"September 16, 2009

Mrs. Bobbi ***edited for privacy****

Dear Mrs. Miller:

Thank you for contacting me regarding health care reform. I appreciate hearing from you.

I know there are many Americans who are pleased with their current health care plan and do not want it changed. Unfortunately our health care system is changing for all of us. Insurance premiums have increased three times the rate of wages from 2000 to 2007. According to a study by the Commonwealth Fund, a private foundation that works toward an improved health system, since 2000: wages have increased 24%, out-of-pocket expenses have increased 64%, private insurance premiums have increased over 90%, and small business premiums have increased 113%. The aim of health care reform should be to improve the quality of health care for everyone, not just the uninsured. Health insurance reform needs to help the uninsured, the underinsured, and those individuals who are insured and are satisfied with their current plan.

There are three challenges in health care reform: coverage, cost, and quality. According to the US Census Bureau, approximately 46 million individuals are uninsured. Of those approximately 46 million, 8.1 million are children under the age of 18. Over 20% of the uninsured live below the poverty line and nearly 30% live in rural areas. Additionally, 16% of our GDP is spent on insurance. We are not going to solve our country's long-term fiscal issues without fixing the current health system.

The underlying framework of the House bill consists of four key elements. Reform must ensure that no American is denied access to health care because of pre-existing conditions nor should any American worry about rescission of their insurance. All eligible Americans must participate in the system. Recognizing that not everyone is going to be able to afford health insurance, subsidies on a sliding scale should be provided for small businesses and individuals. Effective health care reform should include a market-based system where people are able to look at and compare all of the different insurance plans available in their states and regions, as currently laid out in the health insurance exchange.

I will not support a health care bill that is not fully paid for and deficit neutral. The United States currently spends $2.6 trillion annually on health care. The Congressional Budget Office projects this bill to cost $1 trillion over 10 years; therefore, the objective of Congress is to find $100 billion annually in savings from the $2.6 trillion we already spend annually on health care. Some of these savings, for example, can be found by improving health information technologies, reducing preventable hospital readmissions, and promoting more primary care – all provisions currently included in the House bill.

I will not support any bill that: mandates participation in a public option if the bill includes one; changes the federal law currently in place regarding abortion; supports federal subsidies to illegal immigrants; or rations care.

Your comments have been helpful as this debate continues in Congress. There is more work to be done in both the House and the Senate but I am hopeful we will produce a health care plan supported by the great majority of the American people. Thank you once again for contacting me. I look forward to hearing from you in the future.

Sincerely
Vic Snyder
Member of Congress

I hope you'll find my website (http://www.house.gov/snyder) a valuable resource to for keeping up with the events in Washington and Arkansas? 2nd Congressional District. "

Just another talking head who will soon be replaced by a real American!

news across- You never met David Meeks. Your a liberal activist who came across this message board and then pretended to be a conservative. On taxes, military, the unborn, and marriage, We the People actually agree with Bush. On spending, illegal immigration, and government spending, Meeks is opposed to Bush. His issues link is right here:
http://whoisdavidmeeks.com/issues.html

Your not fooling anybody here, go back to Daily Kos or wherever place you came from.

news across- You never met David Meeks. Your a liberal activist who came across this message board and then pretended to be a conservative. On taxes, military, the unborn, and marriage, We the People actually agree with Bush. On spending, illegal immigration, and government spending, Meeks is opposed to Bush. His issues link is right here:
http://whoisdavidmeeks.com/issues.html

Your not fooling anybody here, go back to Daily Kos or wherever place you came from.

I checked this Meeks character out. His stand on the issues are almost identical to the Bush Republicans.

I sent out some emails to my kin in Arkansas who live in his district alerting them to this Bush like fellow. So at least now they will know who NOT to vote for. You claim you conservatives want something different than the Bush Republicans. You claim you are independents. Then you advice us to support Bush Republicans. That is the last thing We the People want.

Yes, I am a conservative who will stand on values and principles.

Here to Serve!
David

btw it’s always “hint..hint” great to write a blog or submit an article here to the administrator