Last week, Rep. Diane Black (R) , newly elected Congresswoman to Tennessee's 6th District, appeared on C-Span stating children with pre-existing conditions and chronic illnesses should not have to be covered under their parent's plan by insurance companies. Her reasoning is that insurance companies would lose too much money.
I could not sit idly back and let this go unanswered. I am a new member of the Tennessee Democratic Party's State Executive Committee. I am also a mother of a special needs child, who has a brain malformation, autism and developmental delay. He will always need healthcare and therapy; thus, he is considered uninsurable. If it weren't for the advances in in modern medicine, he would not be with us. To deny anyone in need of proper medical care is unconscionable to me.
So, for Kyle and all of the citizens of Tennessee, this is for you.
RESOLUTION NO._________
A RESOLUTION CONDEMMING REPRESENTATIVE DIANE BLACK OF THE 6th CONGRESSIOINAL DISTRICT OF TENNESSEE FOR HER RECENT STATEMENTS SUPPORTING THE DENIAL OF HEALTHCARE TO RESIDENTS OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE.
WHEREAS, on January 5, 2011 Representative Black advocated for the repeal of healthcare reform and more specifically the provisions related to the requirement for coverage of children with chronic illnesses and other citizens of these United States; and
WHEREAS, the Executive Committee of the Tennessee Democratic Party believes that all citizens of the great state of Tennessee and of these United States must be assured of quality, affordable healthcare; and
WHEREAS, we support the sanctity of life by preventing the killing of babies, innocent children and any other citizens by the reestablishment of corporate death panels and the resulting denial of healthcare that will occur with the repeal of healthcare reform as advocated by Representative Black and the Republican Party.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE TENNESSEE DEMOCRATIC PARTY that we hereby condemn the statements of Representative Diane Black and the actions proposed by the Republican Party to repeal health care reform.
This passed unanimously by the TNDP Executive Committee. I would like to thank Bill Owen of District 7 for suggesting I do a resolution condemning Diane Black. Also, a big thanks to Sylvia Wood, East TN Regional Vice Chair, for helping me with how to introduce a resolution.
This resolution came after our TNDP's election for officers of the party. The Chairmanship was a contentious election. The incumbent, Chip Forrester, won re-election. Bill Owen suggested the resolution to bring a show of party unity. There may have been differences on a choice of party chair, but at the end of the day we are united to fight the Republicans and their repeal of health care reform.
There is a mandate there that insurance companies must insure children up to the age of 24, and what we have found is that there are a lot of insurance companies that are just saying we’re not going to be in this business any longer, because we know that we can’t survive if that’s what we’re going to do.
And the second piece of that was to insure children regardless of their health care history, and as a result of that, I know several health care insurance agents in my district who have said we’re just dropping any insurance for children whatsoever.