Congressman Dennis Kucinich - Newsletter 10th District

Below is a copy of the December, 2009 newsletter sent out by Congressman Dennis Kucinich, representing Ohio's 10th Congressional District.

Frequently Asked Questions To Congressman Dennis Kucinich: Health Care Reform

Why did you vote against the bill?

The legislation requires Americans to purchase insurance, mostly from for-profit private insurance companies, or pay a penalty. Having insurance is not the same thing as having health care since insurance companies make money by not providing health care. People will pay twice. They would pay for premiums directly or through their employer. Secondly, tax dollars will be used to subsidize private insurance companies. As a result, insurance companies would gain at least 21 million new customers and at least $70 billion in new annual revenue. Insurance companies use an elaborate private bureaucracy to deny care, deny claims and delay payments. The legislation did little to control premiums, co-pays or deductibles. There were no real controls on cost and it did not put a stop to most of the methods by which insurers deny care. I could not support such legislation.

But wasn't the bill a step in the right direction?

No. The bill eliminated hopes for reducing or controlling insurance premiums. Insurance companies have forced double-digit increases in premiums in each of the last four years. A national single-payer plan was taken "off the table" at the very beginning of the debate. Consumers had only two hopes that the aggressive premium increases would be halted: A "robust public option" and an amendment which protects the right of states to create a single-payer system. The robust public option initially would have covered 129 million Americans and offered real competition with the insurance companies. Significant compromises whittled down the number of beneficiaries to 6 million Americans -- hardly competitive. The state single-payer amendment, which I authored, passed the Education and Labor Committee, but it was later taken out of the bull under pressure from the insurance companies and at the insistence of the White House. This leaves consumers at the mercy of the insurance companies.

Did you work with other members of Congress to try to improve the bill?

Yes. In addition to securing a bi-partisan vote for the passage of the state single-payer amendment, I was able to add four other amendments in the bull. Three were aimed at driving down the cost of prescription drugs, preventing insurance companies from changing Americans' coverage unless Americans can switch plans, and improving access to integrative medicine. Unfortunately, the substance of these amendments was removed from the bull in compromises made behind closed doors. One amendment survived. It provides consumers more information about the health care plans in which their doctor participates.

The Alternative: The Conyers-Kucinich Single-Payer Plan - Medicare For All

I co-authored, with Rep. John Conyers, HR 676, Medicare for All , which would ensure that all Americans have health care with no premiums, co-pays or deductibles and with the doctor of their choice. There are 87 congressional co-sponsors.

How would you pay for it?

American spends $2.4 trillion a year in health care, twice as much per capita as other nations which provide health care for their citizens. We are already paying for a universal standard of care. We are not getting it because one of every three dollars, or $800 billion a year, goes to massive insurance bureaucracies and to corporate profits, stock options, marketing and multi-million dollar salaries. Medicare is not for profit. If we took all the money from the present system that is not used for care and put it into Medicare for All we would have enough to cover all Americans' health care needs, including vision care, dental care, mental health care, prescription drugs and long term care.

Are you advocating a government-run system?

No. Under HR 676, Medicare would pay the bills, with huge administrative cost savings. People would be able to choose any doctor. The government would not run the hospitals or intervene with patients' care.

- Kucinich Helps keep jobs at Alcoa

Congressman Dennis Kucinich was successful in his efforts to keep Alcoa and the 1200 jobs they provide in Cleveland. After learning of a crack in a 50,000-ton press, Kucinich contracted UAW Local 1050, Members of the House and Senate, and Alcoa and Lockheed Martin executives to ensure that Alcoa Cleveland would remain operable. "This is great news for Cleveland and Northeast Ohio. Too many companies export their skilled labor jobs overseas. Working hard with the United Auto Workers Local 1050, we proved to Alcoa and Lockheed that Cleveland is the best place to find a skilled and motivated labor force. We welcome this renewed investment, " said Kucinich.

In September of 2008, the 50,000-ton press at Alcoa Forged and Cast Products was cracked, rendering the press inoperable and putting at risk 1200 valuable jobs. Alcoa estimated $68,000 million would be needed to fix the press and keep Alcoa in compliance with their subcontracting requirements to Lockheed Martin. Alcoa recently announced plans to fix the press.

- Medicare and Health Care Reform

"Health care reform" must not become a license to reduce Medicare benefits or shift costs onto senior citizens. We must protect the health care interests of the 47 million Americans who rely on Medicare to maintain their quality of life. We can protect Medicare by eliminating unnecessary spending and rooting our waste, fraud, and abuse. Medicare costs spiral out of control either because there is not enough oversight or because of those who prey on senior citizens and drive up the cost of Medicare. Driving up the cost of Medicare threatens its survival. A recent CBS 60 Minutes report claimed that $60 billion per year is lost through Medicare waste, fraud and abuse. The medicare Part D fiasco of 2003 occurred when the White House let the drug and insurance companies run the program instead of letting Medicare run it. Had Medicare been allowed to run it, the taxpayers would have saved enough money to fully cover prescription drug costs and still have $40 billion left over. A recent investigation into Medicare Advantage showed it costs 14% more than traditional Medicare. It triggered skyrocketing multi-billion dollar profits for pharmaceutical and insurance companies who sold the product. Kucinich will continue to work to protect the fiscal integrity of Medicare by working to eliminate misspending, fraud and waste.

- Leading the Way to Protect Veterans' Pay

Taxpayers will save money and veterans will receive their payments in a more timely manner, thanks to a relentless secen-year effort by Congressman Kucinich to challenge the Bush Administration's 2001 privatization of military retired and annuitant pay, administered by the Defense Finance and Accounting Service. The privatization of this program gave the work of Lockheed-Martin, buy it also resulted in mishandling of benefit applications, delay, poor quality and exorbitant charges to the taxpayers. An investigation by the Chairman Kucinich's Domestic Policy Subcommittee revealed that 8,763 disabled veterans died before their cases were even reviewd by Lockheed. At issue was a program that enabled retired veterans with severe combay-related disabilities to receive concurrent disability and retirement pay. Almost 30,000 veterans were denied the benefit based solely on the determination of Lockheed employees, some of whom had only about six weeks of training. There were few if any checks to ensure our veterans got the benefits to which they were entitled. As a direct result of our congressman's efforts, DFAS has announced cancellation of its contract with Lockheed Martin. DFAS will employ experienced government workers who will be dedicated to high performance.

Economic News In Brief

- Victory to Fund Lead Removal From Schools

The 21st Century Green High-Performing Public School Facilities Act, which passed the House, contains legislative language inserted by Congressman Kucinich that ensures that money will be available for schools to remove sources of lead in drinking water. Local schools will be able to apply for grants from the estimated pool of $228 million for Ohio to replace potential sources of lead including solder, pipe fittings, faucets, valves, meters, pipes and any fixtures containing brass.

- FirstEnergy Light Bulb Plan: The Big Giveaway That Was Not

Recently, FirstEnergy began a plan to force every customer to buy energy efficient light bulbs from them. While Congressman Kucinich supports energy conservation, it is not fair to force consumers to buy a product they may not want or be able to use. Kucinich has filed a complaint with both the Public Utility Commission of Ohio and the Federal Trade Commission. "FirstEnergy's program us unfair, deceptive and injurious to consumers. The only interest that is served by the FirstEnergy program is the interest of FirstEnergy's profits," Kucinich said.

- New VA Clinic to Bring 151 New Jobs to Parma, Ohio

Congressman Kucinich and Mayor Dean DePiero proudly announced that, upon their urging, the City of Parma was selected by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for the construction of a new VA Outpatient Clinic. The clinic will ensure that local veterans will continue to have access to the health care they have been promised and they deserve. The clinic is expected to see over 20,000 low income veteran patients and over 125,000 outpatient visits. It is expected to be completed in 2011 and will bring 151 jobs to Parma.

- What does the Economic Recovery Stimulus do for Northeast Ohio?

I voted for the stimulus because in addition to providing direct assistance for vulnerable individuals and families, the stimulus package also provides money for improvements in our community and in Ohio. While a portion of funds have been allocated, the stimulus package has already provided:

• $200 million towards the cost of replacing the Cleveland Innerbelt Bridge
• $20 million for other local transportation projects
• $29.5 million for home weatherization projects
• $20 million to construct a new taxiway and apron at the Cleveland-Hopkins International Airport.

The amount of economic stimulus received meets only a fraction of ou needs in the Greater Cleveland area, but it is, at the least, a beginning. Visit Kucinich.House.Gov for more information.

Contacting Congressman Dennis Kucinich:

Lakewood - 14400 Detroit Avenue, Lakewood, Ohio 44107 - 216-228-8850

Parma - Parmatown Mall 7904 Day Drive Parma, Ohio 44129 - 440-845-2707

Washington, D.C. 2445 Rayburn Washington, D.C. 20515 - 202-225-5871