Ask These Questions At Health Care Town Halls

I read the Republican Health care bill and found a few questions that we can use against it in the town hall meetings.

-Tom Taylor

Please pass this on by copying and pasting the following:

As you may know, August is the month that our Democrat and Republican congressional leaders are touring their districts and explaining their views on the health care reform bills. While the Republicans are attacking the Democrat’s health care bills, they are also touting the value of the Republican bill (S. 1099) known as the “Patients' Choice Act.”

Ask those that represent you in Washington if they support the Patients' Choice Act.

If they are in support of the bill, ask them the following questions:

1.) The Democrats have been attacked because they have considered various options of paying for their health care legislation. These options have included increasing taxes. The Republican’s “Patients' Choice Act” relies heavily on tax credits to help people afford health care coverage. Naturally, tax credits decrease the taxes collected by the IRS. This can lead to higher budget deficits and increase the national debt. Without using the cliché of “stopping government waste” can you tell me precisely how Republicans plan to pay for their health care bill?

2.) During the 2008 presidential election, President Obama was attacked for stating that he wanted to raise taxes on familes that earned more than $250,000/yr. These families were called “middle class” by many Republicans. Section 503 of the “Patients' Choice Act” calls for raising the Medicare premium on the elderly if they earn more than $85,000/yr. My question is two parts: A.) Is this not raising premiums on middle class retirees, and B) How is this any different than raising taxes?

3.) Section 504 of the “Patients' Choice Act” states that adjustments can be made to the Medicare premiums of individuals if they use tobacco products or if they do not participate in weight management, exercise, or nutritional counseling. Will you vote for the bill knowing that it attacks our senior citizens and raises their Medicare premiums?
-Tom Taylor