Commentary on the Failure of the Congress to Support Health Care for All Children
It appears that the arrogance of our metropolitan Congressmen Joe Knollenberg (R-Birmingham), Thaddeus McCotter (R-Livonia) and
Mike Rogers (R-Brighton) knows no bounds. They voted against the health care for children bill and continue to provide unlimited
support to the policies—wise or not--of our failed president.
All I can assume is that they are sure the voters do not know about the excellent coverage they have as reported by Don Sloan, M.D. in
Caveat Press (“The Best Health Care Is Reserved for Congress,” July 11, 2007) U.S. Congressmen have tax-supported, unlimited
health care coverage for themselves and their families for the $35 a month withheld from their $158,000 annual salaries.
They pay no deductibles and no copays for the full range of medical services—unlimited doctor visits, all accidents, physical therapy, lab
work, x-rays, unlimited hospital visits and stays, certain chronic care and rehab, full prescription coverage and unlimited specialty
consultations.
They can look forward to a full pension and continued health care coverage until they die. And it doesn’t matter how high their income is
in their retirement. It is not “means-tested” as is the S-Chip medical care for the children of struggling families.
It shows profound disrespect for the electorate when Congressmen talk about some families with “too much income” getting tax-
supported health care for their kids, given the lack of means testing of the tax-supported benefits they will receive as long as they live.
Shame on us for sending these kinds of representatives over and over again toWashington to support the common good in Michigan
and the nation.
Beverley McDonald
Former Chair, Catholic Caucus of Southeast Michigan
October 7, 2007
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