Town Hall Questions
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Town Hall Questions
This document was created by The Freedom Workbench at the request of The Cincinnati Tea Party Please distribute widely and credit the Freedom Workbench with the content
Last Updated on 07/31/2009
Page 1 of 14
Town Hall Questions
Questions for Town-Hall Meetings and Forums Make Him Reveal His Position 1. John Conyers is on film [1] stating that it is ridiculous to expect a Congress Person to read and understand the bill without two lawyers to interpret it. Yet you and your other legislators may approve something that changes the lives of all Americans. Have you read the entire HR3200 bill yourself, with or without the help of lawyers, and not just being “briefed” by your staff, and if you have not read it, will you pledge here and now to vote no on it until you do complete reading it? 2. How have you learned about all of the provisions in this bill? 3. What provisions in that bill do you oppose? 4. What provisions in that bill do you agree with? 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?
Spending and Costs 7.
Claims are being made that an acceptable plan must be “revenue neutral” or “deficit neutral”, meaning costs are balanced by revenues. If the plan is supposed to “Save Money” or “Reduce Costs”, then why do you not claim that the plan or plans will be “revenue positive” or “show a surplus”?
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Town Hall Questions 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?
9.
The Joint Committee on Taxation proclaims that the proposed surcharge is “reasonable and well-targeted”. Given that the wealthiest 1% of the population earn 19% of income but pay 37% of the income tax, and thus show us that the Committees statements are biased, why should we believe that placing a surtax of the magnitudes proposed, is fair? And further, why should we believe that the small business owners on whom this surtax will fall, will not cut back employment, thus causing job losses at a time when our economy needs job creation not job losses?
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?
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Town Hall Questions 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 15. The Massachusetts Health Care Plan is proving to be much more expensive than first predicted when it was sold to the public, and is causing state deficits [3] and doctor shortages [4] leading to rationed care [5]. Because advocates of the National Health Care plan say that the Massachusetts plan is a “model”, don’t you agree that this experience proves that a National Plan will be a disaster for the Country, and if you do not, be specific why not? 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?
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Town Hall Questions 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?
Limited Government and Entitlements 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?
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Town Hall Questions
Loss of Freedom Under Health Care Plan 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? 24. The Coburn Amendment to require everyone in Congress to enroll in whatever Health Care Plan that is enacted, passed in Committee.[12] Do you support the Coburn Amendment, will you vote yes on a Bill that includes it, and why would anyone in Congress oppose the intent and the language of this Amendment? (Reference question 40 and 42)
Small Business / Entrepreneurs 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?
Impact on job creation/loss 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?
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Town Hall Questions 28. The National Federation of Independent Business and the Congressional Budget Office both say that the new taxes on small business will result in job losses. Considering the high rate of unemployment we have now and the shaky economy, isn’t that the wrong direction to be going? How many businesses in Ohio will go under because of this? 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 31. There is a lot of discussion regarding the misconception of having 47 million uninsured. 43% of the 47 million are not even citizens; 15 million are already eligible for insurance and 8 million earn enough to afford some type of insurance.[14] The facts according to the 2007 census are really only 8-10 million are truly uninsured. Aren’t there more efficient ways to provide insurance for the true uninsured? (Reference Question 43) 32. In analyzing the so-called uninsured, studies (see endnote 14 above) say that 15 million of the uninsured are illegal immigrants. Do you support paying for illegal immigrant participation in the health care system?
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Town Hall Questions
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?
Health Care – End of Life 36. The bill as currently written in section 1233(p.425-429) refers to “end of life” discussions. So, if my 85 year old mother goes in the hospital for testing and it is determined that she has breast cancer will the government approved “end of life” resource counsel my mother on how to end her life or will they simply deny care? 37. The bill as currently written in section 1233(p.425-429) refers to ‘end of life” discussions. At what age will these discussions start? I understand that as my health deteriorates the frequency of the “end of life” discussions will increase. So, at what age do these discussions start and what if I do not want to participate?
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Town Hall Questions 38. At an AARP-sponsored town-hall meeting, when asked about a “clause in there [the Health Care Bill] that everyone that’s Medicare age will be visited and told to decide how they wish to die...”, the President said that “the intent of the amendment was mainly aimed at promoting advance planning and living wills...to make sure you’ve got more information and that Medicare will pay for it.” [16] The President referred to the intent of the clause but did not say that it specifically said that in legal terms. Will you state unequivocally right now that the legal language says that it is only to provide information and nothing else, and if you can not because you do not know, will you support such language? 39. Betsey McCaughey, former lieutenant governor of New York State concluded that the law, as written, requires mandatory counseling for Medicare patients every five years or more frequently on options of how to end their life. The St Pete newspaper states, in its Fact-ometer, that her statement is a distortion (but not wrong). [17] I opened and tried to read the actual language in HR 3200 to see what it said, and it is incomprehensible to a regular person, much less a lawyer. Have you read this bill and can you assure us that mandatory counseling on options of how we can end our lives is not the legal language and requirement of the bill? If you have not read the bill, why not? If you can not say whether it says this, why not?
Federal Employees – Health Care 40. The Federal Government employees currently have access to menu of health care choices. When the new National Health Care Plan goes into effect I assume all of the members of Congress will move over to the New Health Care Plan. Will you be forced, like the rest of us, to signup with the New Health Care Plan? (Reference Question 24)
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Town Hall Questions 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) 46. I understand the plan allows insurance plans bargained by unions to continue unchanged. Why are they exempted when the plans of nonunion workers are not? Isn’t this a clear case of unions getting paid off for political support and blatant vote buying? Are you going to oppose this?
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Town Hall Questions 47. Why do we not tax pharmaceuticals produced by US companies that are shipped to other countries, so people in those countries must pay their fair share for these drugs? Wouldn’t that lower our drug costs and provide another source of funds to cover the uninsured? Would you support such a tax? Why not when other governments force our drug companies to sell there at lower prices?
Make Him Address Specific Personal Situations 48. I am fortunate to have healthcare partially covered by my employer. Nevertheless I pay about $5000 a year in premiums, co-pays, deductibles and other costs so that I can have an excellent plan and freedom to choose doctors and hospitals. If the government sets up a public plan that competes with my private plan, my freedom to choose and pay for my choice could be taken away. Why should I have to forfeit my rights to life and liberty, by being forced into a lesser standard of care by a government that is supposed to protect my rights? 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?
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Town Hall Questions 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?
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Town Hall Questions
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) TOTAL PROJECTED OUTLAYS: $1.65 trillion The bill's costs are partially offset by savings and new revenue sources within the health care system including:
•
•
Fees paid by uninsured individuals and employers that don't offer qualifying insurance, or whose workers take other coverage: $237 billion. (Source: CBO) Medicare savings, including payment reductions to private insurers and more money provided by drug makers: About $525 billion. (Source: CBO)
Lawmakers are also proposing new tax increases to pay for the bill:
•
•
Income tax surcharge on individuals making more than $280,000 and families making more than $350,000: $544 billion. (Source: Ways and Means Committee) Corporate and foreign tax changes: $37.2 billion. (Source: Ways and Means Committee)
TOTAL OFFSETS AND REVENUE-RAISERS: $1.3 trillion Net these Revenues – Costs = ($0.350 trillion)
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Town Hall Questions
1
Won't Read Bill but Wants Constitutional Amendment for Free Health Care?!; http://www.thefoxnation.com/politics/2009/07/30/conyers-introducing-constitutionalamendment-free-health-care?page=1 2
Details thin on stimulus contracts; http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/techpolicy/2009-05-06-stimulus_N.htm 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-tosuspend-apf-3529110957.html?x=0&sec=topStories&pos=1&asset=&ccode= 9 http://keithhennessey.com/2009/07/30/health-care-counterpoint/ 3
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 End-of-Life Benefit Ignites Health-Care Rhetoric, http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/content/jul2009/db20090730_530683.htm 16
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-lifecounseling-will-be-requi/
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This document was created by The Freedom Workbench at the request of The Cincinnati Tea Party Please distribute widely and credit the Freedom Workbench with the content
Last Updated on 07/31/2009
Page 1 of 14
Town Hall Questions
Questions for Town-Hall Meetings and Forums Make Him Reveal His Position 1. John Conyers is on film [1] stating that it is ridiculous to expect a Congress Person to read and understand the bill without two lawyers to interpret it. Yet you and your other legislators may approve something that changes the lives of all Americans. Have you read the entire HR3200 bill yourself, with or without the help of lawyers, and not just being “briefed” by your staff, and if you have not read it, will you pledge here and now to vote no on it until you do complete reading it? 2. How have you learned about all of the provisions in this bill? 3. What provisions in that bill do you oppose? 4. What provisions in that bill do you agree with? 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?
Spending and Costs 7.
Claims are being made that an acceptable plan must be “revenue neutral” or “deficit neutral”, meaning costs are balanced by revenues. If the plan is supposed to “Save Money” or “Reduce Costs”, then why do you not claim that the plan or plans will be “revenue positive” or “show a surplus”?
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Town Hall Questions 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?
9.
The Joint Committee on Taxation proclaims that the proposed surcharge is “reasonable and well-targeted”. Given that the wealthiest 1% of the population earn 19% of income but pay 37% of the income tax, and thus show us that the Committees statements are biased, why should we believe that placing a surtax of the magnitudes proposed, is fair? And further, why should we believe that the small business owners on whom this surtax will fall, will not cut back employment, thus causing job losses at a time when our economy needs job creation not job losses?
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?
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Town Hall Questions 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 15. The Massachusetts Health Care Plan is proving to be much more expensive than first predicted when it was sold to the public, and is causing state deficits [3] and doctor shortages [4] leading to rationed care [5]. Because advocates of the National Health Care plan say that the Massachusetts plan is a “model”, don’t you agree that this experience proves that a National Plan will be a disaster for the Country, and if you do not, be specific why not? 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?
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Town Hall Questions 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?
Limited Government and Entitlements 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?
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Town Hall Questions
Loss of Freedom Under Health Care Plan 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? 24. The Coburn Amendment to require everyone in Congress to enroll in whatever Health Care Plan that is enacted, passed in Committee.[12] Do you support the Coburn Amendment, will you vote yes on a Bill that includes it, and why would anyone in Congress oppose the intent and the language of this Amendment? (Reference question 40 and 42)
Small Business / Entrepreneurs 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?
Impact on job creation/loss 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?
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Town Hall Questions 28. The National Federation of Independent Business and the Congressional Budget Office both say that the new taxes on small business will result in job losses. Considering the high rate of unemployment we have now and the shaky economy, isn’t that the wrong direction to be going? How many businesses in Ohio will go under because of this? 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 31. There is a lot of discussion regarding the misconception of having 47 million uninsured. 43% of the 47 million are not even citizens; 15 million are already eligible for insurance and 8 million earn enough to afford some type of insurance.[14] The facts according to the 2007 census are really only 8-10 million are truly uninsured. Aren’t there more efficient ways to provide insurance for the true uninsured? (Reference Question 43) 32. In analyzing the so-called uninsured, studies (see endnote 14 above) say that 15 million of the uninsured are illegal immigrants. Do you support paying for illegal immigrant participation in the health care system?
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Town Hall Questions
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?
Health Care – End of Life 36. The bill as currently written in section 1233(p.425-429) refers to “end of life” discussions. So, if my 85 year old mother goes in the hospital for testing and it is determined that she has breast cancer will the government approved “end of life” resource counsel my mother on how to end her life or will they simply deny care? 37. The bill as currently written in section 1233(p.425-429) refers to ‘end of life” discussions. At what age will these discussions start? I understand that as my health deteriorates the frequency of the “end of life” discussions will increase. So, at what age do these discussions start and what if I do not want to participate?
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Town Hall Questions 38. At an AARP-sponsored town-hall meeting, when asked about a “clause in there [the Health Care Bill] that everyone that’s Medicare age will be visited and told to decide how they wish to die...”, the President said that “the intent of the amendment was mainly aimed at promoting advance planning and living wills...to make sure you’ve got more information and that Medicare will pay for it.” [16] The President referred to the intent of the clause but did not say that it specifically said that in legal terms. Will you state unequivocally right now that the legal language says that it is only to provide information and nothing else, and if you can not because you do not know, will you support such language? 39. Betsey McCaughey, former lieutenant governor of New York State concluded that the law, as written, requires mandatory counseling for Medicare patients every five years or more frequently on options of how to end their life. The St Pete newspaper states, in its Fact-ometer, that her statement is a distortion (but not wrong). [17] I opened and tried to read the actual language in HR 3200 to see what it said, and it is incomprehensible to a regular person, much less a lawyer. Have you read this bill and can you assure us that mandatory counseling on options of how we can end our lives is not the legal language and requirement of the bill? If you have not read the bill, why not? If you can not say whether it says this, why not?
Federal Employees – Health Care 40. The Federal Government employees currently have access to menu of health care choices. When the new National Health Care Plan goes into effect I assume all of the members of Congress will move over to the New Health Care Plan. Will you be forced, like the rest of us, to signup with the New Health Care Plan? (Reference Question 24)
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Town Hall Questions 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) 46. I understand the plan allows insurance plans bargained by unions to continue unchanged. Why are they exempted when the plans of nonunion workers are not? Isn’t this a clear case of unions getting paid off for political support and blatant vote buying? Are you going to oppose this?
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Town Hall Questions 47. Why do we not tax pharmaceuticals produced by US companies that are shipped to other countries, so people in those countries must pay their fair share for these drugs? Wouldn’t that lower our drug costs and provide another source of funds to cover the uninsured? Would you support such a tax? Why not when other governments force our drug companies to sell there at lower prices?
Make Him Address Specific Personal Situations 48. I am fortunate to have healthcare partially covered by my employer. Nevertheless I pay about $5000 a year in premiums, co-pays, deductibles and other costs so that I can have an excellent plan and freedom to choose doctors and hospitals. If the government sets up a public plan that competes with my private plan, my freedom to choose and pay for my choice could be taken away. Why should I have to forfeit my rights to life and liberty, by being forced into a lesser standard of care by a government that is supposed to protect my rights? 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?
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Town Hall Questions 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?
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Town Hall Questions
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) TOTAL PROJECTED OUTLAYS: $1.65 trillion The bill's costs are partially offset by savings and new revenue sources within the health care system including:
•
•
Fees paid by uninsured individuals and employers that don't offer qualifying insurance, or whose workers take other coverage: $237 billion. (Source: CBO) Medicare savings, including payment reductions to private insurers and more money provided by drug makers: About $525 billion. (Source: CBO)
Lawmakers are also proposing new tax increases to pay for the bill:
•
•
Income tax surcharge on individuals making more than $280,000 and families making more than $350,000: $544 billion. (Source: Ways and Means Committee) Corporate and foreign tax changes: $37.2 billion. (Source: Ways and Means Committee)
TOTAL OFFSETS AND REVENUE-RAISERS: $1.3 trillion Net these Revenues – Costs = ($0.350 trillion)
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Town Hall Questions
1
Won't Read Bill but Wants Constitutional Amendment for Free Health Care?!; http://www.thefoxnation.com/politics/2009/07/30/conyers-introducing-constitutionalamendment-free-health-care?page=1 2
Details thin on stimulus contracts; http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/techpolicy/2009-05-06-stimulus_N.htm 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-tosuspend-apf-3529110957.html?x=0&sec=topStories&pos=1&asset=&ccode= 9 http://keithhennessey.com/2009/07/30/health-care-counterpoint/ 3
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 End-of-Life Benefit Ignites Health-Care Rhetoric, http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/content/jul2009/db20090730_530683.htm 16
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-lifecounseling-will-be-requi/
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