State Senator Voluntarily Gives Up Health Insurance

[scratchtasia]

INDEPENDENCE, Mo. -- A state senator from Independence is going to extremes to protect Missouri's new budget, KMBC's Bev Chapman reported Friday.

Sen. Victor Callahan announced he is giving up his state-funded health insurance to draw attention to the thousands of people without medical insurance.

. . .

"I'm doing this today because I don't want to be a hypocrite. I intend to join the other 74,000 Missourians without health care," Callahan said.

. . .

"I'm calling on Gov. (Matt) Blunt today to lead by example -- to join with me coming off state health care until we resolve the issue," Callahan said.

full article: http://www.thekansascitychannel.com/politics/4461303/detail.html

[Erika]

1. Missouri under a GOP governor is a 3rd world country

Yes for this guy!

[Sapphire Blue]

2. Another Democrat Hero of the Week

:applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause:

[Liberty Belle]

32. Please, Missourians--nominate him for a "spine" award here:

www.backbonecampaign.org

[blondeatlast]

43. Yes, indeed. This week has seen several, I'm happy to say.

Harry Reid's amsterful "loser" move (the apology to KARL ROVE--brilliant!), the 40 non-Dems who walked in solidarity with their exiled brethren from E. Waynesville Baptist...

This has been a damn good week!

I started a thread formaLly proposing something like this here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=1769963&mesg_id=1769963

[aldian159]

51. What harry reid move?

NT

[scratchtasia]

56. "Loser"

Reid called Bush a loser and then apologized to Karl Rove for it.

[Carolab]

3. That is a great idea.

My hat is off to this guy.

Other Dems should follow.

[Anarcho-Socialist]

4. This is very admirable

I doubt the GOP would have the principles to do such a thing.

[proud2BlibKansan]

5. Good for him!

Callahan is one of the few good guys in Jeff City.

[hobbit709]

6. The difference

between putting your money where your mouth is and putting your mouth where the money is.

[NorCalDem]

23. HaHaHaHa....

Very good way of stating the facts hobbit!

[etherealtruth]

7. Wow ... impressive (n/t)

[mbperrin]

8. Politician leading by example???!!

I'm speechless.

Victor, move to Texas! We need you!

[scratchtasia]

36. Can we clone him?

We need him to stay here in Missouri, too!

(My cloning joke is a little ironic because he previously voted for a state ban on cloning.)

[usregimechange]

9. I am sending this around the world! I love it! I am from MO and

the Medicaid cuts are un-Christian!

[Robworld]

10. Imagine a Republican doing that

They probably get his head checked out.

http://www.dumdumgoestothecircus.com/

[cry baby]

11. nominated to go to the greatest page!

what a "liberal" idea this is!

[proud2BlibKansan]

52. nomination seconded

for greatest page

[Rainscents]

12. Round of applaud for Senator Callahan!!!

:applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause:

[dissent1977]

13. Remember Chimp's Press Conference Last Week?

He said something along the lines of "my philosophy is if it is good enough for congress it is good enough for the American people." If this is really the case then chimp should propose that all Americans are covered under the same health care plan as members of congress, and he and all the GOP members of congress should refuse their health care plans until this happens.

[iamjoy]

22. Dubya Said That?

Isn't that what Kerry said during the campaign and got slapped for wanting to "socialize" medicine.

We cannot let Dubya get bonus points off of this issue. But we can't attack him either (we'll look hypocritical and useless). We should say, "We're glad to see President Bush implementing John Kerry's campaign idea."

[dissent1977]

24. Here is the exact quote

" I like to say this, if it's good enough for the Congress, it is -- it ought to be good enough for the workers"

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/04/20050428-9.html

Now when he said this he was trying to make a case for privatizing social security, and he was presumably referring to the 401K plan that Congress has. We can use his words against him though, and say if he really means what he is saying then he would also support Congresses health care plan being given to all the American people.

[UrbScotty]

14. WOOHOO! Good for him!

:bounce::party::toast::thumbsup::D

[toymachines]

15. does his wife have health insurance which covers him?

still a great message, even if she does.

[loyalsister]

19. That's the whole idea

Since they're citizen representatives with other jobs, they probably are insured. It may be more expensive or offer less, however.
It's hypocritical for them to take a cheaper plan when they're already covered. He's standing up and doing the right thing as a person who has options.

[proud2BlibKansan]

53. He is also giving up his employer sponsored plan

That was in the article I read.

[classics]

16. 74000?

Are there only 200000 people in MO?

[scratchtasia]

37. Numbers

I believe that "74,000" is a reference to the number of people who are about to lose Medicaid benefits in Missouri, not the total number of uninsured people in the state.

[Marthe48]

17. What Leadership!

I like seeing a politician backing up his principles!

This is a great example of the difference between leadership and power --- Mr. Callahan leads by example, not by an iron fist.

[brainshrub]

18. The state of MO is lucky to have someone who is willing to fight for them.

Universal health-care is an important issue for me, but I doubt that I would give up my own policy to help bring attention to the plight of the working-class American.

Callahan is the Democratic hero of the week.

[jwirr]

20. I like the idea of Democrat Hero of the Week.

There should be a regular posting for this idea with the names and deeds of our heroes just like we post their idiots every week.

[melnjones]

25. I think that's a great idea nt

[Erika]

21. This is so admirable

Yes, DU staff should feature a democrat hero for the week.

[Sapphire Blue]

26. Democrat Hero of the Week

Just posted this thread...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x1769081

[proud2BlibKansan]

54. Wonderful idea

thanks for posting

[autorank]

27. He IS the hero of the week. Sounds like our guy Schweitzer in MT!

[Cha]

28. State Senator Victor Callahan is

a true blue hero!

Missouri is fortunate to have him!

[Rose Siding]

29. If Reid and Pelosi ran with this ball, Rs wouldn't win any more elections

Callahan is a leader.

Imagine the noise it would make if Dems in the US Congress did something like this.

[Nevernose]

30. Good idea for a weekly DU column

I love Conservative Idiots, but there's no reason we can't have some positive news, too. Sort of like a human interest story, except one that matters and is socially relevant.

[Shallah Kali]

33. I agree it would be wonderful to give more recognition to people like this

and maybe, just maybe, it will encourage others to act in a similar way....

[Bouncy Ball]

31. I knew when I saw the title on the front page that this HAD to be

a Democrat.

If a repuke ever did something like this (not that they would in a million years), the repuke party would have them locked up in a padded room and drugged.

WAY TO GO!!!!! Missouri is lucky to have this guy!

That's what you call a stand up kinda guy.

[montana_hazeleyes]

48. I thought so too!

I felt it would be a cold day in hot hell before someone with a big R after his name would do something like this.

[AtLiberty]

34. This guy stopped all his health coverage...

...both from the state and his employer.

If you watch the video, you'll see the reporter holding up a letter from his employer stating that his coverage has been canceled.

VICTOR CALLAHAN IS A TRUE AMERICAN HERO!

[AuntiBush]

35. Wow! Now, this is a true Patriot!

What a remarkable stand. And an honorable one at that. One can imagine the smirks he's receiving (behind his back) from the greedy, oiled-down Repuks. Independence, MO (what a coincidental name for a town & representative) has much to be proud of... look at the statistics alone for his area.

Changes in Medicaid eligibility in this year's budget will eliminate between 70,000 and 100,000 people from the program.

Callahan, who represents Independence and Raytown, estimates more than 30,000 people in his district will be affected by Medicaid cutbacks.

Remarkable. How much more "blunt" must a state senator be to be heard for those he truly represents.

[Vinca]

38. I'm obviously in the minority here.

While I laud this man for his courage to stand up and fight, I have to question what he's done if he truly has no other health insurance. It's not wise to put your family's future in peril if you don't have to. He can fight for his constituents just as well WITH insurance. What if he becomes critically ill and cannot afford care? Maybe he dies like so many others. How does that help the fight to get health insurance for all? I'm a person who cannot afford insurance and this gentleman's giving his up for the cause seems "gimmicky."

[cornermouse]

39. Some background on this.

The Missouri republicans had just passed a massive cut of about 100,000 people off the medicaid/medicare rolls by cutting the amount of funds. Right after that, they voted to NOT pay a larger percentage of their own insurance.

The following was on tape on the radio.

One of the Missouri democrats (possibly Callahan?), whose name I did not catch had protested, saying that if Missouri was going to cut all these people off medicaid/medicare, then the legislators should pay more of their own insurance or possibly even give up state-paid insurance and get their own insurance independently. At which point, a republican legislator started BELLOWING that he certainly wasn't going to go get his own insurance, he worked hard, and this was due to him (to the best of my memory) and that if the democrat wanted to give up his insurance to go ahead.

[AtLiberty]

41. Which proves how truly out of touch this Republican was...

...I know many hard-working people who don't have health insurance. Many companies no longer offer this benefit and those which do, ie: Wal-Mart, charge employees too much.

This Republican didn't mention that his state health insurance premium was comically affordable...a little over $100 per month. Most employers charge three, four and five times that amount. And if you have independent insurance, it's not unusual to pay ten times that amount...and STILL have high deductibles, high co-pays, no prevention, multiple exclusions/limitations and no dental/eye care.

And what people who are disabled and chronically ill? How can they "work hard"?

[cornermouse]

42. I know.

Missouri republicans have gone totally nuts.

[stlsaxman]

46. They have gone nuts- and nobody likes what they & Blunt are doing...

They keep this up and MO will go Blue" in a big way in '06 and '08.

[Darkhawk32]

47. I'll have to disagree. Lack of knowledge by the public = Republican wins.

That's why the media doesn't cover such things, that's why the Repukes want to kill public education.

[blondeatlast]

44. It's very possible that he can get other insurance through his wife.

Even if he didn't, he made a stand of solidarity with the thousands of uninsured in his state.

That's a damn brave move--and if something drastic should happen to his family, God forbid, think of the powerful message that sends to the voters.

I appreciate your opinion, but I think this is a very powerful message to send, and we need to see more of it.

[izzie]

40. Just once I would like to see this

How much of Can, tax payer pays in his tax for health care vs. what the people here pay if they have it. Also how much a place like Ford pays and adds on to a car to pay for health care. I am sure we would be better off if 200 million workers paid a small amount for health care as these others countries do than the silly way we do it. We also are what? 20th on the list of good care in the worlds rich countries. The whole thing is just dying on the vine and it is time to get rid of how we do all this.

[blondeatlast]

45. Ford and GM lowered to "junk" status; blame it on health care costs.

It happened this week--here's the best article I've seen on it, even if it has a bit of RW spin to it:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2095-1602304,00.html

Note also, that this is written by a UK reporter, who is a bit astonished that the US doesn't have a single-payer plan:

(snip)
Particularly painful are labour contracts that make them liable for the healthcare and pension costs of their retired workforces. Some estimates put GM’s legacy costs per car at $1,600, with a similar number at Ford. On top of that, both companies have been offering $3,000-$4,000 per car in customer incentives to keep factories working and avoid the expense of paying idle workers.
(more)

The time is coming when big business is seeing the merits of a single-payer plan.

[katinmn]

49. Wow, that's wonderful. You can be proud of Callahan!

Our state house voted to take about 30k off the state health program, but the senate has a plan to put 50k back on. The governor promises to veto any plan but one that cuts people off the plan because he has been told by Rove not to raise taxes.

[Shallah Kali]

50. "about 90,600 low-income, elderly and disabled are projected to lose"

Senator protests cuts to Medicaid
http://www.examiner.net/stories/050705/new_050705023.shtml

Callahan, D-Independence, said he will no longer use the state's health plan as a way to protest Medicaid cuts proposed by Gov. Matt Blunt. The senator said Blunt is punishing senior citizens, special needs children and foster child care recipients by cutting Medicaid benefits instead of going after corporations that abuse the system.

SNIP

The decision, Callahan said, was planned as the Senate began discussion on what items cut from the budget could be added back. He said he has an obligation to his constituents not to use a plan many of them are being removed from.

SNIP

Callahan's figures regarding the number of impacted Missourians appears low. According to the Associated Press, about 90,600 low-income, elderly and disabled are projected to lose their Medicaid coverage July 1 under the new state budget.

Instead of cutting benefits, the governor should seek penalties against corporations that encourage employees to enroll in Medicaid instead of company health programs, costing the state millions, Callahan said. He said the governor is loathe to attack the problem because it could affect his political future.

I wonder how the US Congress and our individual states officials would react if people demanded they give up their health care since they are gutting Medicaid. Frothing at the mouth? Apoplexy? Banging their shoe on the table?

[Shallah Kali]

55. Callahan editorial - Medicaid cuts including ending hospice care for dying

Reckless Medicaid cuts will hurt Missouri
http://www.examiner.net/stories/033105/ope_033105019.shtml

Cuts include

- Orthopedic devices, prosthetics, eyeglasses, dentures, hearing aids and wheelchairs.

- Optometric services for seniors.

- Dental and podiatry services for seniors and the disabled

SNIP

- Prenatal care for pregnant women

[scratchtasia]

57. Thanks

Thanks for those links. It's interesting to see how this is being covered in the area he serves.