Local Voices Debate Health Care Legislation

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Local Voices Debate Health Care Legislation

By Ken Newton Published In The St. Joseph News-Press

Congress continues its effort to pass health-care legislation before the autumn leaves turn, opponents calling the consideration too hasty and supporters regarding it as time-critical.

All signs point to debate of America's Affordable Health Choices Act before the August congressional recess.

Three House committees completed work Tuesday on the bill. A Senate panel also reported out its version. On Wednesday, President Obama insisted that the health care status-quo threatens the "financial stability" of America's families, businesses and government.

Northwest Missouri Congressman Sam Graves said Thursday he would oppose the measure because of its cost to small business, its expansion of government into health care and its potential to lessen the quality of medical treatment.

"I think this thing is going to cost a lot of jobs," said Mr. Graves, the top Republican on the House Small Business Committee.

The lawmaker referred to the measure's plan to raise taxes on upper-end earners in order to pay for the program, expected to cost in excess of $1 trillion. Such a intention, Mr. Graves said, would prompt business owners to limit expansion if nearing certain monetary thresholds.

He cited a National Federation of Independent Business study that government mandates of 50 percent employer premiums would result in 1.6 million job losses.

The legislator also countered the notion that health costs would come down because of increased competition. "The fact is you can't compete with the federal government," Mr. Graves said. "A lot of those options out there right now, private options, are going to go away."

Linda Nolan of St. Joseph, who helped plan recent Organizing for America events promoting health-care reform, said people have concerns about the cost of the program but cite the need for change.

"Many people are misconceiving that this is single-payer, socialized medicine, which it's not," she said. "It's a public option."

Survey work at the group's Day of Service proved revealing, Ms. Nolan added.

"The majority said they were happy with their insurance," she said, "but when we asked them what they had, the majority had Medicare, Medicaid or VA, which are all government programs."

Families USA, a 27-year-old health consumer organization based in Washington, released a report Wednesday indicating the escalating rate of Americans losing medical coverage.

It claimed 3,120 Missourians lose their health insurance benefits each month. In Kansas, the rate is 1,410 a month. The numbers make a good case for acting now on reform, said Ron Pollack, the group's executive director.

"(This report) shows that success in delaying health care reform comes with a huge price," he said in a conference call with reporters.

Mr. Graves said the Democratic leadership's rush to pass legislation in the House stems from timing of the summer break. When lawmakers face home-district constituents during the recess, he believes, they would face tough questions about the cost of the program.

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