Tonight during a First Congressional District Debate in Lewiston, Idaho, Congressman Bill Sali was asked what should be done to deal with the health care crisis that has left so many Idahoans uninsured. Here's the AP's account:
Sali also wants to cut the rolls of the uninsured, largely by relying on free-market competition to reduce costs. Still, he says the magnitude of the issue is being exaggerated.
He says, "There are people out there without health care, and we need to address that, but it's not as big of a problem as some people would make it out to be."
Wow. Just ... wow.
According to the Idaho Department of Health, more 32 percent of Idaho residents between the ages of 18 and 34 do not have health insurance. More than 22 percent of people 55 and older said their health was "fair" or "poor." More than 45 percent of Idahoans don't have dental coverage of any kind. And almost 38 percent of woman over 40 have not had a mammogram or clinical breast exam in the past two years.
Sali, of course, is infamous for refusing to back down from his claim -- long ago refuted by physicians and scientists -- that abortions cause breast cancer.
Back in March, in a carefully worded editorial for the Idaho Statesman where he defended his record of voting against health insurance for children, Sali wrote: "All Americans are struggling with increased health-care costs and many can't afford health insurance."
And here's my quote on behalf of the Walt Minnick campaign: "Seven months ago, Bill Sali wrote about Idahoans who can't afford health insurance. Tonight we learned that he doesn't think that's a problem."
Between Sali's recent "No" vote on the HEARTH Act S.1518/H.R.7221; along with his earlier submission of a House Bill to "repeal gravity" are examples of his total detachment from "Real Life". Idaho has more than half its population living and working in poverty! The Republican "supply economics" hasn't worked (for us poor folks), tis time for a change in Idaho's "good ole boy" brand of politics. Vote Democrat!
Posted by: Kirk Stevens | October 21, 2008 at 10:37 AM