WILLIAMSON
FOR
U.S. CONGRESS
DEMOCRAT
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 6
“The Future Can Be Ours.”
480-607-9726
Dear Friend,
Just because Doug Ducey says in a TV commercial that “Barack Obama has
failed America, especially Arizona” doesn’t mean it’s true.
It’s certainly not true for The Affordable Care Act.
The Future Can Be Ours if we recognize dogmatic statements made by
Republicans that are not evidence-based.
Last year, for example, there were many claims that there would be “rate
shock” from soaring insurance premiums for Obamacare. “But last month the
Department of Health and Human Services reported that among those
receiving federal subsidies–the great majority of those signing up–the
average net premium was only $82 a month.” (“Obamacare Fails to Fail,”
Paul Krugman, New York Times, July 13, 2014.)
Fears were also expressed last year that people wouldn’t pay their
premiums. “But the great majority of those who signed up did indeed pay
up, and we now have multiple independent surveys — from Gallup, the Urban
Institute and the Commonwealth Fund — all showing a sharp reduction in the
number of uninsured Americans since last fall.” (Krugman, ibid.)
Moreover–and for this we can thank Republican Governor Jan Brewer and the
brave souls of both parties in our Legislature who voted for Medicaid
Expansion–the “Urban Institute survey shows…the decline in uninsured
residents has been three times as large in Medicaid-expansion states as in
Medicaid-expansion rejectors.” (Krugman, ibid.)
Yet CD6 Rep. David Schweikert has not only not supported the Affordable
Care Act, but also he did not support Medicaid Expansion in our state. He
stated on his congressional website as of June 17, 2014: “The Affordable
Care Act has confused an already complex and wasteful healthcare
system…” Further, he said, when our Legislature was debating Medicaid
Expansion last year, “this proposal…should be voted down.” (Arizona
Daily Independent, June 11, 2013.)
Interestingly, however, according to the Commonwealth Fund survey, “the
overwhelming majority of the newly insured, including 74 percent of
Republicans, are satisfied with their coverage.” (Krugman, op. cit.)
Let’s look at that again: “74 percent of Republicans” nationwide who are
insured by Obamacare “are satisfied” with their coverage! Those are
members of Rep. Schweikert’s own party!
The gloom and doom prognostications about Obamacare and Medicaid Expansion
made by Rep. Schweikert have simply not come true.
After I am elected your congressman on Nov. 4th, I will continue to
support Obamacare in every way along with the expanded Medicaid program in
our state. I care that people without adequate health insurance get such
insurance so that they can enjoy the benefits of good health and
well-being.
If you would like to contribute to my campaign, please check out my
website at williamsonforuscongress.com. Click on “Make a Donation,”
and, by means of safe and secure PayPal, stand by my efforts as a
Democratic candidate to become your next member of Congress. Even if you
live outside District 6 or in another state, you may donate to my
campaign. We need signs, campaign business cards, and TV commercials. Your
generous contribution can make those campaign dreams a reality.
The Future Can Be Ours if we discern and dismiss Republican dogmatic
statements like the one made recently by gubernatorial candidate Doug
Ducey in a TV commercial. When it comes to the Affordable Care Act,
President Obama has not, by any means, failed America nor our state. Even
our own Republican governor, Jan Brewer, supported Medicaid Expansion, a
critical complement to Obamacare. Nor do I believe that Obama has failed
our state with respect to immigration either; but that will be a topic for
another blog at a later time. For now, the evidence shows that
Obamacare–despite the din of negativity we may hear from some Republicans
about it–is succeeding.
Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
John
W. John Williamson
Scottsdale, Arizona