Esquivel attacks Kroger & Kulongoski for defending health care
Kari Chisholm
A day after Attorney General John Kroger and Governor Ted Kulongoski announced that they'd be defending the new health reform law, Rep. Sal Esquivel (R-Medford) went after him. Esquivel's attack went beyond the policy disagreement - and suggested that Kroger had "political motives".
From Legal Newsline's Chris Rizo:
"This just doesn't make sense," Esquivel, R-Medford, told Legal Newsline. "But only the governor and the AG know if what they're doing is politically motivated."
Given that Governor is termed out - and has no plans to run for any other office - it's hard to figure out what Esquivel is talking about. He's pretty clear, though, that he doesn't like the new health reform law.
Esquivel said if congressional Democrats were truly serious about cutting heath care costs they would have adopted tort reforms and allowed Americans to purchase medical insurance over state lines."Those are the two key factors to lowering the cost of health care," he said. "We need health care reform but this law is about taxing people to pay for insurance for those without it."
On a day when even Rep. Dennis Richardson (R-Central Point) is suggesting that a state-level public option might be reasonable, it's more clear than ever that it's time to replace Rep. Esquivel with someone who can work with Senator Alan Bates (D-Ashland) on health care. Esquivel represents half of the Senate District represented by Bates. The other half is Rep. Peter Buckley (D-Ashland).
You can expect health care will take center stage in Rep. Esquivel's tough re-election race. He faces a rematch with 2008 opponent Lynn Howe, a nurse who has made health care part of the campaign. Learn more about Lynn Howe and make a donation to help defeat Rep. Esquivel.
 |
More Recent Posts | |
Albert Kaufman |
|
Guest Column |
|
Kari Chisholm |
|
Kari Chisholm |
Final pre-census estimate: Oregon's getting a sixth congressional seat |
Albert Kaufman |
Polluted by Money - How corporate cash corrupted one of the greenest states in America |
Guest Column |
|
Albert Kaufman |
Our Democrat Representatives in Action - What's on your wish list? |
Kari Chisholm |
|
Guest Column |
|
Kari Chisholm |
|
connect with blueoregon
2:41 p.m.
Apr 1, '10
p.s. And no, this isn't an April Fool's Day joke either, though you'd be excused for thinking that Esquivel is a fool.
3:18 p.m.
Apr 1, '10
Well if Kroger's minor cost for the amicus brief is a waste of taxpayers funds, what the hell is the cost of the actual lawsuits by all the Republican AG's? Kroger's spending will not increase a dime to do this since existing staff will do the work. Furthermore, John has done more to reduce costs in the AG office than any AG in years.
As for the merits of the case, I think that John represents the citizens of Oregon a lot better than Rep. Sal Esquivel. This legislation got passed partly because the voters of Oregon elected Jeff Merkley and dumped Gordon Smith in 2008 providing the 60th vote in the Senate.
Apr 1, '10
"Esquivel said if congressional Democrats were truly serious about cutting heath care costs they would have adopted tort reforms"
This is a lie. It always has been.
Now that Texas has adopted a strict limit of $250k for a human life, let's review how far rates have dropped .... oh sorry - they haven't.
Hell, if Esquivel was even paying attention he would know that even WellPoint Inc. has said that liability awards are not what’s driving premiums.
Apr 1, '10
November is coming. We'll see how well Equival's promise to bring back pre-existing conditions goes with the good people of Medford.
5:10 p.m.
Apr 1, '10
Let's review some of Esquivel's Key votes regarding Health Care.
In 2009 he voted against:
Providing health insurance to 80,000 Oregon Children and 35,0000 vulnerable adults (HB 2009 & HB 2116) That legislation was projected to create 3,600 new jobs.
Requiring insurance companies to cover life-saving HPV vaccine for women between the ages of 11 and 26 (HB 2794)
Requiring insurance companies to cover hearing aids for children (HB 2589)
Restricting the marketing of tobacco products toward children (HB 2358 & HB 2672)
Requiring insurance companies to cover medically necessary treatments for tramatic brain injuries (SB 381)
Don't get me started on his votes against K-12 education funding!
Lynn Howe knows that Oregon is in crisis and Medford families are hurting. As a nurse, Lynn Howe has the expertise we need to push for smart reforms to our health care system that will bring costs down, rein in the big insurance companies and finally provide quality preventative care for all.
How do we cure Medford's ailing economy? With a nurse. Not a career politician.
We need a change in Medford. Please consider donating to Lynn Howe's campaign.
Full disclosure: I serve as one of the advisors for Lynn Howe's campaign,
Apr 1, '10
If Equival's voting record above is correct (and with an R next to his name, I don't doubt it for a minute) then my question to him during the next campaign would be:
"Women, children, the elderly, the disabled, the middle class, working families - is there anyone Mr. Equival that you don't hate?"
Apr 1, '10
I wish the R's would get over the tort reform thing. All the information I've ever heard about the cost of torts in medical care is that it's less than 2% of the total cost. You could eliminate it entirely and it wouldn't make a noticeable difference in medical costs.
Apr 2, '10
"I wish the R's would get over the tort reform thing. All the information I've ever heard about the cost of torts in medical care is that it's less than 2% of the total cost. "
Not only that, but "we must have tort reform" is undefined.
I think there was a GOP platform at some point which said specifically Texas style tort reform. That's valid--but it is also valid to quote the study about how health care in McAllen Texas is more expensive than other parts of Texas.
And is that the only possible tort reform idea?
What about the one which says there must be binding arbitration and if there is a court suit the arbitrator's report must be admitted as evidence?
Or would that take the wind out of the sales of their real attack---on trial lawyers for supporting Democrats?
Other things drive up medical costs:
Buying expensive machinery when some other installation a couple miles away has the same machine.
Lack of electronic records leading to the same test taken more than once (our local hospital is very proud of their electronic records system).
Teamwork vs. solo practice. When all the medical practicioners work together, it is better than when the GP hardly ever meets the surgeon.
But that would be an attack on fee-for-service medicine, and tort reform is so much easier to talk about!
6:56 a.m.
Apr 2, '10
Given that Governor is termed out - and has no plans to run for any other office - it's hard to figure out what Esquivel is talking about.
Has the governor also said he wouldn't accept any appointment with the Obama administration? If not, then it may be disingenuous to rule out any political motivation.
8:27 a.m.
Apr 2, '10
According to the CBO, Esquivel's right. Tort reform as according to the Congressional Budget Office would save a whopping one half of one percent (0.5%).
But in the interest of pacifying the terminally statistically challenged, in the recently passed HCR bill, $50 million is set aside for demonstration projects:
states that get money will be required to develop an alternative to current tort litigation that:
(A) allows for the resolution of disputes over injuries allegedly caused by health care providers or health care organizations; and
(B) promotes a reduction of health care errors by encouraging the collection and analysis of patient safety data related to disputes . . . by organizations that engage in efforts to improve patient safety and the quality of health care.
And what would Howe know about this stuff? She's only a trained medical professional and health care activist.
Apr 2, '10
If you actually care to understand the reality of why this action by Kulongoski and Kroger would be the worst possible action if you really want to see a publicly-owned alternative to a purely private health insurance based system in Oregon, and why filing suit to overturn the mandate would not put you on the same side as Sal Esquivel:
The history of grassroots efforts in Oregon since 2007 that resulted in the Oregon Health Fund Board including legislative language in HB2009 charging the OHA to design a publicly owned plan.
The progressive argument why Kroger should be filing federal suit to strike down the mandate WITHOUT a public option rather than defending corporate welfare and undermining Oregon's attempt to create a sustainable publicly-owned alternative.
Don't be a knee-jerk progressive who is no friend to true progressive positions, as Blue Oregon so often is, by simply saying something must be right just because those you don't agree with oppose it.
11:54 a.m.
Apr 2, '10
"The Truth"...as if somehow we can't have an Oregon public option AND have Kroger file an amicus for the current health insurance package..that may in fact get a public option in the not-too-distant future?
speaking of "knee-jerk"....
1:44 p.m.
Apr 2, '10
Political motivation? The AGs who are filing against the health care insurance reform (HCIR)law are the ones with politics in mind. They are not interested in caring for people but, rather, the insurance companies which fund their political campaigns.
On the other hand, Gov. K and John Kroger have the interests of people in mind as well as just plain politics. Obviously the question is whether the insurance "industry" should be allowed to continue its vicious anti-people policies or begin to be treated as regulated public utilities -- which they truly are.
Apr 2, '10
Let's just give Bend and everything south (except the beaches) to California.
Apr 2, '10
Kroger and sleepy Ted do not have a dog in the fight, as it it up to the feds to defend themselves, they do not need backwards guys from a backward run state to help. It is only political grandstanding and wrong and wasteful and a sign that the folks at the top of Oregon state government are disingenuous and will sacrifice all of us for their personal agenda. You want to see what govt run healthcare will look like? Like the Portland water bureau computer fiasco, the state parks reservation system overhaul fiasco, the feds requiring special filtering and add of chemicals to the Bull Run water supply. It will just be a bunch of govt workers making sure, at the end of the day, that their budget and bennies are number one. If you think someone in govt gives a shit about you, just head down to the DMV or the county. As always, you liberals only need is my money, against my will, for programs only you want, not me. 2500 pages means you will never know what the rules are, only that it will cost more money then you could possibly imagine. Screw you Congress, and Ted, and John.
Apr 3, '10
Scot in Damascus - "Esquivel said if congressional Democrats were truly serious about cutting heath care costs they would have adopted tort reforms"
This is a lie. It always has been.
Kurt Chapman - No actually tort reform would have saved ObamaCare about $5 Billion over the next 10 years in savings on unnecessary tests and procedures. The CBO, that vaunted group the dems oft quoted said so. But, the federalista said that was just chicken change and sloughed it aside.
Kurt Hagadakis - Let's just give Bend and everything south (except the beaches) to California.
Kurt Chapman - Uhm, no thanks the Salem/Eugen/Portland triumpherant is bad enough. However taking the state from south of Cottage Gove and joining with portions of Northern CA to finally form the State of Jefferson would be a great idea!
Apr 3, '10
"The Truth"...as if somehow we can't have an Oregon public option AND have Kroger file an amicus for the current health insurance package..that may in fact get a public option in the not-too-distant future?
Those who care will take the time to read --- on this blog in another thread --- for themselves, paying some attention to the difference between a "publicly-owned alternative" and a "public option". Recall it became the supposed progressive community who started to argue "public option" didn't even mean anything by the end to justify selling out their values for the political win on the private insurance welfare bill:
Actually this also is a chance to not behave as privileged, selfish, spoiled child like Carla, Kari and those who, by supporting the Kulo and Kro with Bates thrown in as a sop, are in fact just condescending to throw inferior, overpriced insurance to those who can't afford private high-quality insurance, rather than do the right thing by creating a true high-quality, publicly-owned insurance plan.
Even giving the benefit of the doubt by ignoring the obvious political intent, the KKB strategy also shows only a selfish concern for Oregon. If the mandate WITHOUT a publicly-owned alternative is struck down, it will require Congress and the states to also do the right thing and create publicly-owned alternatives.
Apr 3, '10
Kurt Chapman - Uhm, no thanks the Salem/Eugen/Portland triumpherant is bad enough. However taking the state from south of Cottage Gove and joining with portions of Northern CA to finally form the State of Jefferson would be a great idea!
Is that a hilarious pun in the first sentence? You make my point, actually, that both would be happier in their new condition.
Apr 3, '10
Mr. Hagadakis, thnks for catching the pun. Like your first name.
<h2>Actually yes, I do believe that both factions would be much happier having separate state legislatures, constitutions and political leadership. However, we will stick with the devil we know rather than be foisted upon California. Now give us our own state to run and it would be grand to see the great experiment results some 30 years down the line.</h2>