Or, did $1.5 million buy the health industry an obstructionist?

By way of equal time, I'll also share another email I got this afternoon, exactly 30 minutes prior to DeMint's. Suffice to say, the Democrats don't think much to his positions on the issue.

DeMint Stands In The Way Of Providing Health Care To 764,00 South Carolinians

DeMint Is On The Ballot Next Year – Once This Bill Is Signed Into Law, Will He Run On The Repeal Of Landmark Reform Which Will Have Afforded Coverage To Many In His State, Brought Down Costs For Families And Small Businesses, Ended Appalling Insurance Practices, And Lowered The Deficit

In the early morning hours today, Senator Jim DeMint once again attempted to kill health care reform that would benefit South Carolinians.  DeMint joined with his Republican colleagues in attempting to filibuster health care reform efforts from moving through the Senate, but despite DeMint’s opposition, Democrats overcame Republican efforts to filibuster.  One more procedural vote will take place on Wednesday, with final passage of the Senate health care bill likely Thursday.  With 764,000 South Carolinians standing to gain health insurance under this legislation, you would think voting yes to proceeding to a vote would be a no-brainer, but not for Senator DeMint.  DeMint has spent his summer and fall obstructing and doing everything in his power to block any sort of reforms which would help the people of his state.

“With today’s vote, Jim DeMint proved he cares more about the national Republican Party than the needs of his own state," said Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee Communications Director Eric Schultz. “Every chance he gets, Jim DeMint lets down the people of South Carolina and today was no exception. Jim DeMint is in the pocket of the insurance industry and now faces a choice. Once this bill is signed into law, will DeMint pledge to rollback this landmark health care reform which will have afforded coverage to 764,000 South Carolinians, brought down costs for families and small businesses, ended appalling insurance practices, and lowered the deficit? That is a precarious political position to be in.”

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act will reduce costs, increase access, and provide critical insurance reforms that will put patients first. This legislation also makes Medicare more solvent and expands prescription drug coverage, all while reducing the deficit and reining in health care costs. The PPACA provides choice and competition and invests in the small businesses of this country. According to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO), Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, as amended, will provide coverage to 94% of all Americans, including an additional 31 million currently uninsured and will reduce the deficit.  The CBO estimates that the bill will reduce the federal deficit by $132 billion over the first 10 years and by $1.3 trillion over the second ten years. Despite these benefits that the bill offers to the country and the people of South Carolina, DeMint continues to stand in the way.

Under health care reform in South Carolina:

·             764,000 residents who do not currently have insurance and 290,000 residents who have nongroup insurance could get affordable coverage through the health insurance exchange.[www.healthreform.gov]

·             477,000 residents could qualify for premium tax credits to help them purchase health coverage.[www.healthreform.gov]

·             714,000 seniors would receive free preventive services.[www.healthreform.gov]

·             127,000 seniors would have their brand-name drug costs in the Medicare Part D “doughnut hole” halved.[www.healthreform.gov]

·             49,300 small businesses could be helped by a small business tax credit to make premiums more affordable.[www.healthreform.gov]

·

DeMint Has Taken $477,000 from the Insurance Industry. According to the Center for Responsive Politics, DeMint has taken $477,295 in campaign contributions from the insurance industry over the course of his career. [Center for Responsive Politics, accessed 12/22/09]

DeMint Has Taken Over $1.1 Million from the Healthcare Industry. According to the Center for Responsive Politics, DeMint has taken $1,173,828 in campaign contributions from the healthcare industry, including $332,750 from their PACs, over the course of his career. [Center for Responsive Politics, accessed 12/22/09]

 

“With today’s vote, Jim DeMint proved he cares more about the national Republican Party than the needs of his own state," said Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee Communications Director Eric Schultz. “Every chance he gets, Jim DeMint lets down the people of South Carolina and today was no exception. Jim DeMint is in the pocket of the insurance industry and now faces a choice. Once this bill is signed into law, will DeMint pledge to rollback this landmark health care reform which will have afforded coverage to 764,000 South Carolinians, brought down costs for families and small businesses, ended appalling insurance practices, and lowered the deficit? That is a precarious political position to be in.”

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act will reduce costs, increase access, and provide critical insurance reforms that will put patients first. This legislation also makes Medicare more solvent and expands prescription drug coverage, all while reducing the deficit and reining in health care costs. The PPACA provides choice and competition and invests in the small businesses of this country. According to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO), Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, as amended, will provide coverage to 94% of all Americans, including an additional 31 million currently uninsured and will reduce the deficit.  The CBO estimates that the bill will reduce the federal deficit by $132 billion over the first 10 years and by $1.3 trillion over the second ten years. Despite these benefits that the bill offers to the country and the people of South Carolina, DeMint continues to stand in the way.

Under health care reform in South Carolina:

·             764,000 residents who do not currently have insurance and 290,000 residents who have nongroup insurance could get affordable coverage through the health insurance exchange.[www.healthreform.gov]

·             477,000 residents could qualify for premium tax credits to help them purchase health coverage.[www.healthreform.gov]

·             714,000 seniors would receive free preventive services.[www.healthreform.gov]

·             127,000 seniors would have their brand-name drug costs in the Medicare Part D “doughnut hole” halved.[www.healthreform.gov]

·             49,300 small businesses could be helped by a small business tax credit to make premiums more affordable.[www.healthreform.gov]

·

DeMint Has Taken $477,000 from the Insurance Industry. According to the Center for Responsive Politics, DeMint has taken $477,295 in campaign contributions from the insurance industry over the course of his career. [Center for Responsive Politics, accessed 12/22/09]

DeMint Has Taken Over $1.1 Million from the Healthcare Industry. According to the Center for Responsive Politics, DeMint has taken $1,173,828 in campaign contributions from the healthcare industry, including $332,750 from their PACs, over the course of his career. [Center for Responsive Politics, accessed 12/22/09]