A Letter From Upper Representative Bill Nelson of FL, And My Response

September 16, 2009

"Dear XXXXXX,

Most of the calls and mail coming into my office these days are from constituents worried about health care. Regardless of where anyone stands on the specifics of this issue, I think we all can agree the current system is unfair, too costly, and needs to be fixed. President Obama gave some clearer answers in his speech to Congress last week about his views on reform. I found it interesting that what the president described is pretty close to the bill I'm helping prepare as a member of the Senate Finance Committee. I want to tell you basically what this bill does. In essence, it will let folks happy with their insurance keep it, including seniors on Medicare and veterans. It also will create a marketplace--exchanges--where those without coverage, or those who are unhappy with what they have, can get coverage at an affordable price. The bill will hold insurers' feet to the fire by requiring them to cover everyone and preventing them from dropping individuals who get sick. Additionally, it will contain several measures aimed at reducing overall medical and prescription drug costs and eliminating waste and fraud in the system.I still intend to offer several amendments aimed at further improving the legislation. One of my amendments would require drugmakers to provide rebates to Medicare, just like they do to Medicaid. This would save Medicare a ton of money. Further, by eliminating the tax break drugmakers get for TV and other advertising, we would gain another $37 billion over the coming years to help pay for health care reforms.The Senate Finance Committee will begin considering this bill as early as this week. Meantime, please know that I value your continued input."

Response:

I sincerely appreciate your e-mail regarding your position on our health care. I am printing it out as I type this as I find that it may come in handy when you are up for re-election. I have just a few simple questions for you though. Will you, sir be keeping your insurance our getting on board with what you want the rest of us little people to have? You state in your e-mail: "I think we all can agree the current system is unfair, too costly, and needs to be fixed." You went on to say that, "I found it interesting that what the president described is pretty close to the bill I'm helping prepare as a member of the Senate Finance Committee" and "In essence, it will let folks happy with their insurance keep it, including seniors on Medicare and veterans." Do you lead me to believe, sir that our "current system is unfair, too costly, and needs to be fixed" on the one hand but you will let folks happy with their "unfair", "costly" insurance keep it? That is an ill that is too grave to face why with all of those poor seniors and veterans that will be allowed to keep such an unjust, costly system. Surely you, a person of such high moral character would not allow a travesty of this kind to occur. One more question for you sir; If I do not want to carry health insurance, will I be forced to buy it? If not will I be penalized on my taxes a certain amount of money, say something like $3500? As my upper representative in Congress I look forward to your response, if you find it worthy of one.