It is, of course, no surprise that Representative Simpson is not an advocate of a single-payer health care system, or any sort of system based on the principle that physical wellbeing is not just another business commodity. However, there are certain measures that even a well meaning opponent of such reform should support. If one is working from a purely business model of health care, surely existing government programs should include drug price negotiation, so that the least expensive medication package is going to those in need?
Apparently not, according to Mike Simpson, who voted against 2007 HR 4, which required negotiated prices for medicine given under Medicare, voting with a bloc which felt that the bill was changing a system which already works well. There are quite a lot of seniors here in Idaho who would disagree with the congressman. Back in 2003, Simpson and his Republican colleagues, at the urging of the pharmaceutical lobby, banned drug price negotiation, increasing an already existing "donut hole" in Medicare, created by flawed Republican policy. In the status quo, there are an estimated 7 million seniors who cannot afford health care individually, but who are not eligible for Medicare coverage. This may be acceptable to Congressman Simpson, but it is not acceptable to the people of Idaho, and it is not acceptable to me. Negotiated drug pricing could decrease the cost of Medicare per individual, allowing greater coverage. A vote for my opponent is a vote against necessary reform, which must be implemented if our seniors are to have what they deserve.
Mike Simpson also voted against the Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act of 2008, which required health care plans to apply similar treatment standards to patients suffering from mental illness as to patients suffering from physical illness. Simpson and his colleagues, with their quibbling over details of the bill, don't seem to recognize the urgency of the issue. Millions of Americans each year are denied coverage for mental health issues under their health care plans; to deny that these people are suffering from illness is an absurdity. Fortunately, my opponent was in the minority on this issue; the bill passed, and we've taken another step towards true parity. But it must be remembered that, if Mike Simpson had his way, nothing would have been done.
Again and again, Mike Simpson thinks Idahoans should be happy with the status-quo. If you want true leadership on health care related issues, I am your candidate. I will always hold the health of the people of Idaho above the health of the pocketbooks of the pharmaceutical lobby.
On an unrelated note, I'd like to congratulate the next President of the United States, Barack Obama, for his nomination victory last night. I'm sure that all of us, whether we supported Senator Obama or Senator Clinton, are glad to be able to go to the general election and illuminate the many reasons why the Democratic message is better than that of our opponents.
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