Below you will find my first letter to the editor of The St. Joseph News Press. I submitted it tonight via e-mail and will drop a snail mail version off at their offices tomorrow. I've been meaning to write it since our representative in Congress, Sam Graves, voted against the recent bill which expanded the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). He also supported President Bush's veto of the measure. We'll have to wait and see if the News Press publishes it or not. I will be sending a copy on to Rep. Graves as well. I'd appreciate your feedback via hitting the comments link below this post. Here's the letter:Dear Editor,
Rep. Sam Graves has declared himself to be a supporter of “family values” and the “pro-life” movement, but his recent vote against the expansion of the State Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) and support for President Bush’s veto of the bill supporting the program reveals otherwise. The congressman must not really care for families who cannot afford health insurance and he must not be concerned about the lives of children once they make it outside the womb.
Congressman Graves along with President Bush and other opponents of the bill have put their own political interests and the interests of wealthy insurance and pharmaceutical corporations above the interests of America’s children. Health insurance rates and prescription drug prices continue to rise at rates many times the rate of inflation, while the growth rate of most American incomes remains modest at best. All this is assuming, of course, that people without employer-provided insurance can get medical insurance. Have you tried to get health insurance lately? Unless your medical record is free of any and all prior conditions, expect coverage to be denied.
Graves and other opponents of the recent SCHIP bill justify their actions with several misleading charges. The first is a concern that children of illegal immigrants may get health coverage. Yet, instead of working to create a solution to America’s immigration problems that benefits businesses, American workers and foreign workers who seek a better life, Graves and others in Congress would rather put doctors and medical workers in the unenviable position of having to deny help to children who might or might not be here illegally. There is also the question, of course, of whether it is ever humane to deny health treatment to anyone, especially children, based on their national citizenship.
Graves and other opponents of the SCHIP bill love to throw around the charge that the bill would include families making $82,000 a year. Multiple reputable sources show that 92% of those covered would make under $62,000/year for a family of four. The remaining 8% would be in areas of the country where the cost of living is at a higher rate. A family of four that makes between $31,000 and $62.000 per year includes many families that make too much to receive Medicaid and makes too little to afford private insurance (assuming they could get it). $62,000 may seem like a lot in St. Joseph, but add the cost of health insurance to that of out of pocket costs for a major operation and you will find that money gone in a flash.
The final objection of Graves and others (including the News Press editorial board) is that families who could afford private insurance would then move to the government-funded program. To that, I say give me a congressman (and a newspaper) that cares more about the health of children and the pocketbooks of ordinary people than it does about insurance and pharmaceutical companies.
While Representative Sam Graves, President Bush and other opponents pull out the empty rhetoric of “Hillary-care” and “socialized medicine,” the health of millions of American children is at stake—children that were not covered in the past and will not be covered in the future if the opponents of the current bill have their way. Ensuring that every child has access to affordable health care should not be up for debate in a civilized country. To work for anything else is immoral. I urge all Missourians who truly value families and believe that a “pro-life agenda” should include a healthy life for all children to speak out against the actions of Rep. Graves and President Bush.
Sincerely,
Rev. Chase Peeples
First Christian Church (Disciples of “Christ), St. Joseph, MO
Rep. Sam Graves has declared himself to be a supporter of “family values” and the “pro-life” movement, but his recent vote against the expansion of the State Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) and support for President Bush’s veto of the bill supporting the program reveals otherwise. The congressman must not really care for families who cannot afford health insurance and he must not be concerned about the lives of children once they make it outside the womb.
Congressman Graves along with President Bush and other opponents of the bill have put their own political interests and the interests of wealthy insurance and pharmaceutical corporations above the interests of America’s children. Health insurance rates and prescription drug prices continue to rise at rates many times the rate of inflation, while the growth rate of most American incomes remains modest at best. All this is assuming, of course, that people without employer-provided insurance can get medical insurance. Have you tried to get health insurance lately? Unless your medical record is free of any and all prior conditions, expect coverage to be denied.
Graves and other opponents of the recent SCHIP bill justify their actions with several misleading charges. The first is a concern that children of illegal immigrants may get health coverage. Yet, instead of working to create a solution to America’s immigration problems that benefits businesses, American workers and foreign workers who seek a better life, Graves and others in Congress would rather put doctors and medical workers in the unenviable position of having to deny help to children who might or might not be here illegally. There is also the question, of course, of whether it is ever humane to deny health treatment to anyone, especially children, based on their national citizenship.
Graves and other opponents of the SCHIP bill love to throw around the charge that the bill would include families making $82,000 a year. Multiple reputable sources show that 92% of those covered would make under $62,000/year for a family of four. The remaining 8% would be in areas of the country where the cost of living is at a higher rate. A family of four that makes between $31,000 and $62.000 per year includes many families that make too much to receive Medicaid and makes too little to afford private insurance (assuming they could get it). $62,000 may seem like a lot in St. Joseph, but add the cost of health insurance to that of out of pocket costs for a major operation and you will find that money gone in a flash.
The final objection of Graves and others (including the News Press editorial board) is that families who could afford private insurance would then move to the government-funded program. To that, I say give me a congressman (and a newspaper) that cares more about the health of children and the pocketbooks of ordinary people than it does about insurance and pharmaceutical companies.
While Representative Sam Graves, President Bush and other opponents pull out the empty rhetoric of “Hillary-care” and “socialized medicine,” the health of millions of American children is at stake—children that were not covered in the past and will not be covered in the future if the opponents of the current bill have their way. Ensuring that every child has access to affordable health care should not be up for debate in a civilized country. To work for anything else is immoral. I urge all Missourians who truly value families and believe that a “pro-life agenda” should include a healthy life for all children to speak out against the actions of Rep. Graves and President Bush.
Sincerely,
Rev. Chase Peeples
First Christian Church (Disciples of “Christ), St. Joseph, MO
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