Speaking of health care…
I’ll be blunt - some of you just aren’t important. You’re not important because you’re a child or a senior citizen, because you chose the wrong job or you don’t make enough money, because you’re a veteran and your fighting days are over. You just don’t matter - at least to some of the people in Washington, D.C. and Des Moines.
The greatest threat we face as individual citizens is not an attack by nameless, faceless radicals from another country, it’s a lack of compassion and civic responsibility from nameless, faceless CEOs and out of touch “leaders” who care more about lapel pins than your health and well-being. Right now - as some of us watch our children suffer or try to decide whether we’ll buy groceries or next month’s prescription - fast-talking lobbyists are wining and dining fast-talking politicians to make sure that health care remains a luxury. Do you think they’re worried about their health care? I don’t.
Like many of you, I’m proud to work for a small, local business. And like many small, local businesses, they simply can’t afford to provide health care coverage for their employees. I’m sure that most employers would love nothing more than to make sure that their employees can get the health care they need, but the Health Care System won’t allow it. I’m fortunate that my wife’s employer is able to provide coverage for my family. But as she said, “We’re a pink slip away from catastrophe.” That’s not much of a joke, is it? Unfortunately, that’s a position that many of us live in every day.
One of my first priorities at the Capitol will be to demand and fight for health care coverage for all Iowans. Many people say it’s an impossible task: the system is too complicated, you can’t fight the industry, it’s just too hard. Too hard? Raising children is hard. Keeping a home is hard. Watching a child suffer is hard. Watching a parent or grandparent spend their last days or weeks in agony is hard. Telling a veteran his nation just doesn’t care anymore is hard. Doing the right thing isn’t hard - it’s a moral obligation and a Way of Life.
Your health matters to me whether I’ve known you for years or we meet on the street for the first time. You, your children, your parents and grandparents, the vet who gave everything they could give and more - every one of you is a part of My community. You are important to me. I won’t rest easy until you rest easy.
There is simply no excuse for allowing our children, seniors, veterans and low income families to worry about their health. I want to hear your thoughts on health care in Iowa, so please feel free to contact me.
