LETTER: Johnson still seeking to ‘sell’ Obamacare

Talk about it

To the Editor:

Upon reading Sen. Tim Johnson’s opinion piece regarding the alleged benefits of the health care reform act, I am struck by the fact he still feels the need to “sell” this program, and his vote for it, to the citizens of South Dakota.

This is at least the fourth time his office has sent out press releases to this effect. The fact is that the majority of South Dakotans [upwards of 60 percent] were against this act but Sen. Johnson voted for it anyway. Perhaps he is nervous about his vote against the wishes of the majority.

His talking points defending the program border on sophomoric. He states that some citizens are receiving free or reduced cost services — let me break this gently to our esteemed senator, it wasn’t free, it means someone else paid for it.

His assertions that heath care costs are less and this program is going to save money over 10 years are pathetically wrong and have long been debunked by the Congressional Budget Office as well as independent entities. Health care costs rose last year alone approximately $1,500 per family; also out-of-pocket costs rose 9.2 percent or about $3,200 per family and the small business tax credit alluded to is far less than the costs incurred by the business owner.

The parties on both sides of this issue could argue ad nauseam, but one part of this act really intrigues me, if this health care reform is so good, why did Sen. Johnson and our Congress exempt themselves from it? Perhaps in this case actions speak louder than words.

Tags: tim johnson, opinion, letters, politics, healthcare, obamacare