PUBLIC FORUM WITH FORWARD KANSAS
ON
THE LANDWEHR/PILCHER-COOK
AMENDMENT
IN
WICHITA KANSAS
ON
THE LANDWEHR/PILCHER-COOK
AMENDMENT
IN
WICHITA KANSAS
WHAT: Rally with concerned citizens in Brenda Landwehr District
WHEN: December 5, 2009 10am
WHERE: 21st & Amidon, Wichita, KS
BACKGROUND:
Rally to highlight the hypocrisy of State Representative Brenda Landwehr (HD091).
Representative Landwehr recently proposed a constitutional amendment in Kansas that would prohibit the enactment of any future federal legislation impacting the health care coverage of Kansas citizens, despite the fact that Representative Landwehr and her co-sponsors for the amendment all accepted government provided health insurance coverage to the tune of $15,000 for state fiscal year 2008 [1].
Representative Landwehr, who has, in the past, openly represented health providers ahead of her constituents [2], also refuses to acknowledge that Kansas would be a "net beneficiary of [health care] reform." [3]
According to Marci Nielsen, Vice Chancellor for Public Policy at KU Med and the former executive director of the Kansas Health Policy Authority (KHPA), under the proposed federal legislation "would expand coverage to about 70,000 Kansans at little or no additional cost to the state." [4] Nielsen further explained that "[a] state like Kansas can really benefit because so many of our uninsured are self-employed, work for small business, or are part-time seasonal [employees]." [5]
Rep. Landwehr herself admitted that her proposed amendment "doesn't do anything, doesn't change anything that's occurring today." [6] So, what's the purpose for the amendment, if not to find relief for Kansas families? In 2008 alone, health care and insurance interests alone represented nearly one-quarter of all contributions to Rep. Landwehr's re-election campaign. [7] She knows how to put health care and insurance interests before the interests of her constituents.
"Once again, Kansas political extremists are more interested in the soundbite than in really helping Kansans," Sarah Burris, editor of Forward Kansas said.
Speakers Include:
Rep. Geraldine Flaherty, Ranking Democrat, Health & Human Services Committee, Kansas House of Representatives
Rep. Nile Dillmore, Ranking Democrat, Insurance Committee, Kansas House of Representatives
Rep. Delia Garcia, Ranking Democrat, Local Government Committee, Kansas House of Representatives
Dr. Tom Kluzak, Physicians for a National Health Program (PNHP)
Dr. Leslie Page, OB/Gyn, a nationally known physician for women's health, particularly breast cancer
Forward Kansas is a non-partisan progressive collaboration blog that aims to hold elected officials accountable, report on politics and policies, and give timely details each legislative session.
For more information, see: http://www.forwardkansas.com
[1] Republican legislators enjoy public insurance benefits, hypocrisy: Proposed bill would deny Kansans health insurance choices, Kansas Democratic Party Oct. 27, 2009 Press Release.
[2] Mean Kansas law in the making: Pay your medical bills in 90 days or..., The Pitch Plog, February 10, 2009 (available at http://blogs.pitch.com/plog/
[3] Sen. Mary Pilcher Cook fights for health-care freedom (cough, cough), The Pitch Plog, November 19, 2009 (available at http://blogs.pitch.com/plog/
[4] Id.
[5] Id.
[6] "Republicans Plan to Introduce Health Freedom Act: "Doesn't Change Anything...", Forward Kansas, October 28, 2009 (available at http://forwardkansas.com/2009/
[7] FollowTheMoney.org (available at http://www.followthemoney.org/
Contacts:
Editor, Sarah Burris
Will be on hand for questions at the rally and will also have information packets for media.
405-821-1069
No comments:
Post a Comment