State Democrats Say Republicans Aren't Pro-Family
Posted: Feb 26, 2009 04:42 PM
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State Democrats Say Republicans Aren't Pro-Family
Senate Democrats said numerous bills that would help ordinary Oklahomans, bills like Nick's Law to require coverage for treatment of autism, have been killed by the GOP this session. Many of them never even went to a vote.
The author of Nick's Law joined other Democrats at a news conference Thursday afternoon, and said, while Republicans try to sweep proposed solutions under the carpet, the problem doesn't go away.
By Alex Cameron, NEWS 9
OKLAHOMA CITY -- Senate Democrats are criticizing Republicans for failing to act on bills they said would help children and families in our state. State Democrats are charging the new Republican majority with protecting the interests of insurance companies, at the expense of ordinary citizens.
Senate Democrats said numerous bills that would help ordinary Oklahomans, bills like Nick's Law to require coverage for treatment of autism, have been killed by the GOP this session. Many of them never even went to a vote.
The author of Nick's Law joined other Democrats at a news conference Thursday afternoon, and said, while Republicans try to sweep proposed solutions under the carpet, the problem doesn't go away.
"There are children we are losing every single day that we delay, who will never be able to be brought out of the shadows of autism, because we continue to debate and delay in this capitol." Democratic Sen. Jay Paul Gumm said. "For whatever reason, the House of Representatives in this state, and now, to some degree, the Republicans in the Senate, can't live up to their pro-family rhetoric."
House leaders said they are pro-family. Legislation to increase the number of qualified autism service providers will help families. What won't help them, they said, is mandating a new insurance benefit.
"Whenever insurance mandates are enacted, and those cost increases are incurred, the insurance companies don't bear those costs. The insurance companies absolutely do not bear those costs, policy holders bear those costs. You and I and anyone who has an insurance policy will be the one to pay the higher costs, and so to say that we're carrying water for the insurance companies, is just absolutely bogus to me," House Speaker Chris Benge said.
Republican leaders said they are trying to look out for the interests of all Oklahomans, and said legislating a new insurance benefit will just push health care costs up for everyone.
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3 comments:
I pay taxes for a school district that my child will never attend because it doesn't have a special education class and it never will. My tax money helps people on welfare, but my child is not eligible for any benefits because we are poor but not poor enough. If these politicians visited a special needs classroom for children with autism they would see the need. Not just for a 30 minute visit, but all day for several days. They need to assist the teachers in helping these precious children to sit down, eat, play, learn and change their diapers. Do you know how hard it is to change a full grown child's diaper? Our children need therapy and these teachers need a raise!!!
I am equally affected by a child with special needs, too bad for me it is not autism 9although everyone tried to say it was).
How dare any politician claim the moral high ground because they want a private company to, at no additional cost, pay for the treatment of one disease. Why don't these blow hards simply cover it with taxpayer dollars? Why don't they mandate the schools provide the appropriate services? Why not mandate that instead of $3000 for autism testing the provider only be allowed to collect $100.00? I'll tell you why. They are spineless. they care only about re-election. I have seen what legislation like this does. For people like me, who have fought long and hard against the autism diagnosis, the cost of services will skyrocket. Although my child has more disabilities than you can imagine, most in the so called Autism Spectrum, he will not be covered but I will pay and pay dearly.
Mike
You mention that you would like the legislators to provide tax dollars to cover the cost of autism.
Do you really know how much that is? The best estimate to have the taxpayers cover the cost in Oklahoma is around $1.4 billion each year.
That works out to everyone including you pay an additional $ 500-$700 per year.
No one wants gov't paid for and supplied health care. That would be socialized medicine and no one wins there.
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