What Dave Camp Voted No On in Health Care Insurance Reform

Representative Dave Camp. The Dave Camp who voted for every budget, every unfunded "emergency appropriation" to support the war that George Bush asked for, the same Dave Camp who enabled Bush to leave a deficit for fiscal 2009 of  $1.4 trillion, yes, that Dave Camp was so upset about Obama increasing the deficit that he declared that health care reform was the wrong reform at the wrong time because...because...it would cost too much.  

Here is what Dave Camp voted "no" on (courtesy of MoveOn.org): 

1. Once reform is fully implemented, over 95% of Americans will have health insurance coverage, including 32 million who are currently uninsured.²

2. Health insurance companies will no longer be allowed to deny people coverage because of preexisting conditions—or to drop coverage when people become sick.³

3. Just like members of Congress, individuals and small businesses who can't afford to purchase insurance on their own will be able to pool together and choose from a variety of competing plans with lower premiums.⁴

4. Reform will cut the federal budget deficit by $138 billion over the next ten years, and a whopping $1.2 trillion in the following ten years.⁵

5. Health care will be more affordable for families and small businesses thanks to new tax credits, subsidies, and other assistance—paid for largely by taxing insurance companies, drug companies, and the very wealthiest Americans.⁶

6. Seniors on Medicare will pay less for their prescription drugs because the legislation closes the "donut hole" gap in existing coverage.⁷

7. By reducing health care costs for employers, reform will create or save more than 2.5 million jobs over the next decade.⁸

8. Medicaid will be expanded to offer health insurance coverage to an additional 16 million low-income people.⁹

9. Instead of losing coverage after they leave home or graduate from college, young adults will be able to remain on their families' insurance plans until age 26.¹⁰

10. Community health centers would receive an additional $11 billion, doubling the number of patients who can be treated regardless of their insurance or ability to pay.¹¹

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Sources:

1. Final vote results on motion to concur in Senate amendments to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives, March 21, 2010
http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2010/roll165.xml

2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 11. "Affordable Health Care for America: Summary," House Energy and Commerce Committee, March 18, 2010
http://wwwd.house.gov/akamaidocs/energycommerce/SUMMARY.pdf

4. "Insurance Companies Prosper, Families Suffer: Our Broken Health Insurance System," U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Accessed March 22, 2010
http://healthreform.gov/reports/insuranceprospers/index.html

5. "Affordable Health Care for America: Health Insurance Reform at a Glance: Revenue Provisions," House Energy and Commerce Committee, March 18, 2010
http://wwwd.house.gov/akamaidocs/energycommerce/REVENUE.pdf

8. "New Jobs Through Better Health Care," Center for American Progress, January 8, 2010 

http://www.moveon.org/r?r=87402&id=19503-11442555-8lGQUIx&t=2

9, 10. "Proposed Changes in the Final Health Care Bill," The New York Times, March 22, 2010 

http://www.moveon.org/r?r=87403&id=19503-11442555-8lGQUIx&t=3

11. "Affordable Health Care for America: Health Insurance Reform at a Glance: Addressing Health and Health Care Disparities," House Energy and Commerce Committee, March 20, 2010
http://docs.house.gov/energycommerce/DISPARITIES.pdf

Obama and His Ethical Dilemmas

In the New York Times, on Sunday, August 9, 09, Frank Rich raises some provocative issues about Obama's broken promises and whether or not he is capitulating to the corporate establishment. You can read the article here.

Obama, and any reformer who has political power, faces a difficult moral and ethical quandary: in politics, money always talks. In Western law, corporations are legally considered to be single individuals, and as such retain the rights of individuals to free speech and access to lawmakers so they can influence their opinions and laws in their favor. In the United States, campaign financing has been the accepted form of legal bribery. This is why the efforts of various citizens groups, such as Common Cause, to control and eliminate corporate campaign contributions have always stalled.

Back to Obama's quandary: how will he make fundamental changes when the corporations control the elected officials who ultimately decide on the changes? Obviously, he has to find ways to work with the corporations. The questions are: how many goals do you sacrifice in order to obtain your highest goals? How many concessions to big business do you make before you simply arrive at the status quo that Business prefers?

As Frank Rich points out, in the battle to reform health insurance, almost every Representative and Senator in both parties have accepted large bribes, er, “campaign contributions” from the health insurance industry. Obama, himself, appointed many of the good ol' boys from the financial industry–men who were at least complicit in the financial collapse–in the reconstruction efforts we know as the bail-out and stimulus packages.

Obama is a brilliant men, so he certainly was or is aware of the roles his appointees played in the collapse. Does this make him (Obama) a part of the solution or part of the problem? I believe he is a highly ethical person as well as being a shrewd politician, so I imagine that these thoughts are not new to him. He is also very aware that Jimmy Carter tried to clean up government but without engaging the Establishment, so he had only one term, and the effects of his efforts evaporated almost as soon as he left office.

Bill Clinton found himself in similar positions on a number of issues, however he faced a hostile Republican Congress. The results of his quid-pro-quo were that the country had the largest and longest period of economic growth in recent history, and two major mistakes: NAFTA and the “reform” of welfare that, in fact, broke a well-run system. The middle-class continues to pay the price for both of these mistakes, particularly NAFTA.

Many of us are working hard to support Obama's efforts at health insurance reform. Whatever passes into law will be a major advance. Let's just hope that he does not give the farm away to the corporations in the process.

Palin and Obama: the GOP's double standards

This is a slightly different version of an email I got from Linda. Feel free to pass it on.

Black teen pregnancies? A 'crisis' in black America.
White teen pregnancies? A 'blessed event.'

If you grow up in Hawaii you're 'exotic.'
Grow up in Alaska eating mooseburgers, you're the quintessential 'American story.'

Similarly, if you name your kid Barack you're 'unpatriotic.'
Name your kids Trig and Track, you're 'colorful.'

If you're a Democrat and you make a VP pick without fully vetting the individual you're 'reckless.'
A Republican who doesn't fully vet is a 'maverick.'

If you spend 3 years as a community organizer growing your organization from a staff of 1 to 13 and your budget from $70,000 to $400,000, then become the first black President of the Harvard Law Review,create a voter regstration drive that registers 150,000 new African Amerian voters, spend 12 years as a Constitutional Law professor,then spend nearly 8 more years as a State Senator representing a district with over 750,000 people, becoming chairman of the state Senate's Health and Human Services committee, then spend nearly 4 years in the United States Senate representing a state of nearly 13 million people, sponsoring 131 bills and serving on the Foreign Affairs, Environment and Public Works and Veteran's Affairs committees, you are woefully inexperienced.
If you spend 4 years on the city council and 6 years as the mayor of a town with less than 7,000 people, then spend 20 months as the governor of a state with 650,000 people, you've got the most executive experience of anyone on either ticket, are the Commander in Chief of the Alaska military and are well qualified to lead the nation should you be called upon to do so because your state is the closest state to Russia.

If you are a Demoratic male candidate who is popular with millions of people you are an 'arrogant celebrity'.
If you are a popular Republican female candidate you are 'energizing the base'.

If you are a younger male candidate who thinks for himself and makes his own decisions you are 'presumptuous'.
If you are an older male candidate who makes last minute decisions you refuse to explain, you are a 'shoot from the hip' maverick.

If you are a candidate with a Harvard law degree you are 'an elitist 'out of touch' with the real America.
If you are a legacy (dad and granddad were admirals) graduate of Annapolis, with multiple disciplinary infractions you are a hero.

If you manage a multi-million dollar nationwide campaign, you are an 'empty suit'.
If you are a part time mayor of a town of 7000 people, you are an 'experienced executive'.

If you go to a south side Chicago church, your beliefs are 'extremist'.
If you believe in creationism and don't believe gobal warming is man made, you are 'strongly principled'.

If you cheated on your first wife with a rich heiress, and left your disfigured wife and married the heiress the next month, you're a Christian.
If you have been married to the same woman for 19 years with whom you are raising two beautiful daughters you're 'risky'.

If you're a black single mother of 4 who waits for 22 hours after her water breaks to seek medical attention, you're an irresponsible parent, endangering the life of your unborn child.
But if you're a white married mother who waits 22 hours, you're spunky.

If you're a 13-year-old Chelsea Clinton, the right-wing press calls you 'First dog.'
If you're a 17-year old pregnant unwed daughter of a Republican, the right-wing press calls you 'beautiful' and 'courageous.'

If you kill an endangered species, you're an excellent hunter.
If you have an abortion you're not a christian, you're a murderer (forget about if it happened while being date raped)

If you teach abstinence only in sex education, you get teen parents.
If you teach responsible age appropriate sex education, including the proper use of birth control, you are eroding the fiber of society.

Republican No More

I was raised Republican. I was taught that Republicans were the fiscally responsible politicians. I was taught that Republicans were the politicians who were strict Constitutionalists and interested in protecting the rights of the individual. I was taught that Republicans were the only politicians who were truly interested in a strong national defense. I was taught that Republicans had our best interests at heart in any number of issues.

As I grew up I questioned some of what I saw, but was determined to work for change within the party. I even served on the Michigan Log Cabin Republicans Executive Board (the LGBT Republican caucus). However as time marched on I had a feeling I was sold a bad bill of goods. More lies became apparent. More promises were broken. Christian Conservatives, who started their takeover of the party in the 1980's continued to push people like me to the margins. Through George H.W. Bush's administration moderates in the Republican party took fewer and fewer seats at the so called "big tent" of the National Republican Committee. In George W. Bush's administration moderates were given even smaller roles - more lies were told - more promises were broken.

Then along came McCain and Palin. They want the public to leave their families alone, but they want to dictate what defines other families and what reproductive rights remain legal.

McCain and Palin want to continue the agenda of Christian Conservatives to make judicial appointments that will continue to erode the constitutional rights of millions of LGBT Americans simply on the basis of our sexual orientation.

McCain and Palin want to continue our current disastrous path in the Middle East with little to no regard to listening to other countries.

McCain and Palin want to continue the tried-and-failed "trickle-down economics" by giving tax breaks to only the wealthiest citizens and biggest businesses.

McCain and Palin want to continue to erode the middle class by expanding "free" trade agreements.

McCain and Palin wants the American public to think that they stand for change. In reality they want to continue to sell the American public a false bill of goods.

Several years ago I felt myself being pushed out the Republican Party. They don't have to push any longer. I've left it.

I won't say that I agree with everything that is in the National and State Democratic Platforms. I never said that about the Republican Platforms. However when comparing the documents to one another - and more importantly the actions of each party, I have come to the conclusion that I belong in the Democratic Party.

So last month I tore up my Republican National Committee membership and sent it back to the RNC with a note acknowledging that by their actions I determined that I wasn't welcome there and didn't belong.

I welcome my involvement in the Democratic party and more importantly I have been welcomed into the Democratic Party. I look forward to working toward change that will not only positively impact our country but will move to restore our once-stellar reputation among our allies throughout the world and demonstrate to the world that we're not the bullies that the Bush Administration has made us out to be.

Here's to our nominee, Barack Obama!

From my inbox:

It's been a long journey, and we should all pause to thank Hillary Clinton, who made history in this campaign. Our party and our country are better off because of her.

I want to make sure you understand what's ahead of us. Earlier tonight, John McCain outlined a vision of America that's very different from ours -- a vision that continues the disastrous policies of George W. Bush.

But this is our moment. This is our time. Our time to turn the page on the policies of the past and bring new energy and new ideas to the challenges we face. Our time to offer a new direction for the country we love.

It's going to take hard work, but thanks to you and millions of other donors and volunteers, no one has ever been more prepared for such a challenge.

Thank you for everything you've done to get us here. Let's keep making history.

On this night, Tuesday, the 3rd of June, 2008, my heart swells with pride for our party, for our country, and for our world.

Tonight, Senator Barack Obama has clinched the Democratic nomination for President of the United States.

Few can say they have lived as well-rounded and influential life as Barack Obama. The multiracial Obama, whose father hails from Kenya and whose mother was from Kansas, was born in Hawaii and spent time in Indonesia while growing up.

He left law school to work as a community organizer in Chicago to help deal with the needs of troubled neighborhoods. He eventually finished his law school work after having become the first African-American to edit the Harvard Law Review.

He spent eight years in the Illinois Senate before winning election to the US Senate in 2004. In both roles, he has established a track record of success in getting things done and advancing progressive causes.

And now, here we are, in the late spring of 2008. 793 years after the Magna Carta loosened a king's grip on England, 232 years after rebel patriots declared themselves free from the bonds of tyranny, 141 years after the abolition of slavery in this 'Land of the Free,' this party offers this nation - the land of the free, the home of the brave - the chance of a generation.

A chance to elect a real leader. A leader of impeccable character and integrity. A leader of high intelligence.

Someone ready to take on the role of leading all 300 million of us. To be a role model for school children everywhere - living proof that you can be whatever it is you want to be, if only you dedicate yourself. Living proof to all that obstacles are not impossible to overcome.

Early on, I must admit, I was skeptical. He was one of my top picks right from the get-go - along with Edwards and Richardson (I think I would have backed Wes Clark had he run) - but I was not convinced the 40-something junior senator from Illinois was ready for the toughest job in the world, at one of the most critical times in American history.

Winter turned into spring, spring to summer. I paid attention to what our field of candidates - diverse in race, personal background, experience, and policy ideas - had to say about why they were the one for which America has longed.

Wouldn't you know it, that young man - the youngest in the pack - kept convincing me time and time again that not only was he ready for the enormous burden of the Presidency, but that no one else running was quite as ready as him. And so I gave him my support.

And now, here we are. Five months after the Iowa Caucuses, five months before the general election, this primary season has finally come to an end.

We now know that the son of a Kenyan father and a Kansan mother will be the nominee of the Democratic Party - the Party of Jefferson and Jackson, the party of FDR, JFK, and LBJ, and the Party of Nobel winners Wilson, Carter, and Gore - to hold the office once held by Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Lincoln, U.S. Grant, TR, Silent Cal, FDR, Truman, and Ike.

As our nominee, Obama has made history. If elected, he will make even more history.

Far more important, he will work to make the future better for all of us.

So together, let's make it happen.

I Was There as Edwards endorsed Obama

Wow! People talk about being "Fired Up and Ready to Go" at Obama rallies, but I must say I never imagined seeing what I just saw in Grand Rapids, in the heart of conservative West Michigan.

An endorsement from John Edwards.

I arrived at Van Andel Arena (named for a conservative cofounder of Amway) around 5:15. The line to get in moved quite rapidly, probably because there were plenty of metal detectors to keep people moving in at an efficient pace. I sat in the upper level of the arena, but I was closer to the stage than many people there. Besides, given who we knew was going to be there, I wasn’t complaining.

A disabled veteran led us in the Pledge of Allegiance. The crowd cheered as they saw the young man in crutches approach the podium. After that, someone from the field office had everyone get out their cell phones and text 'MI' to 62262 to stay involved with the campaign.

A little while later we saw the "Yes We Can" video by will.i.am. A little later, The Wave.

I reflected on the people there. They were diverse in race, age, and surely walk of life. I saw middle-aged white men. I saw black women. I saw kids - plenty of kids! Many of whom won’t be old enough to vote this November. Still, they were witnessing history. Sure, school was out for the day. But these kids were getting a hands-on education, just as I did when I saw Al Gore at Calder Plaza in October 2000.

Around 6:35, a worker at the Lear factory in Walker - which will be closing in a few months - spoke about his struggles to get by as the cost of living increased but his paycheck didn’t.

He had the honor of introducing the man who would be President.

At 6:38 PM, Barack Obama - one of the smartest and most beloved people in modern politics - stepped up to the podium.

He started by telling us he had a treat. And a treat it was as he introduced a young man who has dedicated his life to tackling the many issues ordinary Americans face.

Once Barack uttered the words "John Edwards," the place went nuts. We all knew what Edwards’s presence there meant. I was hopping up and down like I’ve never done at any political function in my 20 ½ years. Hell, I’m not sure I’ve ever been so excited at a sporting event!

Edwards spoke of the major themes of his campaign: Poverty, social justice, healthcare, and of course making the two Americas one. "The Democratic voters of America have made their decision," he added, "and so have I."

In his remarks, Obama made the solemn promise that Edwards would find in President Obama a fierce comrade in the fight against poverty. He then touched on what he has discussed throughout his campaign, including the many important issues we face in this country and the importance of changing the way Washington operates.

There seems to be general agreement that Senator Obama will be our Democratic nominee. He pointed out that both Edwards and, yes, Hillary all stood for a much-needed change in Washington. On more than one occasion, Obama called out McCain as someone who simply offers more of the same. Obama, speaking in a conservative region of battleground Michigan, was in full general-election mode.

At one point during the speech, we got a glimpse of what kind of human being we'll have as our President if this man is elected.

At one point, Barack saw that someone in the crowd had fainted. He interrupted his spiel for a moment to alert the EMTs that someone had fainted. He then took his bottle of water and asked people to send it back to the person who had fainted.

I'm not sure many politicians would interrupt their own speech to do that - much less give up their bottle of water.

When the speech was done, the crowd dispersed, and I made my way to the car. As I got in the car, I looked in the mirror and asked myself: "Did I really just see Edwards endorse Obama?"

Oh, yes, I did.

And I hope that you too have the privilege of being there to see and hear Barack Obama bring out your emotions and move you to action.