The Utah Amicus

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We just posted these two posts, today.

From PBS - Reporter: Other Nations Provide Health Reform Lessons for U.S.

From Utah Policy Daily: A Conversation with Wayne Holland, Chairman of the Utah Democratic Party

What we heard Herbert say at his first press events

80,000 Utahns don’t have jobs right now who would like to have jobs. As people are looking at your performance, how accountable will you be for where that number is?

I’m accountable for everything now. The buck does stop with me. I cannot deflect it to anybody else. I’m accountable, not only now, but at the end of 2010 and beyond if I’m fortunate enough to stay beyond.

What is your vision for education in Utah?

We ought to be able to keep education held harmless, at least trundling along at the same level that we’re doing here today.

Utahns have historically placed great value on education. Within weeks of arriving in the Salt Lake Valley in 1847, 17-year-old Mary Jane Dilworth established the area's first school. 
Those early classes took place in a tent, in the middle of a stockade. There were no chairs, just logs, and no desks, only wagon parts to provide surfaces for reading and writing.

School vouchers are over, the public has spoken. We need to move on beyond that. That won’t be resurrected for, you know, a decade or more.

Is Utah achieving its goals with the four/ten workweek?

The answer is I don’t know for sure.

Aren’t smokers essentially a relatively small, special interest group?

Well, I guess we can always target somebody that maybe has no ability to defend their position.

Do you believe in creationism or Darwinism?

What I believe is probably irrelevant to what the government should be involved with. It’s always something that can be discussed with our legislative branch.

Do you support an option that would give parents the choice to give their kids comprehensive sex ed in public schools?

I do believe that parents have a right to make decisions in behalf of their children: the kind of education that they receive, and how it’s being taught. I have no problem with parents having choice. The question is who’s responsible to give it? We as parents seem to be giving up our responsibility of being parents and teaching our children -- that is the parents’ responsibility on sex education. The responsibility lies with parents and guardians, not the schools.

Would you support a state wide standard if Salt Lake City enacts a non-discrimination ordinance?

I believe in local government. I believe that we ought to build ordinances and policies, ground-up. Bottom-up, not top-down. And most instances government closest to the people reflects the people’s will a lot better. So I would be patient and wait and see what comes up. The legislature will react as they typically do on these issues.

We ought to just do the right thing because it’s the right thing to do, and don’t have a law that punishes us if we don’t. Where do you stop? I mean that’s the problem of going down that slippery road. Pretty soon we’re going to have a special offer for blue-eyed blonds. Or people who are losing their hair a little bit, there’s a special classification that we put them in.

So should sexuality, sexual orientation be a protected class? 

No. I just don’t think we need to have a law that ensures that.

What changes do you advocate for Utah tax policy?

I have no plans to change any of our tax policy that we currently have in place. Tax policy ought to be reviewed, particularly in the circumstances that we face ourselves with today. I expect there’ll be all kinds of ideas as there always are in the legislature.

Is the sales tax on food something you would like to see restored?

As a local government guy, I was concerned about the removal of the sales tax and the impact it would have on the local government’s budget -- particularly smaller rural cities where the grocery store is really the only commercial establishment they have. If the idea of having a lower rate and a broader base, then we have tax recommendations that say this sales tax removal of food doesn’t fit that category. I know it is in fact counterproductive.

Will you veto any budget that includes tax increases?

That’s premature for me to say.

Have you seen the documentary “An Inconvenient Truth” and what do you think of it?

I have seen it, and it’s inconvenient. And there are some inconvenient mistruths. The debate is not over. I’d like to encourage that debate and bring together people on all sides of this issue and say, “Let’s have a discussion, and let’s let the people decide.”

What’s your view of the Snake Valley water agreement?

This is really a draft agreement, there is no agreement. We’ve got to start someplace.

How is the economy in Utah doing now after your five years in leadership?

The economy in Utah is certainly not where we want it to be.  Our emphasis needs to be on growing the economy. It is the number one focus that’s going to come out of my office. We will do everything we can to empower the private sector. We also have a significant effort in trying to attract businesses. We have over 100 different entities right now, today, looking to Utah as a place to locate or expand their business operation.  So I’m going to be out and about with our private sector, with our business community, making sure  we’re helping, not hindering their opportunities.

We need to get back to the economy we had two, three years ago, that would be our goal, and we’ll be moving in that direction.

Many members of your party feel uncomfortable with the initiative process. What’s your comfort level with the initiative process and the way it works in Utah?

I have a jaundiced eye about the results that come with initiatives, but I believe it’s important for the people to have that process, to have the checks and balances that are necessary on the legislative process is kind of the 2 X 4 to hit us up the side of the head to get our attention.

Would you sign petitions on Redistricting and Ethics Reform if they came around and asked for your signature?

Well, I haven’t read the petitions to know what they say.

(NOTE: This was his response despite his signature on every circulating petition attesting that:

I, Gary R. Herbert, Lieutenant Governor of the State of Utah, hereby certify that the initiative entitled “Utah Redistricting Standards Commission” contained in this petition section is a full, true and correct copy of that initiative as proposed by the sponsors for referral to the people of the State of Utah for their approval as law, or rejection.

Dated this 31^st day of July 2009)

Hatch and GOP can't blame Kennedy's death for failure to pass reform

  Senator Orrin Hatch's friendship with Senator Ted Kennedy has gotten a lot of press in the 24 hours following the death of the long time Massachusetts Senator and "liberal lion" of the US Senate.  Unfortunately, Hatch's decision to use his friend's death as an excuse for what will almost certainly be a total or near total lack of GOP support for healthcare reform does not strike us as the act of a friend.

The Salt Lake Tribune is reporting Senator Hatch told guests at a Sutherland Institute gathering yesterday (Wednesday, August 26) that he and Senator Kennedy had agreed to work out a bipartisan compromise on healthcare reform but now "there is no one on [the Democrats'] side that can bring together their base as Ted could."  Hatch continued "There's not another Democratic senator who had that kind of sway."

Hatch's recognition of the tremendous admiration and influence Senator Kennedy had earned among Democrats is nice.  However, using his death as the reason you won't be supporting what Senator Kennedy described as the "cause of his life" is inappropriate to say the least. 

It is certainly no secret Senator Hatch is a conservative Republican and Senator Kennedy was a liberal Democrat.  As such, the two had differences and this would come as a surprise to no one.  The fact they were able to establish a friendship that transcended those differences is remarkable.  However, when a friend dies you don't use his death as an excuse to do nothing or worse, actively oppose, an issue he cared more about than any other issue he had worked on during a long and distinguished career. 

Senator Hatch dropped out of healthcare reform negotiations before Senator Kennedy's death, so the fact he is now using his death as an excuse for inaction or outright opposition to healthcare reform legislation is disingenuous to say the least.  Senator Hatch and Senator Kennedy have set aside partisanship and put Americans first before.  Their joint work on the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) stands out as a prime example.  The best way to honor Senator Kennedy's memory is to reengage with Democrats and the small number of Republicans still working to find a healthcare solution that will benefit working families and help America's struggling economy.  We hope Senator Hatch will do so, if only in honor of the cause of his friend's life.

Utah Democrats Mourn Death of Senator Edward Kennedy

President Obama said today that, “The Kennedy name is synonymous with the Democratic Party.”

Portraits of President and Mrs. Kennedy, and Robert Kennedy hang at the Utah State Democratic Party headquarters.

Sen. Edward “Ted” Kennedy was a colleague of the late Utah Senator Frank “Ted” Moss and a mentor to former Utah Congressman Wayne Owens, who in their turn mobilized a generation of Utah Democratic Party activists.

One year ago, Utah Democrats in Denver joined the rest of the nation to hear Sen. Kennedy deliver what many believed would be his farewell address to the Party. It was an emotional moment for our delegation, many who believed it would be the last time they would hear from the Senator in person and some who were hearing him in person for the first time. All of us were inspired.

Better than any tribute we could write are his words from that occasion:

“I have come here tonight to stand with you to change America, to restore its future, to rise to our best ideals.

As I look ahead, I am strengthened by family and friendship. So many of you have been with me in the happiest days and the hardest days. Together we have known success and seen setbacks, victory and defeat.

But we have never lost our belief that we are all called to a better country and a newer world.

For me this is a season of hope -- new hope for a justice and fair prosperity for the many, and not just for the few -- new hope.

And this is the cause of my life -- new hope that we will break the old gridlock and guarantee that every American -- north, south, east, west, young, old -- will have decent, quality health care as a fundamental right and not a privilege.

Yes, we are all Americans. This is what we do. We reach the moon. We scale the heights. I know it. I've seen it. I've lived it. And we can do it again.

There is a new wave of change all around us, and if we set our compass true, we will reach our destination -- not merely victory for our Party, but renewal for our nation.

And this November the torch will be passed again to a new generation of Americans, so with Barack Obama and for you and for me, our country will be committed to his cause. The work begins anew. The hope rises again. And the dream lives on.”

Amen, Senator Kennedy. Thank you for your contributions to our community and for your personal kindness. May you rest in peace.

Our work continues.

No health care reform under any circumstances

This past week or so has proven beyond any shadow of a doubt the far right's agenda for the summer of 2009 can be summed up in two words - "Hell no!!"  It doesn't matter whether suggestions for health care reform are coming from Republicans or Democrats.  If the right has anything to do with it we will all be paying more than $22,000 per family by 2020 for health care and that's that.

The latest demonstration of fear and loathing from the right with respect to health care reform is not aimed at a Democrat, but rather Utah Senator Bob Bennett.  The Club for Growth has launched an attack against the Senator for co-sponsoring health reform legislation with Oregon Democratic Senator Ron Wyden.  The fact this legislation includes neither a public option or health insurance co-op demonstrates the far right simply does not want health care reform in any form.

We simply cannot afford as a nation, let alone as individual families and employers, to see health insurance premium costs rise from the $12,200 range as of 2008 to the more than $22,000 annual cost predicted by 2020.   Without reform that is exactly what will happen.  A recent study concluded even a one percent reduction in the growth rate of insurance premium costs between now and 2020 would reduce the cost of insuring a family by more than $2,500 annually below current projections.

The word "growth" in the Club for Growth's name must be referring to health care costs.  It obviously has nothing to do with broader economic growth.

Democrats Position on the Government Ethics Reform Citizens’ Initiative

Normally, Democrats in Utah have a hard time getting press attention. Rarely are we mentioned in most stories on public policy.

So it is with sincere thanks that I acknowledge the attention given to us as a lead story in today’s Paul Rolly’s column in the Salt Lake Tribune and its echo on Glen Warchol’s blog Salt Lake Crawler.

However, contrary to these published sources, the Utah Democratic Party has not taken ANY position on the Government Ethics Reform citizens’ initiative. At this time, we neither support nor oppose the proposal.

Indeed that was the point of the e-mail written by me to members of the State Party Executive Committee and Democratic state legislators that was the subject of Mr. Rolly’s column.

We advised that members not take a position until we had a chance to review the actual proposal instead of basing a decision on what had been grist for the rumor mill. (BTW, it was simply advice. Of course, as always, people are free to do as they choose.)

We appreciate the old WR Hearst dictum for newspapers: Never let the facts get in the way of a good story.

This story had two good plot points. One I appreciated. The other I did not.

It accused the Democratic Party of being organized. For this, I thank you, Mr. Rolly.

The other, not so much. Given the Democratic Party’s long-time position in support of an independent ethics committee, I was cast as the villain: a craven, greedy and hypocritical politician. It is a role that I reject. But thanks for thinking of me.

I must also thank Mr. Rolly for educating me on a new definition for the word “grassroots.” He wrote: “Grassroots participation in politics usually is code for campaign contributions and favors from lobbyists.”

This is an entirely new connotation to me. It is not how I intended it. I used the word “grassroots” to mean typical citizens and voters engaging in their civic duties.

Finally, I wanted to address one last item from Mr. Rolly’s column. He wrote: “After all, the Democratic Party invites the same well-heeled lobbyists to buy tables at its fundraisers that the Republican Party does.”

This is true. But nothing in the initiative addresses this.  So, your point, Mr. Rolly?

I suspect that it is likely that once we have had a chance to meet with sponsors of the initiative and undertake a thorough review, the Democratic Party will take a position. I hope that when we do, it will get some coverage.

1,001 Stories of A Failed Utah Health System

Here are just a few of the thousands of Utah health insurance stories that have been collected at:

http://stories.barackobama.com/healthcare/

Craig - Salt Lake City, UT
My daughter developed an joint condition at an early age. She has attempted to get insurance, and because of her pre-existing condition, has been repeatedly refused coverage. Without health care reform, she faces a life of struggle and pain. Please have the heart and the balls to pass a system that follows the requirement "Everybody in, nobody out". The costs are lower and the resulting justice is now in our reach.

Matt -  - Salt Lake City, UT
I'm self-employed and hopelessly under-insured. I worry that a major medical emergency would push me into bankruptcy.

Beatrix - Salt Lake City, UT
No one should have to worry about or avoid getting health care, I lived in the UK and had to go to hospital and was extremely confused and shocked that no one chased me for a payment, they just said have a nice day and let me walk out. This experience was such a relief and surprise, I really felt cared for not having to worry how I will pay at the door.

Wesley - Salt Lake City, UT
Over the past couple of years I've had some health problems that required several tests and doctor visits. I'm a single, employed person and have money put away for emergencies such as this...but not everybody can prioritize their budgets in this way due to circumstance. The costs were definitely a wake up call to me and it made me think about how impossible it must be for people who can't afford health care to find adequate care, and on top of that, be able to pay for it. This is a huge problem in this country and needs to be addressed now rather than deal with the approaching fallout that will ensue if we do nothing.

Gail - Salt Lake City, UT
My father is paying over $100,000 a year for nursing home care - and never made more than $20,000 a year in his life. He saved, invested, was careful - and now his end of life is very bitter because he hates where he has to live and sees all the fruits of his labors, which he wanted to share with his children and grandchildren, slip away.

Karolina - Salt Lake City, UT
I am a recent immigrant to the United States. In the end of 2009 I did not have a job yet, just some savings and a place to stay at my friends house. While I was looking for a job I thought it would be important to have some healthcare coverage and I researched what are the available government healthcare plans that I could qualify for. I contacted healthcare department of the local government. There was the only one in the state of Utah, Primary Care Network, but state official told me that the openings for the enrollment in that plan were currently closed, as it is open only once or twice a year when the coverage becomes available. I found a job within 2 months of my immigration from Ukraine and my employer provides my health insurance now. However, at that moment of my life when I just came to the US and did not have a job, even for 2 months, it was important for me to be safe and have a health plan. The only choice I had to go to the market and buy a plan that I could not afford at that time. It was not a very welcoming moment in my first few month in America. I think there should be something for at least legal immigrant to America that could support them at least during the first few months in the new country. Thank you for your work and wishing you all the best.

Joshua - Salt Lake City, UT
I have worked many part time jobs since graduating college and none of them provided health insurance. I have a few health issues that I kind of just deal with because I don't know how to see a doctor without paying a lot of money. I think this is probably the most important political issue because it really effects every one at one time or another.

Janet - Salt Lake City, UT
I was injured on the job at the hospital I'd worked for for 23 yrs, 'medically retired', had no insurance other than SSD, and though the ADA required that a new job be offered me, none was, so as my health declined, I found myself living on about $800 a month, had rent and living expenses to pay out of that, and ended up leaving the US to live in Thailand where health care is not only excellent, but cheap also. I pay out of pocket for everything, as Medicare/SSD will not pay out of the US for my health expenses. I've paid for 2 angioplasties, now need a total knee replacement and am still plagued with my original Worker's Comp back injury, but it is still better than paying 20% of all my medical bills in the US! I am ashamed of the health care in the US. And particularly after I'd worked IN a major hospital in Carmel California, very posh, I still feel angry that I was treated so unfairly by both the hospital and the system of Medicare. I wish President Obama all the best, and support him in his endeavor to improve a broken system which not only mistreats people but actually allows injured and sick people to fall through the cracks every single day. Where is compassion? Where is 'doing the right thing'? Good luck, get it done, perhaps I'll return one day to a country I can be proud of.

Allen - Salt Lake City, UT
I'm 45 years old, and have not had a physical exam in over 28 years. I have several serious symptoms of physical deterioration. I honestly feel like I am dying. I know the longer I wait the worse I will get. I can not afford any health care, and really never have. Frankly, I've quite accepted that I will not get any health care and just hope for the best. I plan on just ending my own life when and if the pain from the symptoms reach a level I can not take. I do not believe in this planet any longer and do not expect that my Government cares enough to help me or anyone like me. HEALTH CARE - WHAT EVER!!!!

Dominique - Salt Lake City, UT
Bankruptcy, lost teeth, inability to see doctor, children who have asthma but we can't get medication due to cost, serious illness that wasn't caught in time because of inability to have preventative, regular checkups. This is my family's history of medical care. Once, I worked 2 jobs and my spouse 1. The children were covered by THREE insurance companies. Neither would pay... all pointing the finger at the other two. We were eventually sued by the Utah Attorney General's office.

Zachary - Salt Lake City, UT
I nearly died because I couldn't afford to have an ambulance take me back to the hospital after being Prescribed Percocet which my body rejected outright. Luckily a vigilante paramedic friend understood the value of life over class struggle.

Dale - Salt Lake City, UT
I have a friend, in her 50's, a waitress in a small restaurant with no health care benefits. She can't afford to pay her own insurance premiums. She is very vulnerable to serious health problem.

Nancy - Salt Lake City, UT
Health Care Costs ARE too high. I have insurance and just what the insurance doesn't cover-I can't afford. Everytime I go to the Doctor or do anything medical I incur debt. I often op out of care because I know I can't afford the deductible and the remaining balances.

Gabe - Salt Lake City, UT
I had a head-on-head collision playing basketball and needed stitches. With a mild concussion I drove myself, bleeding to the closest InstaCare and was told I was not in the network and that I'd have to pay most of the cost out-of-pocket. So, instead I was sent across town to a clinic that didn't open for another 2 hours. How can that be a good system?

Wendy - Salt Lake City, UT
I have a number of stories that apply to our problems with all of the following...myself included. My mother had a pre-existing heart condition; therefore, she paid out of pocket for two open heart surgeries. Her monthly prescription bill was her second largest monthly bill. My husband died of cancer at 39, which could have been cured if caught early. His insurance would not pay for a second opinion and on the first scan they missed the tumor. I encouraged him to seek another opinion, but he choose not to due to the out-of-pocket cost. I am now paying individual health care and my deductible is so high it's pathetic. We need to ensure preventive health care and with the existing system some of us do not see a doctor until it is critical, and sometimes too late!

Rebecca - Salt Lake City, UT
It sucks when you decide you can't work certain jobs that you have a gift for, because they don't offer health insurance. Health insurance being offered only through certain jobs really limits your choices in life. Luckily, I am a really healthy person, but once I went to a clinic to get tested after three weeks of having mono, and they told me I had mono, there was nothing to do but wait it out, and gave me some pain medication so I could swallow water (mono gives you a bad sore throat). The 15-min. appointment, complete with blood test, cost $450. I was making around $1000 a month then, and had to pay cash, of course. If I had a huge medical problem I just don't know how I would have dealt with it. Also, no one should be afraid of losing their life savings because their health deteriorates. Everyone's health deteriorates as you get older! It seems like a conspiracy theory sometimes ... And it's so utterly dehumanizing to be denied basic life-giving services, organs, surgery, cancer treatment, etc., that is AVAILABLE to save your life, because you can't pay. It's inhumane. I think our broken health system reflects the inhumanity of our society, man's inhumanity to man. We are also helplessly trapped under health insurance companies, who raise their rates seemingly without oversight. They can raise their prices as high as they want and we'll pay it, because you can't put a price on life. It's worth any price. We have such a cruel system.

Jamie - Salt Lake City, UT
When I was a kid my father was laid off from work several times in the 1980's. I was only 10 to 15 years old during that time but I was aware of our lack of health insurance. I knew my parents were worried and scared someone might get sick. One serious illness or accident and my parents would of been bankrupt because of it. This past year my 26 year old brother has suffered from a serious psychological disorder and he is without health insurance. He can't keep a job and is too old to be covered by my parents. He can't keep a job because he can't get the help he needs. He deserves access to health care. He deserves to get the help he needs to live a healthy productive life, but as an able-bodied adult male there is not help for him.

Jude - Salt Lake City, UT
I am in the food service industry and have two employees in their late 20's who are healthy and have been married a few years. They work 2 jobs each. The husband, Bill (made up name) burned his hand at home last Winter. They have no health insurance. He didn't want to go to an emergency room for 2 reasons. He didn't want to be told he couldn't go to work as a lead cook in a busy kitchen. Also, he wouldn't go to the doctor because it would cost $100, they didn't have the money. Yet, he had muscle showing on the surface of his hand. There is no health care for under-employed people- and workers comp doesn't want any risk for marginal performers. These 2 are hard working, interested, kind human beings with no health care service. The $15 co-pay that goes with insured folks would be fine. What can we do for them? Can we all have the coverage that the Senators have?

Brenden - Salt Lake City, UT
I am a doctoral student at the University of Utah. Without health insurance subsidized by the Graduate School, I doubt that I would be able to pursue my Ph.D. I want to use my education to serve my community and to teach those who desire to be educated and active citizens. Doing so with a doctoral degree would be impossible were it not for affordable healthcare. I hope for a country where this is a possibility to anyone with the drive and capability; no one should be denied their aspirations due to insufficient health coverage.

Ryan - Salt Lake City, UT
In these changing times, many of the young are choosing the path of freelance work. Thus, we are not covered by an company's insurance policy. We deserve coverage just as much as anyone, yet usually are unable to afford any. This is why we need a national policy, health care coverage is really something that no one should have to stress and worry about.

Cathryn - Salt Lake City, UT
I am a sixty-two year-old female who, once retired, has had to go back to work in order to afford health care. Fortunately I am so far healthy and strong, but could not risk that changing without adequate health care coverage. My husband is twelve years older that I am and I had really hoped to be spending this time of my life enjoying my days with him, traveling, hiking, birding, and just relaxing after a life of working. But that will now have to wait at least three more years until I qualify for Medicare.

Nate - Salt Lake City, UT
I'm recently unemployed and as such, I can't even think about having health insurance. Because of the prohibitive costs of most treatments, I have to be extra careful not to injure myself. Luckily, I'm young and healthy; plus, my parents would be able to help me were something catastrophic to happen. Even when I was employed, I was paying $230 (and my employer paid more) every month out of my already meager community organizer salary for a very basic health insurance plan with a high deductible. I've heard the arguments about how profits can incentivize quality and innovation, but the idea that it's the insurance companies, not doctors, that are profiting off of situations like mine and others' worse than mine is simply obscene.  

Erin - Salt Lake City, UT
I have Crohn's disease. Getting quality insurance and health care has been very difficult for me. While I'm finishing school, and without a full time job, I'm having trouble finding any insurance that I can afford that will cover my health expenses. Please reform health care and allow those who most need help to get the care they need.

Judy - Salt Lake City, UT
I am a mentor for pre-K teachers in our school district. These wonderful, hard working teachers do not get health care coverage. This is just a basic right that all people should have access to health care.

Brent - Salt Lake City, UT
When my health care bill per month is as much as my mortgage I know personally that it's time for a change. Having traveled and worked in Canada and other Commonwealth countries that have single payer health care I see no reason why we, the USA cannot afford to respect our citizens in the same way, the same citizens who have made this country a great and respected place to live and work. Please stop the lobbyist from blocking this new chapter in our history and pass a single payer health care system.

Larissa - Salt Lake City, UT
My mother suffers from diabetes. She doesn't make much money and she can't get benefits from her work. I want her to be able to visit the doctor whenever possible so that she can stay healthy and live as long as possible with this deadly disease.

Eric - Salt Lake City, UT
I am a student going to college right now and working a "part time" 35 hour a week job. My employer won't give me health benefits because I am "part time". I haven't been able to go to a doctor or any other type of health physician for four years now. This has also prevented me from doing some activities that I love doing because I am afraid that I would be hurt and not be able to pay for it. I suppose my situation is not as dire as most, but it still makes me feel more like a slave rather than a citizen of the United States.

Kathy - Salt Lake City, UT
May 20, '09 Because of my bronchial asthma and chronic bronchitis (COPD) I was dropped from my insurance I had in 1999. It was the company employer through which I had health insurance. So desperate were these executives to get rid of me from the insurance rolls that they even denied me the opportunity to purchase my insurance. If they'd given me that option I would have taken it because, obviously, I needed all the pulmonary medication I was taking. Without it I've been forced to self-medicate from over the counter. Since then I've been taking Bronkaid and Primatine to survive this "potentially death crisis." My struggles were worsened when these over-the-counter medications were removed from the store shelf and placed behind the pharmacy counter. Such is because now the government could make me a dope addict because of all the times I sign for the same OTC medication I once could buy without this encumbrance. This is my deprivation of health care story. It's not the worse one, I know, but regardless it's still among those of the other 47 million Americans with NO access to health care.  

Stephen - Salt Lake City, UT
I currently work with an individual that is 67 years of age and I believe that in his later years in life, should be doing something that is fun and enjoyable during what could of been his retirement. Anyways a few years ago, He came down with a nondisclosed illness where he needed medical attention. He had the best of care all of the way up til he got the bill for the care that he desperately needed. Currently he said that he owes over $100,000 in health care costs and is working to get the insurance that he needs for future health issues that may come up as well as a job to pay down the bill of which he now owes. He is the nicest guy that anyone could ever get the pleasure to know and it is very unsettling to know that he will work the rest of his life to pay down something that he could not avoid. It would be really nice to see people like him as well as myself not have to be put in that situation. I feel that if people are sick or in need of urgent care, they should be entitled to have that care at a moments notice. It is not a luxury to have health care, it should be a right!

William - Salt Lake City, UT
As a physician, I work with uninsured patients who cannot get the care they need and the medications they need to avoid long term complications. I invite congress members to work with me for a day before they vote against reform

Jamie - Salt Lake City, UT
I was in a car accident nearly 2 years ago. I was hit by a cab and t-boned in my driver's door. I have not been able to receive adequate health care, because my settlement was so meager after I spent nearly $10,000 on Chiropractic and Physical Therapy. Now I have discs out of place in my neck & back...my Dr. wants me to have an MRI and possibly surgery. I am unable to even pay the co-pay for the MRI, let alone any surgery. Just think, I am considered a "lucky one" who has health insurance. I can't even afford co-pays on my monthly prescriptions or ongoing pain management. This is not right for a person who has worked since the age of 7 in this country. I am only 36 years old and feel like I am 89.

Peter - Salt Lake City, UT
Unfortunately my story may be a common one. I am 29 years old. I have a college degree and years of professional experience. Now I don't have a job. I was laid off March 26, 2009, after 2 years of service in my most recent position. I was given 2 weeks of severance pay. As my wife and I considered our finances and trimmed our budget way down - fewer groceries, less gas consumption, no entertainment etc - it was clear that our savings would only carry us for a few weeks longer. Immediately we began to feel some relief because of decisions made in the halls of Congress. Provisions of the ARRA allowed my wife and I to keep our health insurance at an affordable rate. Under the ARRA, involuntarily terminated COBRA participants receive a 65% subsidy of health insurance costs. My former employer was paying just over 75% of the cost before I was let go. Without a paycheck and without the employer's contribution we might have had to go uninsured for awhile. I am so grateful that we don't have to do that right now - it's enough to be unemployed. My wife and I are very grateful recipients of the COBRA subsidy. I am fearful of what our situation would be right now without these aids and mindful of those who have previously endured being unemployed without the COBRA subsidy

Jessica - Salt Lake City, UT
Dear President Obama, I met you during your primary campaign at a fundraiser in Florida at the home of Jim Clark. We spoke briefly about my the time I spent in Switzerland working for the International Olympic Committee. I wish I had had the opportunity to tell you this story in person, but I am happy to have the opportunity now. While working for the IOC, I traveled extensively all over the world, and I was covered not only by Swiss socialized healthcare, but by an additional private insurance held by the IOC. During an extended trip to China, I picked up a bacterial infection which attacked my kidneys. It started out seeming like a stomach bug, but after a few visits to the doctor, it was determined that the bacteria had affected my kidneys, and I had to check into the hospital. Upon my arrival at the hospital, I checked in at the front desk, and my healthcare coverage card was swiped--this contained all my medical records as well as my admission order, which meant I didn't have to fill out any paperwork. I was immediately taken to a specialist. It was ultimately determined that I had acute kidney failure. Following this diagnosis, I spent 9 days in ICU, had multiple blood tests daily, went through dialysis several times, was on a strong course of drugs including antibiotics and steroids, and had a couple of kidney biopsies. In short, the care my condition required was truly "intensive." I was followed by 3 specialists, all of whom knew my history and met with me on a daily basis. Ultimately my kidneys recovered and I have had no issues since this one traumatic incident, however waiting for my hospital bill to arrive caused no insignificant amount of stress. When the bill finally arrived, I discovered that the total bill for my time, including all the various specialists, procedures, etc amounted to about 7000CHF--approximately $5000 USD. This is the cost that would have been passed on to me under the Swiss system, but because of the IOC's additional private coverage, I didn't have to pay a dime. (I feel, however, that just about anyone would be willing to pay $5k for a 2 week hospital stay for a life-threatening condition!) My care was incredible, and the cost minimal. In contrast, I had to have an outpatient sinus surgery in the US upon my return. At the time, I was paying $500 per month for healthcare insurance, because I had been deemed "uninsurable" because of my previous kidney issues. The actual procedure took about 20 minutes, but I was required to be at the hospital 4 hours in advance, 2 hours of which was spent filling out 3 rounds of paper work. The next 2 hours, I was passed from person to person, all whom repeated the same questions ad nauseum. To say the least, my experience both comfort and care-wise was sub par (to say the least) in comparison with my experience with socialized health care. But beyond the level of care, what was the most shocking in comparing the 2 experiences was the cost. My outpatient surgery's total cost was $13000, $2000 of which I had to pay. I can't wait to simplify, nationalize, and (hopefully!) socialize our national healthcare. I am happy to support you in this endeavor in any way possible.

Melissa - Salt Lake City, UT
I have MS and I pay $250 a month from the $800 a month that I make just so I can have insurance in case anything goes wrong. And when something does go wrong I have to pay anywhere fro $40 to $100. I've had to go on medication studies because I can't afford the $1000 a month that the MS medication costs because most insurance companies don't cover the meds that actually work. medical costs are far above what is necessary, and the only people that profit from it are the drug reps, the insurance agencies and the doctors that drive their Audi's and Lexus' and Escalades, and hummers. Health care reform is necessary for those of us that really can't afford it.

Kendra - Salt Lake City, UT
I have suffered with severe pelvic & chronic pain for quite a while now. Medical costs become astronomical, and unless I am working a certain amount of hours a week, I can't get insurance through work, which proves a little difficult sometimes. Private health insurance is not an option, since I would have to pay $7200 + a year, for medical coverage alone.

Matheson: Committed to Passing Health Care Reform

As someone whose family includes doctors who count many Utahns as patients and as a father who wants a healthy future for his children, I have a deep commitment to passing comprehensive, deficit-neutral health care reform. Such an overhaul should lower costs for Utah families and businesses, increase the quality of care provided and expand access for every American.

The president has said he will not sign a health care bill that 1) adds to the deficit and 2) fails to lower the excessive growth of long term health costs. I share those goals. According to the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office, the bill recently considered by the House Energy and Commerce Committee fails on both counts.

Skyrocketing health care costs are straining family budgets, threatening the survival of small businesses and exploding our national deficit. Even Utahns with good insurance coverage know they are paying more and more in premiums, deductibles, and co-payments and they are getting less and less. Over the past nine years, premiums have doubled -- rising at twice the rate of wages.

Health care spending now consumes 30 percent more of state and local budgets than it did 20 years ago -- leaving less money for things like schools and public safety and increasing pressure to raise taxes. Costs are staggering for companies in Utah such as 1-800-Contacts, who, despite the challenge, continues to do the right thing by providing insurance benefits to hundreds of Utah employees.

The same is true for our country as a whole. Health care costs are the number one driver of our long-term deficits, which is why achieving health care reform is the single most important thing we can do for our nation's long-term fiscal health.

The status quo is unsustainable and unacceptable. Inaction is not an option.

But to preserve what is best about our system, we have to fix what is broken. If we don't contain explosive costs, everyone's insurance will be in jeopardy. Premiums will continue to rise, benefits will erode and the number of uninsured -- including the current 298,000 uninsured Utahns -- will swell.

There are health care reform bills being debated in a number of House and Senate committees. In my committee, House Energy and Commerce, I proposed substantive ideas about how to write bipartisan, common-sense, responsible health care reform legislation. Some of my changes were incorporated before the committee voted but several key concerns haven't yet been addressed.

My view is that in order to get real cost savings, we must reform the incentives of a system that automatically equates more expensive care with better care. Utah has been at the forefront of health information technology innovation and the development of practices which improve the quality of care and reduce costs. National health care reform should build on Utah's example.

We also need to align incentives for doctors and hospitals so that they're reimbursed based on the quality of care they provide, not on how many tests or procedures they prescribe. A third of the $2 trillion spent on health care in this country goes toward administrative costs, not to patient care. We must cut down on fraud, waste and abuse and create a more efficient, less bureaucratic system.

There is broad consensus that Americans currently without insurance be provided an opportunity to receive affordable coverage -- not only because it's the right thing to do, but also because when people without insurance have to be treated in the emergency room, we all end up paying for it. Insurers should not be able to deny coverage based on pre-existing conditions, should not be able to hike premiums when people become ill, and should invest in prevention and wellness programs.

Because the issue of health care reform is so complex and the imperative to get it right is so strong, I believe it is worth taking the necessary time to debate, amend, review and discuss with my constituents, any comprehensive bill. We can do this and bring affordability, stability and better health to all of us.

Rep. Jim Matheson , a Democrat, represents Utah's Second Congressional District.

This op-ed was published in the Salt Lake Tribune.

The truth shall set you free...NOT

"And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."  John 8:32

I owe Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck and Sarah Palin a thank you card.  Inspired by their mastery of the art of deception I felt it was my responsibility to let you know Congressman Boehner has drafted a healthcare reform bill guaranteeing everyone in America will have health insurance.  This legislation will require the uninsured turn themselves in at their local police department.  After being processed they will be hauled off to a remote location and shot by government "death squads".  Congressmen Bishop and Chaffetz have indicated they will co-sponsor this legislation, though they are considering offering an amendment that would provide a public option to those who due to poor aim or sheer luck survive.

If you don't believe me, page 666 of Boehner's legislation clearly states this is what the GOP is proposing.  I have a copy of Boehner's legislation, which was given to me by an anonymous source on condition I don't reveal his name or share a copy with the public.  Just take my word for it, if you are uninsured you should be very afraid and if represented by a Republican you should go to their next town hall meeting, accuse them of being a Nazi, and ask why they are supporting shooting uninsured people. 

Wow, I never realized how much time could be saved on research this way.  Thanks again Rush, Glenn and Sarah. 

Herbert Rings the Bell

Politics in Utah are changing dramatically as Utah’s current Governor Jon Huntsman plans to leave his current job for a new one as the United States Ambassador to China.

This has lead to a shake up at the top levels of Utah’s government.

Today Governor-in-waiting Gary Herbert announced that his choice for Lt. Governor will be attorney, former real estate developer, and State Senate Republican Assistant Whip Greg Bell.

Bell has been considered a moderating influence in Republican legislative circles. Of course, that is by comparison to the notoriously radical Senator Chris Buttars of West Jordan.

Bell has been elected as a leader for Senate Republicans who have failed our children by gutting Utah’s education spending, denied adequate health care for the poorest of our citizens, punished middle-income Utahns shifting taxes onto their backs, and been derelict in doing anything about some of the worst air pollution problems in the country.

Bell has been known as a champion of better ethics laws for Utah, but has been ineffective at passing anything substantial.

The current Lt. Gov. Gary Herbert is a well-known, long-time conservative real estate developer from Utah County. He is apparently using this choice for Lt. Governor as an attempt to appease political moderates and political reporters whom he will depend on to spread the news about his administration.

Herbert said, "I don't want a clone of myself. I don't want another Gary Herbert here.” But the similarities between Herbert and Bell are striking. Both share the same general political philosophy, both have served in local government, both have been real estate developers, both have represented areas that have no significant electoral competition, both share the same religious and ethnic backgrounds. It would be difficult for Herbert to find a closer match than Bell outside of Utah County. The differences appear to be mostly surface in matters of personality and educational attainment.

By making this choice, we will be watching for Herbert and Bell to go out of their way to please two top Republican opinion leaders: the social conservative Gayle Ruzicka and the business conservative Lane Beattie.

First, Herbert has offended Gayle Ruzicka and the Eagle Forum who made it clear that they strongly oppose the choice of Greg Bell. They have already made it clear Herbert/Bell will need to spend some political energy to make it up to the Eagle Forum.  Indeed, at today’s presser, the duo went out of their way to affirm their anti-gay, family values credentials – something they would not likely have spoken about except to appease Ruzicka.

Likewise, we expect Herbert/Bell to allow much of the business agenda to be set by Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce President Lane Beattie who personally asked Herbert to seriously consider Natalie Gochnour, Beattie's top aide at the chamber, to be Herbert's lieutenant governor. Beattie announced that he would not seek the governor nomination in 2010, but made it clear that should Herbert "struggle" as governor in 2010 or 2011, or should Herbert be defeated next year, Beattie would still consider a run for governor in 2012 or beyond. There will undoubtedly be strong support for the labor bashing constitutional amendment that the Republican legislature put on the 2010 ballot.

Utah Democrats can only hope that Herbert/Bell find the ability to serve all Utahns -- and not just conservative Republicans. We will be watching who they appoint to serve (for instance there is only one recognizable Democrat on the State Board of Regents and more Utah County representatives seem on the way), what issues they choose to address (so far there is no real leadership to investigate and address the causes of the deaths of a mother and her two children in Logan’s canal collapse),  and the competence of their management (the four-ten workweek may be saving some energy costs, but is it serving the citizens).