The Ken Calvert Corruption Chronicles, Episode 6


The Ken Calvert Corruption Chronicles are weekly reviews of Ken Calvert’s 18 years in Congress. The series will look into Calvert’s record of hypocrisy, extremism and corruption. This is Episode 6.

Episode 6: Repeal health care?  Really?

This past Sunday, the President and Congress came through on a promise made to the American people – they passed a health insurance reform bill that will help millions of people across the country and hundreds of thousands right here at home.

And what is the Republican response to the passage of this landmark legislation that helps millions of people?  Repeal it!

That’s right – according to Republican Party leaders, the only thing they will focus on from now until November is repealing the health insurance bill.

Why? Listed below are just some of the benefits to residents of the 44th district:

• Improved coverage for 518,000 residents with health insurance.

• Tax credits
and other assistance for up to 138,000 families and 13,000 small businesses.

• Improved Medicare
for 76,000 beneficiaries, including closing the donut hole.

• Guaranteed that 19,600 residents with pre-existing conditions can obtain coverage.

• 81,000 young adults can obtain coverage
on their parents’ insurance plans.

• Reduction of the deficit
by over $100 billion over the next ten years and by about $1 trillion over the next twenty.

So I ask again – why repeal it?  Because it’s just another election-year stunt concocted by a desperate incumbent to try and save his seat in November. And with over $160,000 in contributions from pharmaceutical and insurance companies, and HMOs, it leaves no doubt as to why Calvert doesn’t want to change the status quo.

Calvert has even saved HMOs some $22 billion with favorable reimbursement formulas after intense lobbying from the health insurance industry.

Once again, Calvert has chosen to side with corporations in a desperate attempt to save his seat in November.  We deserve better. It’s time for real leadership for the district – leadership we can trust to represent the people – not corporate America’s bottom line.

Sources:

http://energycommerce.house.gov/Press_111/health_care/districts/new/CA44.Calvert.pdf
opensecrets.org, accessed 5/20/09
HRS653, http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2006/roll004.xml, 2/01/06

Bill Hedrick has been a public school teacher for 35 years and, as a member of the Corona-Norco Board of Education, has helped lead California’s 8th largest school district for 22 years, improving the education of 53,000 children.  With a grassroots campaign and no national support, Bill came within less than two percentage points of unseating 16-year incumbent Rep. Ken Calvert in 2008.  Bill is running again to fight wasteful spending and corruption and to bring real leadership – leadership we can trust – to the people of California’s 44th Congressional District.

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