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NDFA Opinion Commentary on the Healthcare Debate
An open letter to Senators Dorgan and Conrad
From the North Dakota Family Alliance
On the Healthcare Debate
The current healthcare debate has been going on for months in Washington, in North Dakota and throughout the country. It appears the debate will end soon and meaningful votes will occur. If the basic tenets of the current bill remain unchanged, we are asking you to vote no on cloture to bring the bill to a vote on the senate floor. This vote as you know requires a 60 vote majority and is really the key vote in determining the outcome of this issue.
The basic issues of ‘cost and coverage’ have spurred the need for the debate which has been ongoing not just for these months but years. While discussions have touched on the issues of soaring costs, availability, access, portability, and tax deductibility for individuals, tort reform, and the ability to purchase insurance across state lines; the current bill does little to meaningfully deal with these vital issues. Instead, the bill appears to give a cabinet secretary unilateral power to oversee over 100 newly created bureaucratic agencies to promulgate this bill which does not cover the important issues of cost and coverage which are so vitally important to the families in North Dakota.
The Nelson/Stupak language to prevent publically tax payer funded abortion failed in the senate. Without this provision, the number of abortions will dramatically increase. Any healthcare bill which does not specifically include provisions to prevent tax payer funded abortion cannot be supported. And we thank you for pledging to vote no on a bill without such a provision.
Not only does this bill fail to protect life at the beginning of the continuum, it fails at the later stages as well. We do not believe the current protections in regard to right of conscience, end of life counseling, and potential rationing are adequate. By the very nature of removing billions of dollars from Medicare, the quality and timeliness of care will be greatly compromised, and all this at a time when millions of baby boomers will be coming into the system. Compound this with many doctors refusing to see Medicare patients, and you can well see how the care for our older citizens will be greatly diminished.
The unborn and our older citizens are the most vulnerable. One of the primary reasons for America’s exceptionalism is its treatment of those most vulnerable. We must not abandon our commitment to those most vulnerable.
As we consider what is in the best interests of families in North Dakota, we need to ask:
Will the current bill being debated enable public, tax payer funder abortion? Yes. Will the number of abortions increase with the passage of this bill? Yes.
Will this current bill being debated cut or lower healthcare costs for the family? No.
Will this bill cut Medicare benefits? Yes.
Will the passage of this bill greatly increase the tax burden on the family, both present and future generations? Yes.
Can we be assured the current bill guarantee on the issues of right of conscience, end of life counseling, and potential rationing—will remain in the final version? No.
Will the provision for over 100 new bureaucratic government agencies streamline the delivery of quality care for your family? No.
Will this current bill provide for better healthcare for the family? No
When we take into consideration that so few of the real issues surrounding our healthcare challenges have been addressed in a positive, meaningful way, we can come to only one conclusion---it is time to wipe the slate clean. Let the dust settle, begin anew and bring the real healthcare issues important to North Dakota families to the table. Let’s not scrap a system where over 85% like the medical care and coverage they have. Let’s concentrate on those not covered and meaningful initiatives to affect the cost.
We are calling on you to demonstrate the courage to stand up for the families in North Dakota. When the vote on cloture to bring the bill to the floor is before you, cast a vote for the families in North Dakota—vote NO. And then take the lead in meaningful healthcare reform focusing on cost and coverage for our families in North Dakota.
Tom Freier
North Dakota Family Alliance
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