I don't know if you've been thinking about it, but the costs of long-term care have been on the mind of some friends of mine lately.
For reasons that we won't go into here, they are in the process of pricing long-term care at care facilities...and yesterday afternoon, we had a chance to have a look at the "menu" of services (the facility's term) that can be purchased at this particular location.
If you are facing this issue in your own family, if you are a taxpayer thinking about how we plan to fund long-term care in the future...or if, one day, you expect to be old yourself...this conversation will surely matter.
There are quite a few major fights looming over the horizon in Congress over the next few months - EFCA, Health Care, Cap and Trade, Sotomayor, and others. President Obama's weeekly address this week focused on the health care battles:
(This is an important battle that will be waged in the power corridors of Washington and on the airwaves over the summer. The insurance companies are lining up to oppose the public option, pressuring our elected representatives in Congress with their money to oppose the inclusion of a public option into any health care reform bill. That alone tells you that a health care reform bill without a public option will NOT be reform, but more of the same. - promoted by ryan)
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana controls 61% of our state health insurance market. Together with United Health Group, our state's #2 insurer, these two companies control 74% of the market. With this kind of "competition," is it any wonder our insurance premiums have risen 75% in the last ten years, 3.3 times faster than our wages, squeezing families and small business alike?
Some argue that health insurance industry competition across the U.S. is ample. In fact, research shows a startling and consistent absence of competition as the industry consolidates with more mergers and acquisitions. For example, according to a nationwide survey by the Government Accountability Office, the median statewide market share of the largest insurer selling coverage to small employer groups increased to 47 percent in 2008 from 33 percent in 2002. Americans pay for this consolidation in the form of higher health plan premiums, surging insurance company profits, and a growing number of uninsured people.
The Justice Department considers any market where one company holds more than 42% of the customers to be "highly concentrated." 94% of insurance markets in America are now "highly concentrated." In other words, the Justice Department is concerned that pretty much every insurance market in America is headed towards a monopoly.
We pay for those monopolies with skyrocketing premiums and copays. Meanwhile, insurers rake in the profits, to the tune of $13 billion last year.
If you look a bit closer at our communities, the numbers are even more staggering. For example, in the Lafayette area, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana controls a whopping 85% of the market.
Most Louisianans get their health care today under a near-monopoly. That means we can't choose a health care plan that meets our needs. We can't shop around for health plans that are affordable for our families. We simply don't have a choice - we are forced to pay what the insurers want for the coverage they decide to offer us.
Congress could change this overnight.
They could do so by passing a public health insurance option as part of health reform, something supported by President Obama, which WILL give you and me another choice for our health care. And that choice would be a real choice. The public health insurance option would be affordable. It would provide benefits that meet our needs. It would be charged with looking out for our interests, not its own profits. And most importantly, it would be a strong competitor to Blue Cross Blue Shield, forcing our state's top insurer to change their ways.
The insurance industry will try and scare us, telling us that a public health insurance option will take away our choice and force everyone into a "government run plan." That's simply not true. Nobody would be forced to give up their current health care plan. A public health insurance option would be a health care plan you could choose if you wanted to.
Of course, what these attacks fail to mention is right now we have no choice. One insurance company controls 61% of the market here, and they use their monopoly power to keep costs high. A public health insurance option would give us the choice we need to provide good health care for ourselves and our families.
Frenzella Johnson is a long time Louisiana ACORN member.
Well, folks ... I've just seen something I never thought I'd see in politics, mainly because I am not my grandparents' age. Back then, most Americans literally worshipped FDR, and they still do. Pray tell, what am I talking about? This:
Well, Mr. Kennedy may want to revise that statement in light of this article that John McCain had written for the September/October 2008 issue of Contingencies, the magazine for the American Academy of Actuaries:
"Opening up the health insurance market to more vigorous nationwide competition, as we have done over the last decade in banking, would provide more choices of innovative products less burdened by the worst excesses of state-based regulation."
(Well, I just got out of the hospital. Nothing too serious, apparently, other than the fact that I apparently broke out into a cold sweat for no reason, along with losing all color in my face, thus scaring the living bejesus out of my wife. I just thank the Lord that we have health insurance. I don't even want to think about the alternative. - promoted by ryan)
82% of Americans think our health care system needs a "major overhaul." On top of that, over 90% of Americans [pdf] think the next President and Congress should improve the quality and affordability of health care.
With the worsening economy continuing to be the top issue for most Americans, this hope for change isn't hard to understand. American health care spending is projected to reach a full 1/5th of our GDP by 2015, which means by then, we'll be spending twenty cents of every dollar we make on health care. Health care premiums have risen 86% between 2000 and 2006 while wages only rose 20%, putting the strain on working families. Health care costs continue to be the #1 cause of bankruptcy in America.
"Rapidly rising health care costs are not simply a federal budget problem," the GAO report says. "Growth in health-related spending is the primary driver of the fiscal challenges facing state and local governments as well. Unsustainable growth in health care spending also threatens to erode the ability of employers to provide coverage to their workers and undercuts their ability to compete in a global marketplace."
Quite simply, with rising health care costs (including $50 billion per year to pay for insurance industry advertising) being born out by working families and American businesses, health care is a top economic concern. To keep American workers at their best, and to keep American business competitive in the world, something has to change.
Nancy Pelosi has recently declared health care expansion to be #2 on her list of legislative priorities, right after ending the Iraq war. In the past month, tens of thousands of Americans have told us they want quality, affordable health care for all. Now it's time to ask Congress.
So, Congress, which side are you on? Are you with us for quality, affordable health care for all? Or are you with the insurance companies, working to preserve our broken system?
We've set up a quick and easy way for you to contact your Members of Congress and ask them if they support our vision for health care reform. Just click here and enter in your phone number and address. Choose the elected official you want to talk to and in a few moments, we'll call your phone and connect you automatically.
Over the next few weeks, we want to make 100,000 calls to Congress, asking every Member which side they are on. We need your help to do it, so please click here to call!
Once your done with your call, tell us what happened so we can keep track of where Congress stands. As of today, we're proud to announce Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) and Representative Henry Waxman (D-CA), are with us. The rest, so far, are unknown. You can see the full list here.
Health care is a priority for the American people. It's a priority for Nancy Pelosi. It's up to us to make sure it's a priority for Congress as well. Please take a moment, call your Members of Congress, and ask them which side they are on.
Oh, and if you have a blog or website, you can help spread the word about this campaign by embedding the widget you see above on your site. Just copy and paste the code here.
"Health care costs continue to skyrocket, forcing middle class families to cut corners to pay for their families' basic health care, put off visits to the doctor, or go without any insurance," Cazayoux said. "Far too many Louisiana families struggle with the out of control costs, and 20 percent go without any health care at all. I will work in Washington towards solutions to help the families of Louisiana get a quality, affordable health care plan."
Cazayoux's positions on health care include:
Ensuring that all Louisiana's children have health insurance, a necessity for hard working families. Cazayoux will support expanding the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) and work to find other ways to make sure no child in our state or country goes without health care. In the legislature, Cazayoux voted to expand the Louisiana Children's Health Insurance Program (LaCHIP) [HB 542, 2007].
Giving every small business or individual the ability to buy into the same health care plan available to members of Congress. Cazayoux does not believe a big government program is the solution; he supports a market-based solution that will increase access to quality, affordable healthcare. Cazayoux believes that increasing access to health care for everyone will drive down the cost of premiums for those who currently have insurance. This is because many Americans without health insurance use the most expensive form of health care - the emergency room - which we all end up paying for.
Passing a prescription drug plan for seniors that works and is not just a giveaway to the big drug companies.
Making sure that our veterans have the health care they deserve. Right now, one out of every eight veterans under 65 is uninsured.
It gets even better ... as the Cazayoux folks point out that (emphasis mine):
Jenkins voted against the 1999-2000 state budget, which provided $3.3 billion in funding for Medicaid and appropriated $9.5 million for LaCHIP to fund the program up to 150 percent of the poverty level. Jenkins was one of only two House members to vote against it [HB 1, Motion to Adopt, 6/21/99; 1999 Regular Session].
In addition, Jenkins skipped a vote when the state House of Representatives passed legislation [on a bill to require] to require that health insurance policies cover reconstructive breast surgery if they provide coverage for mastectomies. He voted against legislation to increase funding for rural hospitals and opposed legislation requiring that health insurance companies cover severe mental illnesses. [SB 699, Final Passage, 6/16/97, 1997 Regular Session; SB 500, Final Passage, 5/21/97, 1997 Regular Session; HB 1300, Concur in Senate Amendments, 6/16/99, 1999 Regular Session]
Yeah, Woody will work hard for us in Congress. If you believe that, I have a bridge in Brooklyn I'd like to sell ya.
The Cazayoux campaign is releasing this web-only video about the race today:
It's also on their website. Don's candidacy has sparked a fire amongst the unions here in LA-06. While they've worked with political candidates before, I've never seen them this excited about a candidate. If you like the idea of adding to the Democratic majority in the House with someone who will be there with us on the economic issues we all care about, then donate.
I also had the opportunity to interview Don. I asked 10 questions, some of which came from calls I made for questions from commenters at Daily Kos, MyDD, and Daily Kingfish.
Let's get started!
1. What's your background - where did you grow up, go to school, law school, etc? I grew up and have spent most of my life in Louisiana's 6th Congressional District. I grew up in New Roads, Louisiana - a small town founded in the 18th century that's famous for hosting the oldest Mardi Gras celebration outside of New Orleans. After graduating from high school in New Roads, I headed down the road to Baton Rouge to earn my BA and a Master's in Psychology from LSU. I earned my law degree from Georgetown in 1991.
As a prosecutor, I never lost a jury trial and put hundreds of criminals behind bars. I prosecuted violent, petty and white collar criminals alike. I always stood up for the little guy. I even beat an insurance company in court when they refused to pay hospital bills for seniors.
I was first elected to the Louisiana House of Representatives in 1999 and was one of the only freshmen appointed to the appropriations committee. In the legislature, I passed an increase in teacher pay, expanded early childhood education to include all at risk 4 year olds, and made historic investments in Louisiana's roads. I also passed tough ethics legislation that curbs the influence of lobbyists on the political process.
2. Okay, let's get into the issues: First, there is a bill in the State Legislature, I'm not sure of the Bill #, but it will shorten the hours that the polls are open in Louisiana on Election Days. Are you for that or against it? (Hat Tip to wojeaux at Daily Kingfish)
I believe that voting is a right of citizenship and we should protect it. There are lots of middle class people in Louisiana who work long or
irregular hours and we should make sure that they have an opportunity to vote - that's why I will not support efforts to shorten voting hours. In
Congress, I will support legislation that both protects the integrity of our elections and ensures that eligible citizens have an opportunity to participate.
3. What is your stance on the current proposal for an I-10 loop around the Baton Rouge Metro area? If you are not sold on it, what alternatives are you prepared to put forward, if any? Traffic isn't just a nuisance - it also impacts our economy and our quality of life. The more time we spend in traffic, the less time we spend being productive and that's not good for the economy. It also means less time that we can be spend enjoying our kids, our parents and our grandparents. I support the I-10 loop because it'll reduce
congestion and make it easier for Louisianans to reach their destinations.
4. What is your position on wetlands loss in coastal Louisiana? Are you willing to step forward and LEAD on this issue, even if it means explaining that we need to spend a LOT of money, given that we face a potential catastrophe if the wetlands loss continues at its current pace? Do you have any specific policy ideas on this issue? (Hat Tip to darkhat at Daily Kos)
For many Louisianans, conserving our wetlands is about preserving our quality of life. Louisiana's vast wetlands are a place where Louisianans have fished, hunted, trapped and lived for generations and we need to conserve this precious resource so that our children and their children can enjoy it. Our wetlands have also served as an important buffer against catastrophic hurricanes and that's yet another reason why it's important to protect them.
There's no denying that we're losing wetlands. Our state has lost 1,500 square miles of wetlands since the 1930s and we're projected to lose up to 500 square miles more by 2050, if we don't act. In the Louisiana legislature, I coauthored legislation that allows certain federal revenues generated from Outer Continental Shelf oil and gas activity to be credited to the Coastal Protection and Restoration Fund. And, in Congress, I'll continue the fight to stop the loss of wetlands.
The key to replenishing our wetlands is effectively managing the Mississippi River. We need to ensure that freshwater and sediments
remain in the wetlands to bolster marshes and barrier islands instead of losing resources to the Gulf of Mexico. This necessary reform costs
money and I will work to ensure that an effective and cost efficient wetlands management plan is in place and that Louisiana gets its fair share from the federal government for wetlands renewal.
5. There are some progressive folks who are very disappointed in the language on your website about illegal immigration, as you are against amnesty. The policy that presidential candidate Barack Obama has advocated is to allow illegal immigrants who are in good standing (which I believe means if they were attempting to come in legally, they would not be barred from admittance under our immigration laws) to pay a fine, learn English, and go to the back of the line for the opportunity to become citizens, which is essentially the same stance that Hillary Clinton has on this issue. Do you agree with them? If no, where do you differ? (Hat Tip to populista at Daily Kos)
I think everyone would agree that our immigration system is broken and we need to fix it. I also think that most Louisianans agree with me that
amnesty is not the answer. Unfortunately, too many in Washington prefer gridlock and, as a result, nothing gets done. When dealing with illegal
immigration, I believe that the first step is to pass laws that will both secure our border and crack down on corporations that knowingly
hire illegal immigrants.
6. Where do you stand on free trade agreements like CAFTA, NAFTA, and the current trade bill in limbo in Congress - the Colombian Free Trade Agreement? (Hat Tip to populista at Daily Kos) I support fair trade agreements that raise labor standards for all workers - both here in the United States and abroad - while ensuring
that American businesses remain competitive. I will vote to close tax loopholes that reward companies for moving our jobs overseas. I oppose
the Colombian Free Trade Agreement in its current form and believe that we need to renegotiate CAFTA and NAFTA to include more protections for
our workers.
7. Do you believe that we need to invade Iran, like some Republicans are proposing? (Hat tip to andydupre at Daily Kingfish)
The current Iranian regime represents an extremist political ideology and is unpopular even in Iran. I believe that we must continue to put pressure on the current regime and simultaneously embolden Iranian moderates to bring about reform. At this moment, I am deeply concerned with their sponsorship of terrorist activities and while I believe that the military option should be the last option, I believe it's unwise to take any option off the table.
I also believe that we must refocus our resources on combating al Qaeda and other terrorist organizations.
8. If elected, would you keep the child tax credits and the lower tax brackets that help working class Americans? Would you vote to return the tax rate for the wealthiest 1% of Americans back to where it was under President Bill Clinton? I am a strong supporter of fiscally responsible tax cuts for middle class families. In the Louisiana legislature, I voted for millions in
tax cuts for middle class families including an increase in the child tax credit. And, in Congress I will continue to support sensible tax relief for small businesses and middle class families.
I am a real fiscal conservative and I believe that spending in Washington is out of control. Our deficit and national debt is unsustainable and it would be irresponsible to burden our children with
our debts. As such, I believe in a balanced budget and I support pay-go policies that will reign in spending and make our government fiscally
responsible.
I also believe that corporations and the wealthiest 1% should pay their fair share. That's why I want to crack down on tax loopholes and
offshore bank accounts that some use to cheat our tax system.
9. On health care, you have stated that you would have voted for SCHIP, which would have expanded the program to allow 80,000 more of Louisiana's children access to health care. You want to reform the prescription drug plan for seniors - Medicare Part D. How do you propose lowering the costs of health care?
I think President Bush's veto of the expansion of SCHIP was wrong for Louisiana families and I will vote to expand SCHIP so that children in middle class families can obtain health care coverage.
On Medicare Part D, I believe that we need to eliminate the donut hole coverage gap and make sure that our seniors have access to the prescription drugs they need to live healthy and happy lives. In terms of controlling costs, I support allowing Medicare to negotiate with
pharmaceutical companies to bring down the high cost of prescription drugs and save seniors and taxpayers money.
Health care costs are out of control. One way to lower costs is by leveraging technology to make our health care system more efficient. Even
polar political opposites - Newt Gingrich and Hillary Clinton - agreed on this point. Eliminating bureaucracy and improving the flow of health care information will help reduce costs for consumers. Another way to lower health costs is by making preventative treatments more widely
available. Preventative medicine and early detection can save individuals - and our health care system - huge sums of money.
Our health care system is too costly and doesn't help enough people. One major problem we face is that those who don't have health care use the
costliest form - the emergency room. Increasing access to quality, affordable health care will drive down the cost of premiums for everyone.
10. Republicans like to make a big show of how they are the better supporters of our troops and veterans. Yet every time a proposal to fully fund the VA, or to make it a non-discretionary item of the federal budget is before the Congress, Republicans have overwhelmingly voted no. Would you vote to make VA funding non-discretionary?
I am a strong supporter of our troops and our veterans and I believe we have a fundamental obligation to make sure that the brave men and women who served in uniform have access to the health care they need and have access to programs that will help transition them back to civilian life.
As for the VA funding issue, I will carefully review each budget and ensure that the VA has the funding it needs and that the money is getting to our veterans that need it - and it's not being wasted on unnecessary bureaucracy. As for the non-discretionary funding question, I would like more time to study proposed and past VA budgets before I take a position on non-discretionary funding.
I've got to say, Don was quite impressive. He's easily one of the more thoughtful candidates I've ever had the pleasure of meeting.
Also, this race is heating up. The Republicans have turned to a shadowy issue advocacy group run by former RNCC operatives called Freedoms Watch to get their message out, as the NRCC is strapped for cash. And Freedoms Watch? We have NO idea how much money they've got, nor whom their donors are, save the fact that they are a far-right wing group bent on promoting a far-right conservative worldview. Don is going to need every single cent he can raise to win this one.
When Bobby Jindal was only 24 years old, he was appointed by Governor Mike Foster to the most important health care position in the State of Louisiana, Secretary of Health and Hospitals. During his short tenure as Secretary, Louisiana dropped from 48th to 50th (dead last) in our national health care rankings, which is ironic considering how often candidate Jindal speaks about taking Louisiana off of all of the "bad lists."
In an attempt to "rapidly" respond to criticisms of Jindal's record on health care, Timmy Teepell, Jindal's campaign manager, issued a press release on August 13th, ostensibly to debunk some of the "myths" about Jindal's record. But as Teepell's response proves, Jindal cannot hide from his own record, and the lame attempts to justify Jindal's past decisions are easily disproven by anyone with a little time and a connection to the Internet.
Teepell writes:
We knew that the defenders of the status quo would fight Bobby Jindal’s war on corruption every step of the way. It is not surprising that they have already resorted to misrepresenting reality and rewriting history. Bobby has a strong record on strengthening health care and supporting our nation’s veterans, and nasty attack ads from the old-guard party bosses can’t change it. This ad is just more proof of what we already know, those who don’t want change in Louisiana will do anything to fight against it.
Teepell would have us believe that anyone who has questioned Jindal's record on health care and veterans affairs is somehow a part of the "old-guard" who would like to maintain the "status quo." Well, I, for one, am not a part of any old-guard, and when reviewing Mr. Jindal's record, I cannot find any evidence of a man who has championed bold changes in health care or has "fought" the well-documented corruption of America's health care and pharmaceutical lobbies.
Like pointecoupeedemocrat has done with another one of Teepell's misleading "rapid responses," let us review the issues highlighted in Teepell's press release on health care "pointe by pointe."
I grew up and have spent most of my life in Louisiana's 6th Congressional District. I grew up in New Roads, Louisiana - a small town founded in the 18th century that's famous for hosting the oldest Mardi Gras celebration outside of New Orleans. After graduating from high school in New Roads, I headed down the road to Baton Rouge to earn my BA and a Master's in Psychology from LSU. I earned my law degree from Georgetown in 1991. 
Traffic isn't just a nuisance - it also impacts our economy and our quality of life. The more time we spend in traffic, the less time we spend being productive and that's not good for the economy. It also means less time that we can be spend enjoying our kids, our parents and our grandparents. I support the I-10 loop because it'll reduce
congestion and make it easier for Louisianans to reach their destinations. 
I support fair trade agreements that raise labor standards for all workers - both here in the United States and abroad - while ensuring
that American businesses remain competitive. I will vote to close tax loopholes that reward companies for moving our jobs overseas. I oppose
the Colombian Free Trade Agreement in its current form and believe that we need to renegotiate CAFTA and NAFTA to include more protections for
our workers.
I am a strong supporter of fiscally responsible tax cuts for middle class families. In the Louisiana legislature, I voted for millions in
tax cuts for middle class families including an increase in the child tax credit. And, in Congress I will continue to support sensible tax relief for small businesses and middle class families. 
