2young2vote
Member
- Joined
- Aug 16, 2007
- Messages
- 1,852
I basically said that I wouldn't vote for him if any kind of government run health care legislation passed and this was the response. It looks like he is for Health care reform but not what was in 3200. Bart Stupak is the congressman for the entire U.P. and most of northern Michigan
Here it is:
Thank you for contacting me regarding health care reform. I appreciated hearing from you on this important issue.
The experiences of Northern Michigan families and employers parallel the national trend. Almost 50 million Americans are living without health care. Approximately 82 percent of these uninsured individuals have a full or part-time job. Unfortunately, it is becoming harder for employers to offer affordable insurance to their employees. Coverage is becoming more expensive and less comprehensive, with high deductibles, co-pays and coverage limits.
From 2000 to 2007, employer sponsored annual health insurance premiums rose from $6,817 to $12,151, an increase of $5,334 or 78.2 percent. Over the same period, the median earnings of Michigan's workers increased from $25,910 to $27,096, an increase of $1,186 or 4.6 percent. Clearly these skyrocketing health care costs are unsustainable for families and employers alike.
Health care is a basic right that should be afforded to all Americans, it is not a privilege. It is my belief that in reforming health care in our country, Congress needs to build on the existing framework by making it easier for employers to provide health insurance and by providing access to government programs for individuals not covered by their employer.
H.R. 3200, America's Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009, was circulated in the U.S. House of Representatives on June 19, 2009. It is estimated the legislation would ensure health care coverage for 97 percent of Americans by 2016. The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has estimated the bill will cost $1 trillion over 10 years, although the bill includes provisions that fully pay for health care reform without increasing the federal budget deficit.
Despite some of the improvements to our health care system provided in H.R. 3200, I remain concerned with the legislation. My concerns that the legislation does not effectively control rising health care costs, does not do enough to encourage true competition in the health insurance market, and builds on a system that rewards ineffectiveness instead of quality and value were not addressed. Therefore, I voted against H.R. 3200 in the House Energy and Commerce Committee on July 31, 2009.
Over the next month, congressional leadership, the Obama Administration and those of us who work on health care policy, will work to merge the three proposals passed by House Committees into one bill for consideration on the House floor. Similarly, the Senate must merge its two bills into one for consideration in that chamber. Once the House and Senate pass their respective bills this fall, extensive negotiations will begin to craft one compromise bill that can pass both chambers. I fully expect a comprehensive health care reform bill will be signed into law this year. To gain my vote, I must be convinced the final product effectively reforms our health care system.
During my first campaign for Congress in 1992, I made a promise to my constituents that I would support health care reform and not accept the health insurance that is offered to members of Congress until all Americans had access to quality, affordable health care. I have kept that promise.
I hear every day the heartbreaking stories of my constituents - the insured, the uninsured and the under insured. I hear from those who the current health care system has left helpless, bankrupt and disillusioned.
I want to help all of my constituents by providing quality, affordable health care, but H.R. 3200 perpetuates a broken system. CBO has said that by 2016 - seven years from now - 97 to 98 percent of Americans will have health care coverage. CBO's independent, non-partisan analysis said the legislation does not address the inequities in the current system. Perhaps most alarming is that CBO said H.R. 3200, in its current form, will cost us hundreds of thousands of jobs and weaken our economy.
Despite my concerns with H.R. 3200, I do believe Congress is making good progress toward health care reform. The issue is complex and deserves thoughtful consideration. A great deal of confusion exists regarding the House health care reform proposal. To help clear up some of the false claims being made against the legislation, I have prepared answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about the bill. I have enclosed a copy with this letter and the document can be viewed on my web site at www.house.gov/stupak.
Again, thank you for contacting me. Please feel free to contact me again if my staff or I can be of any assistance.
Here it is:
Thank you for contacting me regarding health care reform. I appreciated hearing from you on this important issue.
The experiences of Northern Michigan families and employers parallel the national trend. Almost 50 million Americans are living without health care. Approximately 82 percent of these uninsured individuals have a full or part-time job. Unfortunately, it is becoming harder for employers to offer affordable insurance to their employees. Coverage is becoming more expensive and less comprehensive, with high deductibles, co-pays and coverage limits.
From 2000 to 2007, employer sponsored annual health insurance premiums rose from $6,817 to $12,151, an increase of $5,334 or 78.2 percent. Over the same period, the median earnings of Michigan's workers increased from $25,910 to $27,096, an increase of $1,186 or 4.6 percent. Clearly these skyrocketing health care costs are unsustainable for families and employers alike.
Health care is a basic right that should be afforded to all Americans, it is not a privilege. It is my belief that in reforming health care in our country, Congress needs to build on the existing framework by making it easier for employers to provide health insurance and by providing access to government programs for individuals not covered by their employer.
H.R. 3200, America's Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009, was circulated in the U.S. House of Representatives on June 19, 2009. It is estimated the legislation would ensure health care coverage for 97 percent of Americans by 2016. The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has estimated the bill will cost $1 trillion over 10 years, although the bill includes provisions that fully pay for health care reform without increasing the federal budget deficit.
Despite some of the improvements to our health care system provided in H.R. 3200, I remain concerned with the legislation. My concerns that the legislation does not effectively control rising health care costs, does not do enough to encourage true competition in the health insurance market, and builds on a system that rewards ineffectiveness instead of quality and value were not addressed. Therefore, I voted against H.R. 3200 in the House Energy and Commerce Committee on July 31, 2009.
Over the next month, congressional leadership, the Obama Administration and those of us who work on health care policy, will work to merge the three proposals passed by House Committees into one bill for consideration on the House floor. Similarly, the Senate must merge its two bills into one for consideration in that chamber. Once the House and Senate pass their respective bills this fall, extensive negotiations will begin to craft one compromise bill that can pass both chambers. I fully expect a comprehensive health care reform bill will be signed into law this year. To gain my vote, I must be convinced the final product effectively reforms our health care system.
During my first campaign for Congress in 1992, I made a promise to my constituents that I would support health care reform and not accept the health insurance that is offered to members of Congress until all Americans had access to quality, affordable health care. I have kept that promise.
I hear every day the heartbreaking stories of my constituents - the insured, the uninsured and the under insured. I hear from those who the current health care system has left helpless, bankrupt and disillusioned.
I want to help all of my constituents by providing quality, affordable health care, but H.R. 3200 perpetuates a broken system. CBO has said that by 2016 - seven years from now - 97 to 98 percent of Americans will have health care coverage. CBO's independent, non-partisan analysis said the legislation does not address the inequities in the current system. Perhaps most alarming is that CBO said H.R. 3200, in its current form, will cost us hundreds of thousands of jobs and weaken our economy.
Despite my concerns with H.R. 3200, I do believe Congress is making good progress toward health care reform. The issue is complex and deserves thoughtful consideration. A great deal of confusion exists regarding the House health care reform proposal. To help clear up some of the false claims being made against the legislation, I have prepared answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about the bill. I have enclosed a copy with this letter and the document can be viewed on my web site at www.house.gov/stupak.
Again, thank you for contacting me. Please feel free to contact me again if my staff or I can be of any assistance.
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