Open Letter to Senators Levin, Stabenow, and Congressman Upton

I emailed my Senators and Congressman in regards to the proposal by the President Obama to force veterans to pay for their own care with their private insurance.  I would respectfully ask that everyone who reads this, do the same.  I am livid over this proposal for so many reasons I can't even begin to document them.  However, here are a few of them that I tried to put into words to my elected officials:

Senator Levin,

President Obama's recent signature to expand the SCHIP program to include persons who make up to $82,000 a year shows willingness of the administration to pay for the healthcare of citizens who are far outside the definition of poor in this country. 

However, in his recent proposal to the VA, he wants to bill Veterans private insurance companies for their care?  The hypocrisy here is outrageous and unacceptable.  The sacrifices made for their country by veterans should allow them full coverage for their lifetime if they are injured during their service.  Adding insult to injury is the fact that politicians aren't paying a penny for their insurance and tend to be much more financially capable of doing so than most veterans.

As a veteran, I find this proposal by President Obama offensive and extremely thoughtless and counterproductive to bringing about a fair system of healthcare in America.  The message it seems to send is that if you want to be lazy, sit home and have kids, we'll pay for your health care, but if you join the military, serve your country, and get injured, requiring long term care, you're on your own.

This proposal is unacceptable and I hope that I can count on your support to find alternative ways to raise the $500 million that President Obama is looking to find with this proposal.

 Senator Patty Murray (yes, FAR left Patty Murray) has stated that this proposal will be DOA if it gets to her committee, which comes as a pleasant, yet shocking, surprise.  Normally, she's pretty far out there on the left wing, but I think the fact that Washington has a couple naval facilities as well as a number of veterans, she's counting the votes and thinking it doesn't make sense to make enemies over a half-billion dollars.


We'll see how this battle comes out, but I'm willing to bet that Obama doesn't have the political capital to win one this big.  Or at least, isn't willing to gamble that he does and take it to the mat with veterans groups over it.