However, that alone is like using a garden hose to fight a forest fire.
At the very least we, the constituents you appear to have voted against, deserve a substantive, timely and honest explanation.
Sincerely,
Edwin S. Lee
Bend, Oregon
The healthcare system is broken at every level. Reform is needed yesterday. The republican party is a subsidiary of the health insurance industry. Call your representatives. Don’t be a moron.
Cheris: While I agree with your thesis, I would include some of the Democrats in the pockets of the health insurance industy (and banking industry). It is a situation that has developed over decades and will not be easily reformed. The need for massive campaign funds and the paltry salaries we pay our politicians contribute to the problem. Calling or writing representatives, especially in the Senate, to express support of health care reform might help. I’ve done that and more. However, I’m not sure how your last sentence relates to the others, except to highlight your frustration and sense of urgency.
Ed
Did you read all 3000 pages of the bill? Do you really think this government has your best interest in mind? Keep drinking the kool-aid, good job to Greg Walden for not voting to raise my taxes and take food my childrens mouths.
Reply:
No I didn’t read the bill, nor have you. My comments were about the reasons Greg Walden gave for voting against it… they are patently false. If his real reasons had to do with something else in the bill, why didn’t he state them?
As to “raising taxes and taking food from your childrens’ mouths”….. how did you come to that conclusion? I’d be interested in reviewing the facts upon which you base it. If you know something I don’t know about the bill’s costs, I’d like to learn it.
Ed