BY WANDA JO STAPLETON
All four of Oklahoma’s Republican Congressmen got their wake-up call on Tuesday. That long-distance call came from upstate New York where a stunning upset occurred.
Kathy Hochul, a Democratic challenger, defeated Jane Corwin, a well-financed Republican insider, in deeply red Congressional District 26.
Medicare became the defining issue in that campaign and, most likely, will define numerous 2012 elections as well.
Regarding Medicare, Oklahoma’s Republican Congressmen agree with defeated Jane Corwin’s position. In fact, Congressmen John Sullivan, Frank Lucas, Tom Cole and James Lankford, voted “yes” for Rep. Paul Ryan’s budget bill [HCR 34] which ends Medicare as we know it.
Today’s Medicare would end for people now under 55 when they become elderly. Instead of Medicare, they would get a voucher as partial payment on health insurance from a private company.
One person at a time trying to buy health insurance would greatly increase the price and a lone individual could easily be denied coverage because of age.
If these four Oklahoma congressmen prevail, good luck to granny, who is supposed to enjoy her “freedom” from the “bonds of the mean old government” with its guaranteed health coverage.
– Wanda Jo [Peltier] Stapleton, a former Democratic state representative, lives in Oklahoma City and is an occasional contributor to The Oklahoma Observer
If our senators and reps. had to use the same insurence that is available to the public and we did not have to pay for their coverrage, Insurance prices for everyone would be so much more affordable also they are not entitled to the retirement that they draw unless they providede at least 75% of the monthly payment as most people with 401’s have to do. they should have to try to live on the same4 social securoity as the rest of us have to. After contributing for over 45 years I draw $ 791.00 a month after $ 110.00 is taken from my check. Live on that Mr Ryan and all you others.