Health care task force's plan offers little immediate help to middle class [And Public Institutions With Unstoppable And Skyrocketing Public Employee Health Insurance Costs Which Drive Down Public Services.]
by Bill Graves, The Oregonian - Monday November 24, 2008
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/index.ssf/2008/11/oregon_task_force_develops_a_h.html
"The problem is the insurance companies are not in the business of providing health care. They are in the business of making money." Dr. Leigh Dolin, 62, former president of the Oregon Medical Association
There you have it. The essence of the problem of Oregon's moral and economic health care crisis. Did Oregonian reporter Bill Graves get this? NO. Does anyone working in Oregon's News Media, print or electronic - including Oregon Public Broadcasting - get this? NO. NO. NO.
Does the Oregon Health Fund Board get this? NO.
Does any member of the Oregon legislature get this? NO.
Does Governor Ted Kulongoswki get this? NO.
Does the Democratic Party of Oregon get this? NO.
Does the Oregon Medical Association get this? NO.
Does the Oregon Health Forum get this? NO.
Does Ron Wyden, Earl Blumenauer, Jeff Merkley and Barack Obama get this? NO.
Have any of these folks ever shown the courage to challenge the model of the failed, for-profit private health insurance industry? NO.
Is there anyone who isn't afraid and does get it? YES.
March 12, 2007
Dear House Speaker Merkley and Senate President Courtney:
The current legislative debate over health care reform in our state does not include our view that the profit oriented private health insurance industry must not be the model upon which a solution to Oregon's moral and economic health care crisis should be based and that Oregon elected officials - public employees - voters and taxpayers must have equal access to the same level of health care not a perpetuation of our current multitiered health insurance class system.
We request that you find a place holder bill in each chamber which would substitute in its entirety the language of the Oregon Community Health Care Bill (see attached) so that an alternative choice may be discussed and debated this session. The Oregon Community Health Care Bill is the only current fully formed piece of proposed legislation which supports our vision of health care reform. We would welcome others that also meet our requirements.
Thank you for your attention.
Sincerely,
Richard Ellmyer - Oregon Community Health Care Bill author
Sam Adams - Portland City Council
Jeff Cogen - Multnomah County Commissioner
Edwars "Chip" Enbody - Hubbard City Council
Darrell Flood - Mayor of Lafayette
Bill Hall - Lincoln County Commissioner
Jim Needham - Mollala City Council
Michelle Ripple - Wilsonville City Council
Mary Schamehorn - Mayor of Bandon
Pete Sorenson - Lane County Commissioner
[Since this letter was published the following have added their support:
John Frohnmayer - Former candidate for US Senate
Tim Grimes - Staton City Council
David P. Trott - Mayor City of Umatilla
Bill Dwyer - Lane County Commissioner
Dan K. Cummings - Ontario City Council President]
They get it. How about you? Do you get it? If you do then you better start doing something about it.
Richard Ellmyer