Lt. Governor Bolling Writes Senators Webb, Warner Concerning Their Votes On Health Care Bill
Below is the text of a news release issued today from the office of Lt. Governor Bill Bolling concerning the votes by Senators Warner (contact here) and Webb (contact here) in favor of a procedural motion that will allow the Senate health care bill to proceed to a final up or down vote, where it is all but assured of passing. The text of the letter referenced in the news release is posted here.
BOLLING CALLS ON WARNER AND WEBB TO VOTE AGAINST FEDERAL HEALTHCARE LEGISLATION
RICHMOND – Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling today sent a strongly worded letter to Senators Jim Webb and Mark Warner expressing outrage over special concessions given to certain states to obtain support for federal healthcare legislation from their Senators and asking them to oppose this legislation, which Bolling called “misguided.”
“As you know, one of our major concerns with this legislation is the potential impact it could have on the cost of Medicaid for Virginia’s state government,” wrote Bolling. “Many reports have suggested that this legislation could result in much higher Medicaid costs for state governments across the nation, costs that state governments simply cannot bear.”
In his letter, Bolling cited reports from this past weekend that the Senate’s Democratic leadership had made concessions to Senator Ben Nelson that would hold his home state of Nebraska harmless for any additional Medicaid costs that might come about as a result of the enrollment of new Medicaid recipients after 2017, while all 49 other states would be required to pay a portion of the increased costs. This reportedly would save Nebraska $45M per year, while passing these costs on to other states.
Additionally, similar “sweet heart deals” were reportedly made to Senator Mary Landrieu of Louisiana and other Senators to obtain their support for the healthcare bill, while the citizens of Virginia and other states were not afford the same benefits.
“I am outraged by reports that surfaced this weekend regarding concessions that were made to Nebraska Senator Ben Nelson to secure his vote in support of this legislation,” stated Bolling. “If these reports are accurate, this type of quid pro quo is unacceptable, and you and your colleagues should object strongly to the practice, which I have no doubt the American people will find offensive as well.”
“If the Senate’s leadership is so desperate to obtain votes to secure the passage of this legislation that they would make these types of concessions to these Senators, I would ask that you demand that the same concessions be extended to Virginia, and for that matter, to every other state in the nation,” continued Bolling.
In addition to the outrageous “pay off” tactics employed by Senate Democratic Leadership, Bolling encouraged Senators Webb and Warner to vote against the substance of the legislation, citing concerns that it will result in increased healthcare costs, increased insurance premiums, increased taxes on family and businesses and fewer options for individual patients.
From a quietly prayerful and uncomplicated reading of Holy Scripture, we can say with clear simplicity that it is ungodly to work this hard to keep the poor from having health care and being healthy. Judgement will certainly be rendered by the Lord who said: “when I was sick you looked after me … I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me … [and] I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me. Then they will go away to eternal punishment” (Matthew 25.31-46 NIV). That will be a terrible day for those who oppose that the poor should have health care and be healthy.
You’re a demagogue! No conservative is against the poor having health care, and NO ONE is turned away in America. We are against the GOVERNMENT taking over an entire industry! The Bible verse you quote is about INDIVIDUALS not doing the humane thing toward their fellow man, not the govt. taking over and forcing people to do things against their will — such as paying for abortions, eliminating medical professionals’ conscience protections, or even forcing people to buy insurance they don’t want or out of their own policies. Did yo know inthe House bill, self-employed people have to DROP their individual policies and hoin the “public option”? The vast majority of Americans are opposed to NEBRASKA getting paid off in hundreds of millions in tax dollars AND getting exempt from many of these regulations. That’s what people are against. Furthermore, it is proven that govt. run health care leads to rationing, which DOES turn away those who need medical attention. Why did a Canadian MP come to the US a couple of years ago for medical treatment? Her govt. run plan wouldn’t pay for her breast cancer treatments — and you guys think you have all the answers.
Thank you. One may importantly and significantly note that I quote the living Word of God, calmly, and a reply makes virtual screams and insults, and provides no Scriptural citations at all. We wonder what Scriptural citations can be mustered to show that Jesus supports a health care insurance industry that appears to have as its primary goal to make money for stockholders, rather than to serve the health needs of its members. Please quote Scriptures in support of leaving the poor without health care and without health. … waiting… waiting … waiting… Doing nothing leaves them without health care or health. Doing nothing is not acceptable for the Christian conscience : the Lord said: “when I was sick you looked after me … I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me … [and] I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me. Then they will go away to eternal punishment” (Matthew 25.31-46 NIV). If we created a ‘jury of regular folks’, and showed them factually: what billions of dollars have been acquired by health insurance premiums and other payments to the industry, and showed them the salaries, payments, and bonuses made to health insurance industry executive, directors, and consultants, and showed them the 20%, 30%, 40%, etc rates of increase in the premiums they charge customers without providing any additional care (and, in fact, charing higher premiums while taking away cares); and showed them how many decades the health insurance industry has had to create affordable health insurance products and yet it has not, and showed them that in fact the health industry has abandoned tens of millions of Americans without health care … what would a reasonable jury construe? A jury of regular folks might call this an industry with a record of failure to achieve its mission to help make America a healthy nation. The failure of the health insurance industry puts our nation at risk. Health data show clearly that America is not the healthiest nation, by far; many other nations have much healthier populations than America. Can an obese American, a diabetic America, an America with untreated injuries, untreated cancers, untreated mental illness, infants and elderly without routine medical care, etc. long compete against healthier nations? Several points are raised – rationing, abortion, offending the consciences of providers – as if these are wrongs created by health insurance reform. This is not true. Regarding rationing of care : what might a ‘jury of regular folks’ call a health insurance industry that allows wealthy citizens to have every conceivable test and procedure even if they don’t need these but simply want them (vanity surgery, botox parties, etc) while the same industry has failed to create affordable products to insure health care for everyone else? Is that not rationing in favor of the wealthy, while taking away from those who are not wealthy? Who is killing infants and the unborn? : data clearly show that lack of affordable and accessible health care results in many more deaths of infants and the unborn than abortion; so, however much we may oppose abortion, if we are concerned to preserve life we all the more strongly support expanding health care access and affordability. Who is offending the consciences of medical providers?: the health insurance industry steps in daily to prevent providers from doing things they know that they should do for patients based on some accounting by health insurance industry (not government) bureaucrats. Why speak out against government bureaucracy, while saying nothing about the immorality and injustice of health insurance bureaucracies? Believers who know the New Testament will recall the admonition of the disciple Peter, and first Bishop of Rome: “be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Peter 5.8, NIV). Believers must decide what is a true expression of the Lord: to be kind to the poor and find ways to bring them health; or to ‘devour’ the real needs of the poor with political rhetoric. But, as we also know, the devil prowls where he will to devour what he can. And so, Peter said ‘be watchful’. The Holy Family was wandering this night, without anyone to care (except the sublime angels and the poor shepherds); and the Holy Family was caught up the political machinery of their own times, forced to go away from home, at a time that risked health, because of the mandate of an unjust Roman government. So, indeed, concerns of injustice in governments are concerns embedded in that ‘first christmas’ story. We are to be watchful. But, when measuring the many injustices that may be embedded in the current health care reform debate, Christians are instructed, directly, and clearly by their Lord: “when I was sick you looked after me … I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me … [and] I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me. Then they will go away to eternal punishment” (Matthew 25.31-46 NIV). We’re still waiting for the Scriptural citations otherwise.
No virtual screams and insults, here. Just the truth. I don’t need to reply with Scripture. You brought it up. I’m only correcting your misapplication of that particular Scripture to a political end. That’s pretty much a definition of demagoguery. Again, you can help the least among us without the govt. You think that’s the only way to show compassion. Too bad you spent a good portion of your day debating something I didn’t promulgate. I never took up for the insurance companies. Just said the way to correct the problem is not a govt. takeover.
You know, I think some stores charge too much for groceries. Should the govt. take over the grocery industry? The Lord said to feed the hungry, too.
As for abortion and those concerns I raised, you miss the entire point: In this legislation, TAXPAYERS will be forced to pay for them. Is that just? Is it just for Catholic hospitals to be FORCED to provide abortions? Answer that one, Mr. Pious.
What about individuals, self-employed, satisfied with their own coverage, being forced into the “public option” as in the House bill? Is that just? How does that affect someone who dosn’t have insurance? If tha’s the problem, fix that problem, but don’t restrict someone’s freedom. You need to learn some specifics about these bills before you pontificate.
Thank you. I am unable to do what you accuse; I am not able to pontificate since I am not the Pontiff.
The Pontiffs have spoken clearly:
Pope John Paul II said: “We are all really responsible for all.” Pope Benedict XVI said that: “love for widows and orphans, prisoners, and the sick and needy of every kind, is as essential as the ministry of the sacraments and preaching of the Gospel”. These Pontiffs have said – in contemporary language – what Jesus said: “when I was sick you looked after me … I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me … [and] I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me. Then they will go away to eternal punishment” (Matthew 25.31-46 NIV).
And Catholic Canon Law requires this of the faithful: Can. 222 §2. They are also obliged to promote social justice and, mindful of the precept of the Lord, to assist the poor from their own resources.
Further, contemporary teaching from the US Catholic Bishops, who are familiar with the US social, political, economic and governmental systems, declare in their Pastoral Letter of 1986:
…
The guaranteeing of basic justice for all is not an optional expression of largesse but an inescapable duty for the whole of society.
…
It is the responsibility of all citizens, acting through their government, to assist and empower the poor, the disadvantaged, the handicapped, and the unemployed
…
Catholic social teaching bears directly on larger questions concerning the economic system itself and the values it expresses — questions that can not be ignored … For example, does our economic system place more emphasis on maximizing profits than on meeting human needs and fostering human dignity? Does our economy distribute its benefits equitably or does it concentrate power and resources in the hands of a few? Does it promote excessive materialism and individualism?
…
It is clear, from the above, that believers are required to work more strenuously for the common good, than to acquire good things just for ourselves, and that a preference must be given to the achieving good for the most vulnerable and at risk for harm and death, since God is the God of creation and life. The questions asked by the Catholic bishops help with a template for this considering this requirement.
hese questions enlighten our thinking, even if they do not have exact answers. Similarly, the Lord astonished his attackers with questions, when they asked him about matters of political economy:
(from Matthew 22: 15-22): ” the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words. They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. “Teacher,” they said, “we know you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren’t swayed by men, because you pay no attention to who they are. Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, “You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? Show me the coin used for paying the tax.” They brought him a denarius, and he asked them, “Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?” “Caesar’s,” they replied. Then he said to them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away. ”
Please note: as you accuse, again falsely, I did not write in favor of any particular health care reform legislation. Rather, as is clear, I wrote that it is ungodly to work in ways to keep the poor from having health care and health. The health insurance industry – which has existed for a century and more – has not provided the outcome of health insurance affordable to the poor. This is a marker of a failed industry. And, also, despite notable efforts for many elderly and some persons with disabilities through Medicare, and with some support for the poor through Medicaid (although many commentators mistakenly or deviously report that Medicaid serves all the poor) the US government still has left tens of millions of Americans without effective and reliable access to health care and health. This is a marker of failed governance.
I support achieving the mandate given to believers by the Lord. I did not say how. I have spoken of the failures of private industry, and of government agencies. What are suggestions you or others may offer? For example, Would all faith communities unite to commit to providing care to all? And would they begin immediately, since there are tens of millions about to sicken and die at this very moment … on the day we remember the Incarnation of the Lord?
And, thank you for your expression of sympathy for spending time to write: but, no sympathy is required. It is a joy to explore the Word of God, theological insights, and expressions of reasonableness, to the glory of God and in respect for God’s creation and all its creatures, when the Holy Spirit asks. Isn’t that so?
The way to provide people with more access is to free up the industry. It is a myth that the insurance industry is free. The problems we have in health care are b/c of too much govt. meddling, not that they don’t do enough.
How would you like it if your town was only allowed to have a two ro three grocery chains serve it? Do you think prices would be low? Do you think they would offer good selections and high quality? No, they would not, b/c you would have no choice, and they could do whatever they want. Would they care about service or just the bottom line? They would care only about the bottom line. That’s the problem with insurance now — they can’t sell across state lines. Va. only has six, I believe, companies allowed to do business here. Why the difference with auto insurance, for example? What’s more important, your health or car?
If competition was introduced, and we had 20-25 insurance companies doing business here, or more most likely, your’d prices come down and service quality go up b/c of competition. There simply is no incentive right now. If we use auto insurance as an example, and follow it, we’ll do much better. Also, with care insurance, the competition would encourage people to use insurance for catastrophic needs only, not for regular office visits and for prescriptions. We don’t use ins. for oil changes and tune-ups. If people were encouraged to pay cash to doctors, like any other service transaction, prices would come down. If w don’t need insurance to pay for food, which is a necessity, than we don’t need insurance to pay for prescriptions. Again, cash transactions bring down prices b/c of direct dealings. The third parties are what drive up costs. Malpractice reform is needed, too, so doctors can alleviate that expensive burden and bring down costs.
Now, you say you weren’t advocating the govt run option, yet this thread started when you criticized Lt. Gov. Bolling for calling out Webb and Warner for their votes. Why should I think otherwise.
Finally, yes, you can pontificate. It is a verb that can be used in the secular vernacular. If you are Catholic, why are not concerned about the abortion language in the Senate bill? If you are Catholic, you also understand that Church teaching is that protecting innocent unborn life is the first priority. Social Justice does not prescribe solutions, only that we meet the end goal — so my free market solution is every bit as valid. In fact, the govt run solution is AGAINST catholic Social Justice teaching b/c it WILL FAIL and put more people in health jeopardy. However, there is only one solution for the Life Issue — that’s the limit and end abortion. So, I ask you again: Stop pontificating until you get your priorities right. Even the USCCB is against the Senate bill b/c of it’s lack of abortion language.
Thank you.
It is very reasonable to support greater access to insurances that serve the poor. I support that. Thank you for suggesting it so aptly.
Has Anthem and the other health insurance providers licensed in Virginia actively encouraged widespread competition in Virginia? If they have, we should thank them. If they have not, it is evidence that they are not seeking to serve health care needs, but rather, their private corporate needs. Who can we ask to find out, without biased reporting?
The association of Catholic hospitals, nurses, etc have endorsed the US Senate provisions. So, evidently, there is no univocal opinion among Catholic experts on health care insurance and health care.
And I have particularly not mentioned any partisan political views that I may or may not hold. I was taught from a small child that civic engagement and voting is a duty owed to my neighbors even if I have no particular partisan interests. In my rural Virginia community, many many decades ago, local community groups would have lovely meals of good local country food, at our place of voting. It was a community day of celebration – no matter how you were voting — promoting health and welling, at the same time at observing the privilege and duty of voting. All children witnessed this celebration, and learned that we all serve the civic good by voting in the context of community interests and the well being of our neighbors, just as much, or more, than in the context of personal or selfish interests. It is a sad shame that both (rather, all) political ’sides’ have over the past decades been hideously partisan, rather than arguing with the firmness of reason and with the gentleness of human kindness.
The body of evidence substantially discussed has been from Christian scriptures and theological reflection, not partisan political views, because this is my tradition. But, I am also able to conduct a religious discourse on civil issues with my Jewish, Muslim, Hindu and Buddhist friends. I am also happy to conduct a reasonable discourse with my US Republican, US Democratic, Canadian, European, Asian and other friends.
With kindest regards for the end of a year, and a gentle entry to the new.