| NEWS release from Montana Change That Works:
Senators Baucus and Tester Stand Up For Seniors
Votes Against McCain Amendment Handout to Insurance Companies
Today, Sens. Max Baucus and Jon Tester stood up for seniors and voted against the McCain amendment. The amendment was defeated 58-42.
"I want to thank Sens. Baucus and Tester for looking out for Montana. I am relieved that they realize the urgent needs seniors have for quality affordable care," said Mabel Weis, 66, of Missoula.
Before she became eligible for Medicare, Weis lived without health insurance for more than 10 years. She lost her coverage when she quit her job as a data entry clerk in order to take care of her husband, who suffered a stroke. Weis is herself a cancer survivor and says she's "been through the wringer" with the health care system.
The U.S. Senate is currently debating The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, which is urgently needed to provide quality affordable health care to Montana seniors, working families and small business owners. Opponents have played partisan games to frighten Montanans and block this critical legislation. The McCain Amendment is more of the same-showing a disregard for the American people and pandering to corporate insurance interests.
"Seniors aren't fooled by these attempts to divert our attention and derail health care reform," said Frank Clark, 70, a retired University of Montana sociology professor. He says affordable, accessible health care is needed now, particularly since the nation's economy is in such bad shape. He said he's frustrated that two of his adult children-one self-employed and the other a student who recently went back to school in order to better her job projects-are able to find affordable medical coverage.
The McCain Amendment continues the $120 billion handout to private insurance companies running "Medicare Advantage." According to the General Accounting Office report, in one year private insurance companies administering "Medicare Advantage" reaped an extra $1 billion in profits from overcharging- on top of the $35 billion these plans already generate in revenue. Every tax payer subsidizes these extra perks and Medicare is moved closer to bankruptcy because of these overpayments.
"We are very pleased that Sens. Baucus and Tester stood up for Montanans over special interests. We urge the opponents of this reform to stop their partisan games and misinformation campaigns because people of Montana are hurting. We need The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to change this system so that seniors, small businesses and hard working families are not left at the mercy of corporate insurance interests," said Jim Fleischmann, Montana state director of Change That Works.
It is urgent that the U.S. Senate take action. This week 44,000 Americans lost their health insurance, 17,000 Americans were forced into bankruptcy because of medical debt and 400 people lost their lives because they lacked health insurance. It's time for Congress to act and stand up to special interests and put the interests of Montana above politics.
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Change That Works is a grassroots organization that energizes Americans in support of a broad progressive agenda. Concentrated in 12 states that are key to federal legislative outcomes, Change That Works is a vehicle for committed individuals to act on their progressive values through collective action and advocacy. |
