Email response from my senator regarding Health care

[PatSeg]

I wrote Senator Boxer to express my support for a public option. I love Senator Boxer, but I don't see any reference to a "public option".
_______________________________________________________________________________________________

"Thank you for writing to me about the need for health care reform. I am committed to enacting comprehensive health reform that controls rising health care costs and ensures high-quality, affordable health care for all Americans.



Congress recently passed a budget that lays out some basic principles for health care reform: making health care coverage affordable, guaranteeing Americans a choice of health plans and physicians, investing in prevention and wellness, improving patient safety and quality care, and making health care reform fiscally sustainable.



As the number of uninsured Americans grows rapidly, more people are suffering and forgoing needed care. It is estimated that more than 45 million Americans are without health insurance, including 6.7 million people in California.



Escalating health care costs are hurting our families and our economy. In order to put our economy on a sound path to recovery, we must address the costs and inefficiencies of our health care system. As we move forward in the debate on health care reform, I will continue to fight for common goals of constraining costs, expanding access, and improving quality.



I look forward to working with the Obama Administration and my colleagues to enact legislation that will put these principles for health care reform.




Again, thank you for writing to me. Please feel free to contact me again about this or other issues of concern to you.


Barbara Boxer
United States Senator"

[jgraz]

1. Yeah, I searched twice. Can't find any mention of a public option

Thanks for nuthin, Babs.

Oops, make that "Senator Babs". :eyes:

[zeemike]

2. Just a standard form response...like always

But the answer as to what he intends to do is in this:

"I am committed to enacting comprehensive health reform that controls rising health care costs and ensures high-quality, affordable health care "

In other words he wants to keep things the same and will not consider single payer....that's all folks.

[Cleita]

3. She's usually not so evasive. However, she's on the committee that covers

environment so she's not close to the health care debate other than her vote in the Senate. I really wish she were on it. I think she would be more on the left to it than this.

[PatSeg]

5. I know

She is usually more committed than this. Basically, her email doesn't say much of anything. A republican senator could easily have sent out the same email.

[NYC_SKP]

7. I was at a hearing with her last month. She was evasive. And it was about the environment.

I love her to death but I was disappointed when she couldn't answer a simple question from Secretary Salazar:

"Do you support development of renewable energy sources on the outer continental shelf?"

She launched into her concern about drilling, never got around to answering the question, it was like she didn't even hear it.

Maybe it wasn't evasive, maybe she was just not listening and thinking about drilling so much that she didn't hear.

Ah well.

[Cleita]

10. Lately I haven't communicated with her much. She's usually really

on top of the environmental issues. She used to send letters and emails about what she's doing, but they have dwindled down. If we lose Barbara we are lost. She is in the minority, I'm beginning to believe, and looking for a new win at the next election because her term is almost up.

[blaze]

4. Here's mine from CO Bennet

Dear "Blaze":

Thank you for contacting me regarding single payer health care. I appreciate hearing from you on this important issue.

As you may know, Congressman John Conyers introduced the United States National Health Care Act, H.R. 676 - a bill to establish a universal health care insurance program with single payer financing. This bill would create the United States National Health Care (USNHC) Program to provide all individuals residing in the United States and in U.S. territories with free health care that includes all medically necessary care, such as primary care and prevention, prescription drugs, emergency care, and mental health services.

Like you, I am concerned about the state of health care in this country. I believe that working to increase access to quality health care is a moral obligation and that failing to do so threatens the strength and productivity of our nation.

Our families and businesses face a serious health care crisis. Almost 800,000 Coloradans are currently uninsured. In the last decade, health insurance premiums have risen five times faster than wages. This contributes to the average Colorado family paying over $12,000 for employer-sponsored coverage.

I am a strong supporter of expanding health care coverage in our country. Earlier this year I voted to expand the Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009 - a program that offers low-cost, quality health insurance to children and pregnant women who earn too much to qualify for Medicaid, but do not earn enough to afford private health insurance. I am working with my colleagues in the Senate to pass national comprehensive health care legislation that provides quality, affordable coverage for all Americans.

Currently, H.R. 676 has only been introduced in the House of Representatives. Please rest assured that I am open to suggestions on ways that we can deal with the health care crisis. I will be sure to keep your views in mind when considering any Senate legislation similar to H.R. 676 that could make health care in our country more accessible.

Again, thank you for contacting me.


Sincerely,

Michael Bennet
United States Senator

********************************

Sounds committed, doesn't he?

[PatSeg]

6. Oh yes

Now that is an answer. I'm not familiar with Senator Bennet, but obviously he is someone to watch.

[blaze]

8. He's one of our two Blue Dogs

I tried to find Udall's response, but it's late and I'm tired.... but he's equally committed to representing the people. :eyes:

[PatSeg]

9. That was the kind of response I expected from Boxer

I've received emails from her before and none of them were so evasive and noncommittal.

[MrMickeysMom]

11. This infuriates me...

These are our "progressives", yet somehow, they just can't get that much into the American people's basic health care needs. This is a catastrophe waiting.

I think we should hold them to definite answers. These are not responses... they are dancing bear routines!

I'm very pissed off after phoning (PA) senators and forget about Tim Murphy, the Congressional Rep. RW child psychologist who never left the Bush years.

Time's ticking and this is the biggest problem with the most obvious way out. Ask Kucinich and Bernie Sanders, for crying out loud.