The Ken Calvert Corruption Chronicles

Episode 6: Repeal Health Care? Really?

This past Sunday, Congress did something extraordinary – they passed a health insurance reform bill that will help millions of people across the country and hundreds of thousands right here at home.

And what is the Republican response to the passage of landmark legislation that helps millions of people? Repeal it!

That’s right – according to Republican Party leaders, the only thing they are focused on from now until November is repealing a bill designed to help millions of people obtain health insurance coverage.

Listed below are just some of the benefits to residents of the 44th district:

• Improve coverage for 518,000 residents with health insurance.
• Give tax credits and other assistance to up to 138,000 families and 13,000 small businesses to help them afford coverage.
• Improve Medicare for 76,000 beneficiaries, including closing the donut hole.
• Extend coverage to 107,000 uninsured residents.
• Guarantee that 19,600 residents with pre-existing conditions can obtain coverage.
• Protect 2,200 families from bankruptcy due to unaffordable health care costs.
• Allow 81,000 young adults to obtain coverage on their parents’ insurance plans.
• Provide millions of dollars in new funding for 2 community health centers.
• Reduce the cost of uncompensated care for hospitals and other health care providers by $15 million annually.
• Reduce the deficit by over $100 billion over the next ten years and by about $1 trillion over the second decade.

So I ask again – why repeal it? Because it’s just another election-year stunt concocted by a desperate incumbent to try and save his seat in November. And with over $160,000 in contributions from pharmaceutical and insurance companies, and HMOs, it leaves no doubt as to why Calvert doesn’t want to change the status quo.

Calvert has even saved HMOs some $22 billion with favorable reimbursement formulas after intense lobbying from the health insurance industry.

Once again, Calvert has chosen to side with corporations in a desperate attempt to save his seat in November. We deserve better. It’s time for real leadership for the district – leadership we can trust to represent the people – not corporate America’s bottom line.

Sources: http://energycommerce.house.gov/Press_111/health_care/districts/new/CA44.Calvert.pdf

opensecrets.org, accessed 5/20/09

HRS653, http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2006/roll004.xml, 2/01/06