(Rep. John Shadegg) – Americans genuinely concerned about our nation’s health care system thought health care reform meant slowing the ever increasing cost of care, covering the uninsured and dealing with pre-existing conditions. Little did we know that Nancy Pelosi and Barack Obama envisioned regulating vending machines and providing government subsidies to veterinary students.
Silly us. We thought that reforming our health care system was about helping human beings–those who couldn’t afford care or face bankruptcy because they had MS or breast cancer. Nancy Pelosi, her out of touch colleagues and Barack Obama know better.
You probably already know that HR 3962, the bill some Democrats say “isn’t a massive takeover of health care,” regulates food vending machines. Incredible, but true! Section 2572(b), on Page 1515 requires vending machines to carry a prominent label detailing the caloric content of candy bars and cupcakes. We grew up thinking “father knows best,” thank goodness Speaker Pelosi is teaching us that “big brother knows best.”
You may not have known that the Democrats’ legislation to “reform” our nation’s health care system creates not only one, but two programs to underwrite the cost of veterinary education. That’s right. Section 340M on page 1265 of H.R. 3962 establishes a “Public Health Workforce Scholarship Program” to subsidize the education of veterinary students. Section 340N on page 1269 creates a “Public Health Workforce Loan Forgiveness Program” to aid future veterinarians with their student loans.
These are critical aspects of health care reform? I guess we were too short-sighted to understand their importance.
Given that the federal government has unlimited money to spend, clearly we should take this opportunity to help pets around the country.
All kidding aside, I am shocked at the number of people I run into in Arizona who believe this bill truly is dead on arrival in the Senate. It is not! If you do not want our nation to become a European socialistic state with government-run everything, you must engage in this fight now!
(John Shadegg is a Republican congressman from Arizona)
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