Why I Am Thankful to Live In Idaho . . .

Yes, I realize that lil 'ole Idaho has hardly any political clout.
But at least our Representatives have brains.
Even our lone Democrat.
This letter is from him. . .
(Even though he is optimistic about getting a good bill in the Senate - I'm sure not!)

November 23, 2009

Mrs. Loralee Carey
(address deleted)

Dear Loralee:

Thank you for contacting me about my recent vote on H.R. 3962, the Affordable Health Care for America Act. Like you, I want to find smart ways to reduce the ever-increasing costs of health care, while making insurance easier and more accessible to all Americans. However, I do not believe that this bill was the right approach.

First, I believe very strongly that our government must show much more fiscal accountability. It is my responsibility as your Congressman to make sure we do not enact new spending programs which are not fully paid for and which worsen our already out of control federal budget deficit.

Second, I believe any reforms must reduce costs within our health care system. Unfortunately, this bill did little to do that, keeping in place a structure that allows doctors in states like Florida and New York to charge many times more for simple procedures than doctors in Idaho. Furthermore, a recent report by the non-partisan Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services concluded that the bill would actually increase spending by hundreds of billions of dollars over the next 10 years.

Finally, I oppose the creation of a new, government-run health insurance bureaucracy that will reduce competition, limit choices, and do very little to reduce costs within our health care system. We cannot afford to create a new entitlement program at a time when Medicare and other federal medical insurance programs are requiring ever increasing taxpayer support to remain solvent.

We must reform the insurance industry and demand accountability by passing some very simple measures. For example, we need to strengthen tort laws to discourage frivolous lawsuits and the practice of defensive medicine. We need to increase competition by allowing people to purchase health insurance across state lines. And we must guarantee that an insurance company cannot deny you coverage just because you have a pre-existing condition.

The vote in the House of Representatives was the first vote in the process for health care reform, and I am still optimistic that a bill will emerge from the Senate that I will be able to support. Please feel free to visit my website at http://minnick.house.gov for continued updates on my work, and do not hesitate to contact my office if I can be of assistance in the future.

It is an honor to serve you in the U.S. Congress.

Sincerely,

Walt Minnick
Congressman
ID, 1st CD