Oped on S.1955 and Sen. Talent, a former Wasington Lobbyist

[usregimechange]

Senator Talent, a former Washington lobbyist, has announced his support for S.1955. This bill is being marketed as a means to assist more small businesses in providing insurance to their workers. In order to do this the bill strips vital consumer protections, guts mental health parity, and will result in less procedures being covered by insurance companies. That is a lot like saving money on the price of a car by not including the transmission.

The AARP stated that the bill puts "older workers at significant risk" in part by putting "critical benefits—like cancer screening—out of reach for many Americans." The bill is a dream for insurance companies but leaves public health to the mercy of those companies.

Senator Talent also recently voted to cut Medicaid at the Federal level knowing full well that Missouri had just made the most drastic cuts to Medicaid as any other state in America. Playing games with health care may save money in the short term but the human cost is more difficult to measure. If you don't believe me just ask Tracy Pierce's family. Tracy recently died of kidney cancer because "every treatment his doctors sought for him was denied by his insurance provider"(KMBC-TV, Channel 9, February 9, 2006).

[Fovea]

1. The medical coverage issue is killing the Repub in MO

You can tell in their constituent newsletters that they are smearing as much lipstick on the pig that they can, but it steadfastly continues to oink.

Stem cells are killing them.
Corporatism is killing them.
corruption is killing them.

I suspect that Mo is going to look a lot more blue as this works its way to the ballot box.

[usregimechange]

2. Any feedback, proofing would be appreciated.

[KT2000]

3. Retirees

that worked for big corporations have seen their health benefits slashed. Their ears will be open on this bill.

[azurnoir]

4. The helping working families

with the rising cost of health insurance is beyond Orwellian. Gee if your health insurance company can cut its services and you put the money you saved in a "health care savings account" or what ever they/re calling the BS maybe you can afford his kindergarten shots by the time he's in second grade.