Evan Bayh's reply to e-mail about health care reform (opposes Single Payer)

[IndianaGreen]

"As the debate unfolds, I support fiscally sound reform built on our current health care system that aims to provide Americans with affordable health care."

-- Senator Bayh

Talk about careful wording, this is a complete non-statement other than to ensure that he doesn't have to do anything. I remind our readers that Bayh is in the pocket of corporations like Lilly, Wellpoint, and Anthem.

Office of Senator Evan Bayh
[phone]
Russell 131
Washington, D.C. 20510

Dear (REDACTED):

Thank you for contacting me regarding health care reform. I appreciate hearing your thoughts and understand your concerns.

The rising cost of health care and the growing number of uninsured Americans has highlighted the critical need for health care reform. Many individuals and families are unable to receive vital health services under the structure of the current system. I receive letters from constituents on a wide range of health care issues, such as prescription drug affordability, tax credits for health care expenses, and coverage of college students. Please know that I am aware of these challenges and committed to improving access to affordable health care and addressing the needs of those who are uninsured.

Earlier this year, the Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009 was enacted to insure 11 million more children. The legislation included pediatric quality provisions from the Children's Health Care Quality Act (S. 225) that I introduced to address the urgent need to resolve quality care issues widespread in children's health care practices and make publicly available information on the quality of health care provided to children. I have fought successfully for the return of over $150 million in promised federal funds to Indiana to finance health insurance for lower-income Hoosier children. Most recently, I voted for the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, which was enacted on February 17, 2009. Aimed at creating or saving 3.5 million good-paying jobs nationwide through 2010, the economic recovery package also provides Indiana with an estimated $1.4 billion in additional targeted federal matching funds to prevent Medicaid eligibility cuts and to maintain services.

The economy is an important issue to Americans, and we cannot address the economy without talking about health care. A growing threat to our economy is the skyrocketing cost of health care. The U.S. system is the world's costliest; the country spends some $2.4 trillion a year on health care. An estimated 46 million people are uninsured, and many others lack adequate insurance. Businesses also find themselves in a challenging position to continue to provide health care insurance for their employees. Our priority should be to fix the system as we know it, to ensure that there is access to good, quality health care for Americans.

While we are in the early stages of the debate on health care reform, there are many questions regarding the role of the private and public sector. Due to increasing co-pays, deductibles, and out-of-pocket costs, many are calling for insurance regulation. Advances in health information technology are also being discussed, as electronic medical records could significantly reduce administrative costs. However, there are serious privacy and security concerns. Accountability measures such as patient notifications and patient control of personal health information must be explored in order to ensure adequate privacy protections.

As the debate unfolds, I support fiscally sound reform built on our current health care system that aims to provide Americans with affordable health care. Rest assured that I will keep your concerns in mind as the debate continues. I will continue to do my best to achieve solvent, bipartisan solutions that provide high-quality, affordable healthcare to as many Americans as possible.

Again, thank you for contacting me. I hope the information I have provided has been helpful. My website, http://bayh.senate.gov, can provide additional details about my work in the Senate, including legislation and state projects. You can also sign up for occasional email updates. I value your input and hope you will continue to keep me informed of the issues that matter to you.

Office of Senator Evan Bayh
[phone]
Russell 131
Washington, D.C. 20510

[Voltaire]

1. He is a Rat Bastard against both the Public Option and Single Payer

And may he burn in hell for his calculation

[IndianaGreen]

2. Bayh is a whore for Lilly, Wellpoint, and others

while his wife is a corporate lawyer.

Bayh keeps an address in Indiana in order to run for office. He wasn't even born in Indiana.

Will any brave DUer challenge this POS in the primaries next year?

[Voltaire]

4. If none will oppose him

I think that is incumbent on all of us who see through his shit to put the heat on througout the state, raise money to by radio time, picket his offices, get the word out that Bayh is a bullshit con-artist who is completely owned by big pharma and the health-care insurers (insuring they get a profit. . .pricks).

I got issues, between Wall Street and the Health Care Issue...man, I got ISSUES.

And don't get me started on birthers.

[IndianaGreen]

5. Better to challenge him publicly whenever he holds meetings with voters

which he will next year, or even better, confront him at the next Jefferson-Jackson dinner. Let's become the wheel that squeaks.

[Name removed]

10. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[and-justice-for-all]

3. Pathetic...

I got the same bullshit letter you did, he needs relieved of his position.

[IndianaGreen]

6. It is pretty bad when everyone gets exactly the same response

which tells me they didn't even bothered to read our letters.

What kind of morons work for Bayh?

[dotymed]

8. I GET SIMILAR FORM LETTERS FROM ALL OF OUR REPS.

I am not shy and write them often, to tell them my concerns
and positions. I always receive a form letter. I think it was
one (response) from Lugars office, that had absolutely nothing
to do with my question. In fairness though, Lugar's office has
probably been the most consistent in it's replies. He has on
occasion, taken the time to inform me exactly why he disagrees
with me. At least I have gotten honest feed-back, even though
we did not agree.

[IndianaGreen]

9. I bet they find it humiliating to ask for our votes at election time

They probably feel entitled to their lofty positions, and their generous health coverage.

[Chellee]

15. He's still using it.

I got the exact same letter on Oct. 9 that you got on Jul 11.

[IndianaGreen]

16. Unbelievable!

I remember one Jefferson-Jackson Dinner when all the Democratic pols were rubbing elbows with everyone else, while Evan Bayh was downstairs at the bar having a drink by himself.

I don't remember him being this way when he was governor. I think it is time to send Bayh to the unemployment lines for good!

[indypaul]

7. "As the debate unfolds, I support fiscally sound

reform built on our current health care system----"

You cannot construct a cathedral on a shit-house foundation.

Absent single payer or a public plan option, there will
be nothing more than the status-quo. Which is what the
current industry desires. With millions of unemployed
now facing expiration of their benefits and the impossibility
of maintaining any coverage under COBRA or other costly plans.
Their will be NOTHING standing between this administration
and the pitchforks. Keep that in mind "as the debate unfolds."

[matt_v_824]

11. 2 questions

Just a couple questions

1) Where is your proof that Bayh is in the pockets of these companies? Could it be that Lilly and Wellpoint are major employers of Hoosiers and he wants to protect those jobs? Nah, couldn't be that, we have plenty of jobs thanks to Obama doubling the deficit. Wait what? The economy is still falling? Huh...I guess you can't just print money left and right to fix things...There's always next year! Who knows what bright ideas we'll think of in sunny 2010 :)

2)If ensuring corporations get a profit is a bad thing I'm in the wrong country...Aren't we capitalist here? I mean with all the bonehead government buyouts of certain industries we sure aren't as capitalist as we once were but now we're going for NO profit? Did I miss a memo or is it just a few days late? Where does the profit go if we can't keep it? The Premier? Supreme Leader? The Proletariat? Swiss Banks?

[Jokerman]

12. If you really think that "Obama doubling the deficit" is true...

Then all those pesky "facts" about Susan Bayh taking millions from health care companies would be beyond your comprehension.

Enjoy your stay here at DU, however brief it may be.

[urgk]

14. His wife is on the board of Wellpoint.

For proof, google "bayh wellpoint" or "bayh wife insurance" or "bayh wife board" or "bayh wife millions." That should do it.

And the insurance companies making a profit isn't the problem. The problem is that if you get sick in this country, you may go bankrupt. 60% of all bankruptcies in the country are health-related. The problem with insurance companies is that they're making enormous profit by pretending to protect us all from that possibility. We lend them our money to invest with the idea that we may need at least the principal back. They pretend we can have it back, plus some of the profit. Instead, they make billions and let us die or go broke.

[urgk]

13. We should stop calling him Senator Bayh and start calling him Senator Bought. (n/t)