A couple days ago I wrote to contact your senators about HCR and mentioned that I'd contacted Cornyn and KBH. I got an autoreply from Cornyn that contained zero info, but I got an even better reply from KBH just now.
It can be summarized by the following:
"Caution, this email may contain Republican talking points"
Join me below the fold for the actual text, followed by a bit of analysis / snark directed back at it. I'll state here at the start that I considered breaking the email up into parts first and then putting my comments below but I chose to copy the entire email in first so that it can be read in its entire glory.
I'm starting off with the entire email (minus contact info / etc at the bottom, editing for space), as I received it:
Dear Friend:
Thank you for contacting me about health care reform legislation. I welcome your thoughts and comments.
Texans are particularly aware of the need for health care reform, but it cannot come with a trillion dollar price tag and a government takeover of our health care system. Our state has 5.8 million uninsured residents, the highest percentage of uninsured in the nation. This number poses a huge challenge for our hospitals, taxpayers, and many working individuals and families who cannot afford the health care coverage they need. We need to improve access to affordable health insurance, but I strongly oppose the Democratic proposal which is why I voted against consideration of the bill.
The President and the Democratic leadership are pursuing a radical approach that will result in increased premiums, higher taxes, penalties, and reduced patient choices. One of the most troublesome aspects of the legislation being considered is the massive government expansion it would enact. I strongly oppose a government-run option. I believe it will inevitably lead to a single-payer system. At a time when our nation is facing a crippling debt and insolvent Medicare program, it defies common sense to create another costly government program.
I am also worried about the cost burden the Democratic health care proposals would impose on small businesses. When so many employers are struggling to offer insurance, we should be finding ways to bring down costs for their coverage. Instead, the Democratic proposals will impose taxes, penalties, and higher premiums. The bills before Congress would also make dramatic cuts to Medicare and hospital reimbursements, threatening patient choices and access.
The right approach to health care reform would be to fix what is broken with our system without destroying what works. I have put forth targeted and fiscally responsible ideas that will, through market-based competition, increase options for coverage and reduce costs. I am the lead co-sponsor of the Health Care Freedom Act of 2009 (S.1324), which would provide tax credits for individuals who purchase their own insurance so that the coverage they buy is portable, would implement nationwide medical malpractice reform, would create a web portal so comparing insurance plans is easier, would allow individuals to purchase insurance across state lines, and would allow states the flexibility to provide coverage for individuals with pre-existing conditions. I am also a strong supporter and cosponsor of bills that would allow small businesses to pool together and purchase insurance, thus spreading risk and reducing their costs. All these approaches have proven to be effective and would lead to more affordable and accessible health insurance.
The Democrats have presented Americans with a false choice: their proposal or nothing. However, there are other better remedies that will actually lower costs, expand access to quality care, and increase patients’ options – without the threat of government control. These other options will keep patients at the center of their health care, and take the bureaucrats out of the equation.
You are among thousands of concerned Texans who have written to express their views on this topic. You may be assured that as health care reform legislation comes for consideration before the full Senate, I will continue fighting against the Democrats’ proposal to enact a government takeover of our health care system.
I appreciate hearing from you, and I hope that you will contact me on any issue that is important to you.
Sincerely,
Kay Bailey Hutchison
United States Senator
284 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
202-224-5922 (tel)
202-224-0776 (fax)
http://hutchison.senate.gov
(Edited out further stuff not related to health care)
First off, I'm actually kind of impressed that this was updated in the last day or two. But, aside from that, I have to say this is just a collection of typical talking points, with the addition of her proposal (which has gone nowhere - it was referred to committee and died) to what could just be standard text that all of the senators use. I wonder if she'd vote for the Wyden amendment, considering it seems like her pet bill is in the same sort of arena for health care, but that's an aside - I asked her to support it in the email I sent but of course she hasn't slipped that into her form letter yet.
The first part shows for sure why TX needs reform. But she then proceeds to give zero proof of her thesis, that the Dem plan(s) will raise premiums, reduce care, etc, etc. It's the standard talking points with little to no proof.
She does come out and admit, however, what her fear of the public option is - that it'll lead to what many progressives really want, which is single payer. But, were I to actually ask her this, I'd ask "what's your response to the CBO estimate that only about 2% would take the public option"?
I'd also ask her what she thought of the CBO's other findings, especially for the Senate bill, since in theory it'd alleviate her concerns. In actuality, I think she blew them off, like the rest of the Republican senators, but that's typical for the current political environment.
The opening and ending are also rather funny to read, since I wrote specifically asking her to support the Democrats plan. Clearly the poor staffer tasked with clearing the email inbox doesn't have two form letters ready to go (or the computer program they made doesn't have two letters ready to go - however she has it done in her office).
It is funny, in reading this and other things, that of the three leading Republican figures in Texas - Perry, Cornyn, and KBH - she's the most palatable. And she's still quite conservative herself. It just goes to show just what a crappy hand we have at the top here.
If you've managed to get this far and have examples of the form replies from other senators, it may be interesting to compare. I seem to recall a couple diaries from people who got personalized snarky replies, but I'm disappointed to say I didn't get that special treatment!