Blasdel does not represent the people

The estimates are that approximately 12,000 Flathead Valley residents and approximately 20 percent of all Montanans currently do not have access to health insurance. It appears these folks may not have an option of affordable health care anytime in the near future, if several Flathead Republicans have their way.

We primarily have the Speaker of the House, Rep. Mark Blasdel, R-Somers, to thank for this. Blasdel invoked a procedural rule to remove House Bill 623 from the House floor and sent it to committee, where it is not expected to survive due to the anti-government sentiment on that particular committee.

In other words, it does not appear there will even be a vote on this extremely important issue that could save the lives of countless Montanans, including our uninsured veterans. Apparently Mr. Blasdel has no trouble accepting his own $18,000 taxpayer-funded health care policy but doesn’t believe his fellow Montanans deserve affordable health care. Seems rather hypocritical, don’t you think?  

HB623 has no fiscal impact to the State of Montana and is estimated to create an additional 12,000 to 14,000 Montana jobs. According to the Montana Medical Association,” 100 percent of the costs of expanding health care are covered by the federal government for the first three years. After that, Montana will pay 10 percent of the costs. In fact, increased federal funds, combined with fewer people using emergency rooms for routine care, could help save the state some money while growing the economy.”

Also, beginning in 2014, most people will be required to have health insurance or pay a fine. The fine will be 1 percent of your income starting in 2014 and rise to 2.5 percent of your income by 2016.

So if Mr. Blasdel, along with Rep. Randy Brodehl, R -Kalispell, Rep. Carl Glimm, R-Kila, Rep. Steve Lavin, R-Kalispell, Rep. Scott Reichner, R-Bigfork, Rep. Jerry O’Neil, R-Columbia Falls and Rep. Keith Regier, R-Kalispell have their way, not only will 12,000 uninsured Flathead Valley residents not have an opportunity for affordable health care, but they will be required to pay a fine to the federal government. Thankfully, Rep Ed Leiser, D-Whitefish, and Sen. Bruce Tutvedt, R-Kalispell, voted with their hearts and minds in support of HB623.   

HB623 is fiscally sound, will help insure up to 70,000 Montanans with private health insurance, including thousands of Montana veterans, and will create 12,000 to 14,000 Montana jobs. I believe Mr. Blasdel’s sneaky move to prevent a vote on HB623 is simply wrong, wrong on a humanitarian level and wrong on fiscal level. If you agree, call Mr. Blasdel at 261-3269 today and demand that HB623 be placed back on the House Floor for a full vote.

Sandra McDonald lives in Whitefish.