March 18th, 2010 | 
Author: Heads-down working on an E-business strategy for a client… will try to post notes, final thoughts, and reflections on the AIPAGIA conference last week. But lest I run out of time, a shout to readers and passers-by at this milestone event in the history of our nation:
Write your Congress, PLEASE. They NEED to hear your voice. Takes 5 minutes. Just do it! Please. http://www.congress.org/
Some recent readings, each with its own bias:
Hospital CEOs Weigh In on Health Care Debate – intelligent comments
Five Reasons The CBO Figures Are Phony- Investors Business Daily
Idaho to Sue Feds Over Health Care Mandate “Similar legislation is pending in 37 other states.” FoxNews
My Healthcare Plan by Ann Coulter great take
National Review – tons of good stuff on all this
Six Ways to Fix Our Healthcare System by Samuel H. Fleet – very simple concepts to fix the issue by a subject matter expert, not a politician or bureaucrat
http://search.twitter.com/search?q=%23hcr twitter search on #hcr – health care reform – all points of view
The Reconciliation Bill just now tweeted… carve out some time to read 4000 pages
My Questions:
Is it about liberals and conservatives, democrats and republicans, blahblahblah, or is it about rational and sane fiscal responsibility, and about letting the free markets work to hold people accountable for their personal decisions and preferences? And under-girding it all, do we as a nation need to return to our spiritual roots, the foundation of this great nation? Or are we going to stay on the track of deeper and deeper corruption? (Remembering the exercise my son and I took in 2007 to understand the 7 Deadly Sins as he graduated from High School.) Has a substitute for the 10 Commandments ever worked in the history of mankind? On a personal level, I know when I got back to those basics almost 20 years ago, my life became much more effective, productive, and satisfying. And when I stray from those, it doesn’t take long for me to feel the adverse impacts. I believe the same is true for a nation.
Your thoughts? Wait! Write your congressmen before you write here, though.
Btw, I’m glad I have a voice in this through this blog, through twitter, through facebook and linkedin. How about you? Can I help you find your voice? Tellin’ ya’… you’ll be glad you started – on several levels.
Spring In Northeast Ohio
Posted in Insurance-Technologies
Response from my Congressman:
Dear Mr. Wise:
Thank you for contacting me regarding healthcare reform. I appreciate you taking the time to let me know your thoughts on this critical issue.
As you may know, I voted against the House of Representatives’ healthcare reform legislation for a variety of reasons, but the bill passed the House. The Senate passed their own version of healthcare reform on December 24, 2009. I have been deeply troubled by both versions of healthcare reform and the lack of transparency has been disheartening. It appears that the House may vote on the Senate bill in the near future. This version looks a lot like the other versions. Sadly, the bill is loaded with special deals like; a billion extra dollars to Vermont and Massachusetts for their Medicaid programs, and no cuts to Medicare Advantage if you live in Florida, and higher Medicare coverage if you live in North Dakota. Unfortunately, that’s only the tip of the iceberg. Healthcare reform should be about reducing healthcare costs for the insured and helping the uninsured get coverage, yet this bill misses its own goal and does nothing to bring down the cost of healthcare.
I would have hoped that we could have focused on points of agreement like ending denial of coverage for pre-existing conditions, making plans more affordable and portable. Instead it seems like more of the same. Now it’s being thrown around that they’re going to try to avoid an up or down vote on the measure, so that the President can sign it into law without the House even having voted on it. I just do not believe trying to pass the Senate health care bill without an up-or-down vote is the way we want to go about this, especially when this legislation impacts every man, women, child and business in the United States. As the issue moves forward, I have taken note of your position and will certainly keep it in mind. Once again, thank you for contacting me. Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me again.
Very truly yours,
Steven C. LaTourette
Member of Congress
SCL/MJ