I get regular email from the WA State Democratic Party, and for a long time I've been complaining that the emails are uninformative and that all they do is ask for money.
Tonight I got an email from WA Dems that was informative and actually didn't ask for money (if it did, I missed it). The email was in regard to ballot proposition I330, which affects medical insurance and malpractice claims.
Not only was the email informative in itself, it links to a "No on 330" web site which is effective and detailed on the issue.
It's great to see WA Dems putting together an effective email/web campaign and I'm looking forward to more of this as 2006 rolls around.
The email is in the extended text.
Dear Friend,
Now here's a report that the forces supporting I-330 don't want you to see.
Last week, the national non-profit consumer organization Public Citizen published the results of their independent study about the so-called medical malpractice "crisis" in Washington state -- a report that uncovers the false and misleading arguments being made by I-330's proponents.
[link]
Take a look at just a few of the Public Citizen findings:
-Medical malpractice claims aren't skyrocketing -- in fact, they're decreasing: The value of medical malpractice payments made from doctors and their insurance companies to injured patients has declined by 42% since 1999.
-The number of million-dollar payments has also decreased, from a high of 10 in 1997 to just 2 in 2004.
-Medical malpractice payments aren't being driven by "frivolous" lawsuits: The most serious medical injury cases represent 85% of all payments made to injured patients.
-Doctors are not fleeing Washington state -- in fact, their numbers are growing: The number of Washington doctors has increased by 10%, from 294.3 per 100,000 residents in 1993 to 322.9 per 100,000 residents in 2005.
-The number of specialists has grown even more dramatically: Between 1992 and 2004, the per capita number of obstetricians has grown by 21%, emergency physicans by 52%, and internists by 28%.
So what do these results mean? I-330 proponents are basing their entire campaign on false information.
How can I-330's proponents claim that malpractice payments are driving up insurance costs, when the value of these payments has declined by 42%? How can I-330's proponents claim that malpractice is driving doctors out of Washington state, when the number of doctors -- including specialists -- is going up?
As Joan Claybrook, president of Public Citizen said:
"The specter being raised by the insurance industry and others pushing Initiative 330 -- that the legal system is forcing increases in malpractice rates -- is a ruse. The best way to reduce malpractice lawsuits is to reduce malpractice."
You and I know that I-330 is the wrong solution for Washington. And now we have even more facts to back us up. So here's what I ask you to do, today:
1. Forward this email to everyone you know. Help us distribute these latest Public Citizen report findings far and wide across Washington State.
[link]
2. Sign our No on 330 online petition. Join the coalition of organizations and fellow Washingtonians who are committed to defeating this dangerous initiative.
[link]
Thanks for your continued help and support!
Sincerely,
Barbara Flye
No on 330 Campaign Chair
Visit the No on 330 Website:
[link]
Contributions are not tax deductible for federal income tax purposes. Your contribution may be used in connection with federal elections and is subject to the limitations and prohibitions of the Federal Election Campaign Act. State and federal law require us to use our best efforts to collect and report the name, mailing address, employer, occupation and employers address of individuals who make contributions to the WSDCC in excess of $100 and $200 respectively per calendar year.
Paid for by the Washington State Democratic Central Committee PO Box 4027 Seattle, WA 98194, (206) 583-0664
Chair Paul Berendt, www.wa-democrats.org
and not authorized by any federal candidate or candidates committee.