Feinstein's response to my e-mail urging for a public option

[Cant trust em]

Dear Mr. Low:

Thank you for contacting me regarding health care reform and providing a public health care option. I appreciate the time you took to write and welcome the opportunity to respond.

I believe that there is much room for improvement in our nation's healthcare system. However, I believe that health care reform should not increase the federal deficit. I am deeply concerned about the large number of individuals and families in our country who do not have access to quality healthcare. This is a problem that touches every community and must be addressed at many different levels, including the Federal, State and local government. This problem is especially acute in California, where nearly 7 million people are uninsured.

The escalating cost of some premiums continues to make obtaining health insurance difficult, if not impossible, for many Americans. I am working hard to remove existing barriers to health care so that all Americans have access to the services they require.

One of the many proposals being considered to reform our system is to create a health care plan that is publically operated. Please know that I am reviewing all health care reform options and I will keep your comments in mind as the Senate continues to work to improve health care for all Americans.

Again, thank you for writing. If you have any further questions or comments, please do not hesitate to contact my Washington, D.C. office at [phone]. Best regards.

Sincerely yours,

Dianne Feinstein
United States Senator

[katandmoon]

1. Typical noncomittal congress speak

[Cant trust em]

2. The only thing unique here was when they copy/pasted my name

into the salutation.

[truedelphi]

I have gotten several responses from this Senator regarding emails or letters

I have written, and she has only once gotten the subject of her reply to match the subject of my submission.

So at least in your case, she (or more likely, her staff) got that right.

[Oregone]

3. Why would health care reform increase the budget deficit with a public insurance entity?

If there was a public insurance entity that was self-sustaining, it would collect and pay out premiums. If it was funded publicly (not likely), then it logically would require a tax increase less than the average decrease in private health expenditures (resulting in more disposable income).

This is double-speak bullshit

[DJ13]

4. That could just as easily have been written by a Republican Senator

Its getting harder and harder to distinguish between Republicans and some Democrats in the Senate.

[xchrom]

5. sadly -- she is my senator too.

why there can't be a serious contender -- liberal dem -- for her seat has always mystified me.

[EvolveOrConvolve]

6. That's a whole lotta words

that say absolutely nothing. Feinstein has rarely had the courage to really do anything with her position outside of the restrictions put on her by her corporate donors.

The "Sincerely yours," bit is pretty ironic considering how insincere the whole thing really is. It's a copy and paste job fer chrissakes - how fuckin' sincere can it really be?