Jackson Citizen Patriot Editorial: “Congressman fails his health-care test”
Excerpts from the Editorial:
“Fresh from his historic vote for a health-care overhaul, U.S. Rep. Mark Schauer stormed through his congressional district last week to seek public input. Unfortunately, it was after the fact.”
“Schauer is putting ideology above what is best for the people he represents.”
“we fear the biggest loser would be employer-sponsored health plans. Schauer says he believes that the rise in health costs would be contained; he couldn't provide any facts to back that up. We were deeply disappointed in his failure to explain exactly how this will save businesses money — a claim he has made repeatedly in public.”
“we are growing suspicious that his views on health reform, cap-and-trade energy policy, pro-union "card check" legislation and other issues do more than clash with a majority of his constituents. His stances are not serving the district's best interests.”
“we hope Schauer can do more than reiterate the liberal rhetoric when this health-care bill comes around again.”
“Blitz of town halls does not change fact that this legislation would be bad for Jackson and the entire 7th Congressional District.”
Full Editorial:
Congressman fails his health-care test
By Jackson Citizen Patriot staff
November 18, 2009, 10:18AM
Fresh from his historic vote for a health-care overhaul, U.S. Rep. Mark Schauer stormed through his congressional district last week to seek public input. Unfortunately, it was after the fact. If that seems like a curious way of dealing with constituents, it only stands to reason when it comes to this subject: The normally pragmatic Schauer is putting ideology above what is best for the people he represents.
Schauer has baffled us with his unwavering support for the House health-care bill. The public should be deeply dubious that this legislation will live up to financial projections or be anything but a disaster for many businesses.
Issue
Local congressman defends health-care vote in public meetings.
Our say
Blitz of town halls does not change fact that this legislation would be bad for Jackson and the entire 7th Congressional District.
The congressman used his town-hall meetings and a column on this page on Tuesday to argue that American health care needs a trip to the physician. No argument there. Costs are out of control, and too many people lack insurance. The system is inefficient.
There are sensible fixes that can be made, such as barring insurers from denying coverage to people with pre-existing conditions. Health-insurance cooperatives (particularly across state lines) could boost individuals' power to buy health policies.
The House bill that Schauer voted for goes too far, creating a potential chain reaction that would increase health costs and then shift them to employers and their employees.
It would cram tens of millions of people onto the health-care rolls, an expansion that the system could not quickly accommodate. It would reduce Medicare payments to health-care providers, many of whom lose money on Medicare under the current system of reimbursement.
Who would pay for a more expensive system? Clearly, someone has to, and we fear the biggest loser would be employer-sponsored health plans. Schauer says he believes that the rise in health costs would be contained; he couldn't provide any facts to back that up. We were deeply disappointed in his failure to explain exactly how this will save businesses money — a claim he has made repeatedly in public. How can costs go down when utilization goes up with everyone in the system?
Schauer has always held staunchly Democratic views but, particularly in the state Legislature, tempered them with tenacity in looking after his district. Indeed, he has brought home the pork since going to Washington this year. But we are growing suspicious that his views on health reform, cap-and-trade energy policy, pro-union "card check" legislation and other issues do more than clash with a majority of his constituents. His stances are not serving the district's best interests. We will see in a year if voters feel the same way.
Meanwhile, not all is lost as this health-care reform unfolds. The Senate is working on its own legislation, which ultimately must be reconciled with the just-passed House bill. We can only hope the Senate does a better job than the House dealing with the cost side of the health-care equation.
And we hope Schauer can do more than reiterate the liberal rhetoric when this health-care bill comes around again.
— Jackson Citizen Patriot
Link: http://www.mlive.com/opinion/jackson/index.ssf/2009/11/congressman_fails_his_health-c.html