by Kerry Thomas
July 26, 2007
“I’m from the government, and I’m here to help you.”
That was the sentiment once again expressed by the Democrats in Madison, as they unveiled Healthy Wisconsin, their plan to impose government-run health care on the People of Wisconsin.
On July 5, 2006 Wisconsin’s Democrat Governor Jim Doyle
signed Executive
Order #161, creating the Healthy Wisconsin Council. The Council was directed to “design a statewide reinsurance program that would
improve access to affordable health insurance for businesses and individuals.”
The Democrats insist this won’t be a government-run
program. They insist their plan will
actually save money, even though it will cost Wisconsin taxpayers $15.2 BILLION
annually. That’s each and every
year. And that figure is merely what’s
budgeted based on current numbers. And
actually, the Democrat’s budget only funds the proposal for the first six
months.
Nothing is as expensive as a free government program. If you think your health care is expensive
now, wait until it’s “free.”
Every person who is “gainfully employed” in Wisconsin will
have 4% of their pay deducted from every paycheck. Their employers will be charged another 10.5%. For those who are self-employed, that means
you will be paying 14.5% of your paycheck to this government-mandated insurance
program. And that’s over and above that
little line of deductions on your pay stub that says F.I.C.A. Isn’t that already a mandated federal
government program of insurance for the disabled and the elderly?
The Democrats justify this socialization program by claiming
it will actually save Wisconsin taxpayers $1.3 billion annually. They promise they’ll then use this money to
reduce property taxes.
Oh, and they’re doing this “for the children.” Almost forgot that part.
Do you think this program will only cost $15.2 billion a
year forever? Do you think insurance
companies are just going to fall all over themselves trying to low-bid one
another to cut costs? Do you think the
Madison bureaucrats will be able to manage this program efficiently? Do you trust an unelected council of
political appointees with no professional health care experience to have the
slightest idea how to manage your personal health care needs?
We do have an example of the efficiency of a government-run
health care system in America. Just ask
a veteran how satisfied they are with the Veterans Administration. Ask a veteran how easy it is to see a doctor
in the VA or get high-quality medical care in a timely basis. Ask a veteran where the nearest VA hospital
is.
The Democrats are sending out their minions to coerce us
into going along with their socialized health care program. State Senator Robert
Wirch screwed this public relations effort up so badly that they now have to
send Senator Jon Erpenbach, the principle architect of the bill, along with the
Senate Democrats on their public appearances to answer direct questions about
the plan.
On July 18, when he was asked to explain the proposal on the Lenny Palmer show, with Republican Party of Wisconsin chair Reince Priebus guest hosting, Senator Wirch’s explaination was that he was not a lawyer. Priebus then pointed out to the senator that he was a law maker, which the Senator did acknowledge.
Seems the problem is very few (none?) of the 18 Senate Democrats who voted for this proposal actually bothered to read the bill before they voted for it. And even fewer of them understand the proposal and the impact it will have on the People of Wisconsin.
You’d think a brilliant Mensa candidate like our
own Senator Roger Breske would be able to answer these questions on his own,
without his boss there to hold his hand.
But not even Senator Erbenbach could help but
expose their socialist plans.
According to one RPW press release, “at a
listening session designed to plug the numerous holes in the Democrats'
government-run health care plan, Senator Erbenbach, with Roger Breske at his
side, said he doesn't care if the nation's sick flock to Wisconsin
for health care benefits courtesy of Wisconsin taxpayers.”
According to the Democrat’s plan, it will be up to the Secretary of Administration (a political appointee) to come up with a plan to “control health care costs.” In other words, it will be up to an unelected Madison bureaucrat with no health care experience to ration your health care.
A letter praising this
Healthy Wisconsin plan, written by Dr. Linda Farley, the
Wisconsin coordinator for Physicians for a National Health Program, and her
husband, has been making it’s way around Wisconsin’s newspapers and internet
blogs. Of course she praises the plan,
as it is another step toward her goal of a national socialized health care
program. Label this one pure
propaganda.
On the other hand, I’ve heard of two proposals
that will actually work to reduce the cost of health care in Wisconsin.
One would be to put a $250,000 cap on the punitive
damages portion of medical malpractice lawsuits. The second would be to allow Wisconsin consumers to shop for affordable
health care insurance offered by insurance companies in other states, good
basic policies that are just fine for the consumers who buy them, but without
all the mandated coverages that must be included in every health insurance policy
sold in Wisconsin.
Come to think of it, loser pays would also cut
down on the number of frivolous medical and other lawsuits brought by
unscrupulous trial attorneys.
Unfortunately, the Madison Democrats don’t want
to even consider any of these proposals.
So for now, if you’re a person who is happy to
let the government manage your health care, you needn’t do anything. All the decisions will be handled by the
bureaucrats in Madison.
If you care about the quality and the future of
your health care, you need to have your voice heard echoing through the halls
of the Capitol.
It’s still your choice – for now.