We're still waiting for a real townhall meeting with our congresswoman, Judy Biggert, here in IL-13. Until she bothers to set something up with enough notice that her working constituients can attend, some of us lucky people (or unlucky because we're unemployed?) managed to track her down at the Naperville Chamber of Commerce for a meeting today.
Naperville Chamber of Commerce, thank you for letting us horn in on your meeting, which was heavy into all of the issues business people in the area are concerned with. And we also thank you for allowing us to ask questions, which made everything at the end a discussion on health care. We imagine that some of your members had their own issues to discuss with the congresswoman and may not have had a chance because we were there talking about health care.
I'm glad you gave us this small chance to ask questions, because even though Ms. Biggert had a survey on her home page a couple weeks ago that showed over 69% of her constituients are in favor of health care reform, she insists she is representing the majority of her constituients when she just says "NO." She clearly needs to be better informed and so far has shown no interest in holding a general meeting to listen.
Judy must have watched Claire McCaskill yesterday and decided she's not nearly that competent. She invited Rep. Mark Kirk to join her and do all the heavy lifting. Since he's running for the senate seat that is currently held by Sen. Roland Burris, he jumped at the opportunity.
And believe me, I had no idea just how wonderful Mark Kirk is! Surely anyone in Washington must know it's him because of the cape he must wear while going from place to place and saving us so much money. He's so humble he didn't wear his cape today. But, cape or no cape, by the time he was through he left little doubt that we were mere mortals and possibly unworthy to be in his presence.
Here are some examples of just how wonderful Mark Kirk is:
Mark was in the military. So there.
Wonder who singlehandedly stopped the Bridge to Nowhere even though it was a Republican plan? Well, wonder no more!
Did you want to thank someone for killing those new planes for Congress? Don't bother with YOUR congressman - get in line to thank Mark Kirk!
Mark used to mow lawns, so he knows a LOT about the grass in the Capital Mall. If you didn't want to spend money on new grass for the Capital Mall, thank Mark Kirk and be grateful that he mowed lawns so he knew how to fix this for us!
But Mark is worried about that stimulus bill. It was too big and he couldn't kill that. The stim has far too much (80%) for social programs and not nearly enough for infrastructure (20%). Unlike other countries (like ones who have plans to care for their unemployed indefinitely and already provide health care) that used all their stimulus money for infrastructure.
But I get ahead of myself. All you people standing on weedy curbs and dusty parking lots with your signs; all you people crammed into the local high school gym trying to get some information from your congressperson, you just aren't living right.
While Judy did not meet with everyone who wanted to see her a couple days ago when she gave her "closed" town hall to a select few who live in a nearby gated community, we at least got to see some wonderful scenery and gardens inside the gates. Today, we arrived at the Hotel Arista in Naperville in plenty of time. When the doors to the grand ballroom opened, we chose our seats at tables (white tablecloths) previously set up with agendas, 8x10 pads of paper and pens for our notes, ice water and glasses. And luncheon was served... No, really. They asked for donations outside at the registration tables, but once you were in the air conditioned ballroom you could avail yourself of a selection of sandwiches, a variety of cornichons and crudites, chips, coffee, iced tea, and more bounty than anyone would expect. Help yourself. Dig in. The servants will be around to take your dishes before the meeting begins.
Did you know that your congressperson is not on August recess from Congress? It's now called a District Work Period. Sounds better when you're paying someone $170,000/year, doesn't it? Anyhow, we're two weeks into this Work Period and things are just so hectic. Things have been hectic in the House this year, too. They've set a grueling schedule, they've been just RUSHING through huge bills. Gosh, sometimes our congresspeople have had to work double shifts! WTF! Meanwhile, NOBODY knows what's going on in the Senate. It's all secret stuff and these two republicans can only report that the Senate is secretive.
The first thing Mark Kirk took credit for was improving the image of our state. Really, everyone thanks him for that. He said so. So, if you're from Illinois and someone comes up and says that the State of Illinois looks SO much better now than it did say 6 months ago, you have Mark Kirk to thank for that. And don't forget it because he's going to get sick of saying it before this campaign is over.
Also, we're 45th in job creation, but don't blame any of that on Judy or Mark. Not their responsibility, and they take none. Mark likes Pat Fitzgerald, but that isn't news. When Pat Fitzgerald gets into the shady political dealings in DuPage County, I'll like Pat Fitzgerald, too.
Did anyone notice the stock market went up when the democrats delayed action on health care? Because, that's why.
News to me, but Judy and Mark have been holding out on all of us. Now, Judy didn't say boo about this because she's just not into taking credit (what a good little woman) but Mark says THEY BOTH have been working on some alternate health care plan. He held up HR3200 many times, they both railed about 1000 pages. The GAO says that HR3200 is going to cost us big time. Taxes or borrowing, it doesn't matter. We're screwed. But, Mark has a plan to save the day. Except I don't know if the dog ate his homework, because HE HAD NOTHING. No stack of papers in front of him, no GAO accounting of just what his and Judy's bill will cost us, no website so we can read his bill. But, he says it's been emailed "all over Washington," so if anyone out there has a copy of it, I'd sure like to read it. It'll be the email from Mark Kirk and Judy Biggert.
Basically, their plan contains
The Medical Rights Act, which says that Congress will enact no law that interferes with decisions made by you and your doctor.
If you have private insurance, well tough shit about your insurerer coming between you and your doctor.
Reforms to reduce costs, which is tort reform, electronic records and removal of Medicare waste, fraud and abuse.
No details, just the bullet points.
Lower insurance by broadening risk pools and allowing interstate purchase of insurance. Deregulate and "reform."
Once again, no details, just bullet points.
I hope the plan they say they've been working on for the past seven months contains more than this, but they couldn't prove it by me.
Judy is VERY afraid of rationing and had many slides of what's going on in England to prove just how awful caring for everyone can be. Data from many sources, gathered from the late 1990's to 2005. In no particular order, and completely out of context. But you'll get the point. Be very afraid. And by the way, Judy supports Max Baucus and his efforts to be fair with republicans when everyone else is slamming doors in their faces. And, she INSISTS that Democrats have ALREADY said you will not be able to keep your current health insurance plan when they pass their bill. Are you afraid yet? 'Cause I don't know if it was her presentation or the air conditioning, but I was shaking by that point!
Did you know that of all the people who do not have health insurance 37% of them could purchase insurance if they wanted to? Why, 19% of those households make $75,000/year and don't bother to buy insurance. Judy calls them YAHOOS. It's not OUR fault if those YAHOOS don't plan for their future! No other details on these people. But isn't that enough?
There were great questions from the crowd. Nonanswers, vague answers, repeated comments from above....but the questions were good.
A doctor explained that Medicare paperwork is much much much less than private insurance paperwork.
Several people debunked mistakes or lies that were in Judy and Mark's presentation. Someone asked why they spent so much time talking about England when nobody is talking about providing anything like health care in England here.
A Brit explained that he'd operated businesses in the UK, Canada and America, and he doesn't see why as a small businessman he has to provide insurance for any of his employees. It's costing him his American dream. He'd rather have the government do something and he'll pay same as everybody into a wider pool with no for-profit insurance in the way.
Ooops! Look at the time! We'd better get going. We're busy don't ya know.
Just as Judy was being whisked away by her keepers, a young person in the crowd asked what young people who are getting out of school right now and don't have jobs should do. They are often unable in this economy to find good jobs that provide insurance. What is in Judy's plan for young people in this economy? Judy said GET INSURANCE.
So, kids when you move back in and mooch off your parents now, tell them the Republicans sent you. Judy said so.
Sorry, no pictures. Judy says anyone who carries a sign is only interested in a circus and they are not serious. So, I guess to preserve Judy's sensibilities, there were easels set up all over stating that there would be no signs allowed on the property. And no electronic recordings, either, so since my abilities as an artist are limited to stick figures, I have no picts either.
OFF THE HEALTH CARE TOPIC, but, Mark Kirk has found a way for us to all dump on Bill Clinton again. Be patient! It's coming this December in Copenhagen when China will be wanting compulsory licensing on US patents relating to energy and energy production. It will be Bill Clinton's fault because he was the one who started this compulsory licensing when he allowed it for AIDS drugs. And, since 52% of those patents in the world are held by Americans, we will be destroyed. Once again, Kirk was here to save the day. I don't know about you, but rather than Representative, I think we should all call him Captain.