Behr's Den

Ask Allison
by
P..G. Behr

Newly emboldened, perhaps, by Governor Douglas’ decision to step down after his present term ends, Vermont’s Progressives have made H.100 and S.88 – bills to establish a single payer health care system covering all Vermonters – their top priority for the forthcoming legislative session.  Not content with the ObamaCare legislation now being considered by Congress, Vermont’s Democrats and Progressives want VermontCare – their very own system.

These bills were introduced at the last session of our State Legislature, but didn’t make it out of committee, what with the priority given to gay marriage, the green energy bill and the budget.  The House bill has multiple sponsors, including legislators listing their occupations as fishing guide, seamstress and organic farmer, which apparently helped them write a health care bill proposing to take over completely the hospitals, clinics, doctors’ practices and other facets of the health care industry in our state.  Our own Alison Clarkson (D-Woodstock/Reading) is a sponsor.  She was formerly involved with the theatre business in New York.  The theatre, of course, entertains us with illusion and make-believe, which are important elements of the VermontCare bill.

 

If VermontCare comes into being, it will be overseen by a new Vermont Health Care Board “…to develop policy, approve reimbursement rates, hear appeals and perform other quasi-judicial functions relating to the administration and implementation of VermontCare…”  One member is to be appointed by the governor, a second by the house, and a third by the senate.  They will oversee a vast health empire.

Then a new Department of Health Care Administration will be established to do the nitty-gritty work, described simply “…to administer the publicly sponsored health care benefits package established…”  Quite a job, considering they will oversee all the hospitals, clinics and other health establishments in Vermont, and will negotiate rates for drugs, and administer benefits administered by out-of-state hospitals, etc., etc.  According to H.100, more government is good!

It will, of necessity, involve a lot of money.  The bill says that current annual health care costs for our state amount to $4.58 billion, and are projected to increase to $5 billion in 2010!  Not to worry, though, because the guidelines say, “A system for eliminating unnecessary expenditures and containing costs must be implemented so that health care spending does not bankrupt the Vermont economy.”  Now that we are reassured on that score, the bill says, “The financing of health care in Vermont must be sufficient, equitable, fair and sustainable, and such financing is best obtained when broad-based taxes replace insurance premiums and out-of-pocket payments.”

While Vermonters who have Medicare, Medicaid and veterans’ benefits will continue to have their medical needs served through these programs, all employer-furnished insurance will be abolished, to be replaced by the VermontCare benefits.  Thus, “…employers will be relieved of the burden of purchasing private health insurance for their employees.  Instead, employers will be required to contribute a fair-share of taxes toward the health care needs of the general population.”  The legislation does not say what the “fair share” from employers is, but since it mentions “broad-based taxes” several times, we can be certain that new taxes will apply to all Vermonters, further increasing our tax burden.

H.100 and S.88, which are identical, need to be examined critically by the media.  I am waiting impatiently for The Valley News to investigate something other than school boards and town governments.  VermontCare would be a great place to start.

According to the bills, there are 60,000 Vermont citizens who have no health insurance.  This is an important statistic, if correct.  Who are these people?  Where do they live?  What are their ages?  Are they employed?  Are they citizens?  While I can agree that everyone should have proper health care, I would like to know more about these people, who are being used as pawns by politicians.  Maybe we can help them.  How much will they pay for their new health insurance, and how much will the other 90% of the population pay?  And what is the actual additional cost?

Realistically, we can’t expect critical analysis by the media, but we should be able to get answers from our representatives.  So ask Rep Clarkson, or Senators John Campbell and Dick McCormack, all of whom are sponsors, and should be able to answer your questions.  Alison encourages questions from her constituents, and I hope she responds to this commentary! 

(This essay first appeared in the Vermont Standard.)

 

Comments

[Vermont Woodchuck]

"Instead, employers will be required to contribute a fair-share of taxes toward the health care needs of the general population.” The legislation does not say what the “fair share” from employers is, but since it mentions “broad-based taxes” several times, we can be certain that new taxes will apply to all Vermonters, further increasing our tax burden."

Perhaps these Legislators can list which companies will be paying these "broad based taxes" after passage of VermontCare? Better phrased, which companies will be in Vermont to pay after passage of VermontCare.

I wouldn't be affected; I'm a disabled vet. As previously mentioned I'll be living in SC next month. I wonder how many other green plates will be leaving the state if this economy wrecker passes.

There is no prophylactic for stupidity.

[Ed G. Mann]

"The House bill has multiple sponsors, including legislators listing their occupations as fishing guide, seamstress...[]... and other facets of the health care industry in our state.
Surgeons need this guidance, the proper #test mono and who better to instruct in closing up than a professional hemmer, er, needler.
"Big stitches Doc, we're saving money."

"Our own Alison Clarkson (D-Woodstock/Reading) is a sponsor. She was formerly involved with the theatre business in New York. The theatre, of course, entertains us with illusion and make-believe, which are important elements of the VermontCare bill."

This is soooo cool! Happy people get well faster; she can do mime, since hospital zones are quiet places. Laughter is good for severe angina and carotid blockage.

Or she can bring in the "Bread and Puppet Circus" provided they can sanitize the lot of them.

Vermont will be the envy of Canada!

[Impeach Congress (and the Vermont Legislature)]

Ahh yes, like Gay marrage, our legislature loves to be distracted from its real purpose FIX OUR DAMN BUDGET!!!!

[G. Cross]

I fully agree that the past employer, the country's taxpayers, of any disabled veteran should ensure that he/she has the best of health insurance and health care. We should certainly do the same for all our current military and their families and to a large degree we do. So the question is, what makes other employers so different from us, the taxpayers? What obligation do they have to their employers, or what obligation do we taxpayers have to all citizens, in terms of health care?

[Brattleboro_conservative]

To quote Ayn Rand in an interview she gave with Mike Wallace, "man is not a sacrificial animal for the good of other men."

The looter government of Vermont has tasted blood, and there is no going back. If the progressives want to tax my money some more, they will soon find themselves wasting their time.

[Vermont Woodchuck]

Employers should have no obligation to provide health insurance. That ties people to jobs as slaves to plantations. That money spent on benefits can go to wages/salaries which are taxable. You should like that!

Insurance should be bought from the pool of companies doing business in the US (1700 of them) across state lines, cafeteria style, WITH PRE-TAX dollars. This insures portability of insurance and no one-size-fits-all approach.

It also keeps the government out of something that isn't their business.

Obama had the gall to stand up in Alabama, complaining about the one company doing business there, while it is federal law that won't allow the competition HE SAYS he wants. Horse puckey! His pants are on fire.