Members of the state’s congressional delegation have received hundreds of letters and phone calls over the past month concerning the role government should play in health care reform. But it seems most of those writing, agree something needs to be done.
Sen. Bob Bennett is hearing from constituents that there is a need for a new system to help the uninsured, but many are angry over President Obama’s support for a government-run health care option.
And Bennett himself opposes the president’s commitment to such a plan.
“The sticking point in this entire debate is the demand on the part of the Obama administration that the final product have a government plan as one of the options, and if that happens, I will do everything I can to say no because I am convinced we would end up with only one option that survives,” Bennett said.
“Right now, nearly 1.8 million Britons are waiting for hospital or outpatient treatments at any given time. Let’s realize that the American voter will never stand for the kind of rationing by delay that seems to have crept into every other government-run health care system.”
Sen. Orrin Hatch is also hearing from constituents concerned about health care, and most of his letters oppose the plan being put forth by President Obama and the Democrat-led Congress.
“Many writing are concerned about the notion of a ‘government-run’ health care plan, and having their own health care decisions taken out of the hands of their doctors and placed in the hands of government bureaucrats,” Hatch said.
“They are also concerned about the spiraling cost of health care. Utahns understand that the President’s plan to spend trillions of taxpayer dollars on health care will not reduce the cost of health care, it will increase it.”
Rep. Rob Bishop is also hearing from constituents on health care, with Utahns offering the view that the solution should remain more market-based, emphasizing choice, while others are saying the federal government should be more involved in mandates, intervention and spending.
Utahns also seem to be voicing their opposition to President Obama’s nomination of Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court.
Bennett met with Sotomayor earlier this month. Following the meeting he said, “I had a very good discussion with Judge Sotomayor. There is no doubt that she is a well-trained attorney with a long list of qualifications, but her extensive record will take time to review.”
He added, “we should hold our Supreme Court justices to the highest standards. Judge Sotomayor asked that we concentrate on her judicial decisions rather than on the basis of her speeches during the confirmation process. Just as I have been with previous nominees, I am committed to giving her a full and fair review.”
Meanwhile, Bishop and Hatch are both hearing from Utahns regarding the nation’s energy policy, specifically the so-called Cap and Trade legislation which would limit carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel use.
Most of those contacting Hatch oppose the legislation, as does Bishop. “The legislation would drastically increase energy prices at a time Americans can least afford it, crippling our economy, costing jobs and having negligible effect on the climate,” Bishop said.
Hatch said Utahns are rightly concerned that the legislation is really a hidden tax that will be passed along to them through higher energy prices.
Utahns are contacting Hatch about spending in Washington and the growing federal deficit, expressing frustrations and fears that “we are no longer talking about leaving a huge debt to future generations, but about bankrupting the nation in our lifetimes ” — something Hatch said no one thought possible.
mwilliams@davisclipper.com
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