Dear John and Sanford: Please vote no. Sincerely, Sonny
Gov. Sonny Perdue has joined the effort to pressure U.S. Reps. John Barrow of Savannah and Sanford Bishop of Albany, the last two members of Georgia’s Democratic delegation who haven’t announced how they’ll vote on the health care overhaul.
The governor dashed off a letter to the both of them. Read the entire thing here. The essential paragraphs:
I know you are facing one of the biggest decisions of your Congressional careers, and I’m sure you are hearing input from all sides.
No pressure there.
I am writing you today in an effort to ensure that you fully understand the impact the health care legislation currently before Congress will have on our state.
And possibly, the governor doesn’t say, your careers.
The bottom line is this: Governors of both parties have repeatedly expressed concern about the Medicaid expansion that will add millions to government health care plans and place an unsustainable burden on state budgets across the country……
In closing, the governor forecasts the content of some general election advertising.
Lastly, the legislation before you has only survived because of backroom, sweetheart deals that bought the votes of wavering Senators. The Cornhusker Kickback and the Louisiana Purchase are examples of what citizens dislike most about politics today. These ridiculous provisions mean that Georgians will be paying not only for increased health care costs here, but also for those in states that were ready to make a deal.
It’s signed, “Sincerely, Governor Sonny Perdue.”
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101 comments Add your comment
Sandra
March 18th, 2010
4:59 pm
Backroom deals are only good when the Republicans do them (maybe the Dems learned how to do them from the Republicans).
I might have more empathy if they weren’t such absolute hypocrites.
Bubba
March 18th, 2010
5:01 pm
I’m still waiting for my Republican brethren to come forward with solutions for unavailability of health insurance coverage for people with preexisting conditions. I’m not talking about idiots who smoke and drink themselves to death when they know they should quite. I’m talking about young adults who survive congenital conditions or cancer in childhood only to be deemed uninsurable when they are no longer fulltime students under 25.
All we hear from the Republicans in Washington is NO, NO, NO. The party of NO.
Keith
March 18th, 2010
5:04 pm
Bubba… the GOP is the party of “know”. We know that government is not the solution.
Hazel
March 18th, 2010
5:14 pm
The solution is . .wait for it. . tax cuts!!!!!!!!!
ela
March 18th, 2010
5:16 pm
When will Sonny leave office, if this is all of anything on his mind. What about the state unemploy worker, because he hasn’t did anything for this state. The ink is continue to get red, this isn’t looking pretty at all, and if health care is the only thing he care about he need to pack his bag now. Don’t forget about state education Head
RetiredSoldier
March 18th, 2010
5:19 pm
ok Sandra, let’s say they are hypocrites, do you think having those deals are good? Doesn’t it have to stop somewhere? Why not know. Your comment would make sensse if you went on to condem the current absurd actions of Congress.
Rafe Hollister
March 18th, 2010
5:20 pm
Hey Bubba, the Republicans have offered solutions many times to only be ignored. Google Paul Ryan and read what he has to say. Google Republican Healthcare plan.
Sonny finally did something right. This good ole boy and girl bill will bankrupt America in a few years. No way we can support another entitlement program that will be larger than Medicare and Social Security. We can’t afford those two as they are going broke, so we add another. As Margaret Thatcher said, the problem with socialism is you soon run out of other peoples money, then what.
RetiredSoldier
March 18th, 2010
5:20 pm
Bubba-
I have a son with that problem and yes that is part of what republican’s proposed.
Rafe Hollister
March 18th, 2010
5:23 pm
ela, check out some continuing education classes in English. I think that will be of more benefit to you than Obamacare.
Lucas
March 18th, 2010
5:26 pm
Dunno, Keith. You’ve got a situation wherein any rational businessman would never, ever pay out claims if there was any possible legal loophole that he could exploit. I know I would do exactly the same thing if I ran Aetna.
The unregulated free market is a good model for car companies, awful for liver transplants. And yet the GOP wants it the other way around. You guys are like a broken record.
RetiredSoldier
March 18th, 2010
5:28 pm
Lucas-
The GOP wants the feds to control the car market? Where the heck do you get that?
georgiadawg70
March 18th, 2010
5:34 pm
Bubba, If you have a problem, I am sorry, but it ain’t my problem. I have my own to solve.
georgiadawg70
March 18th, 2010
5:43 pm
Ela, you are a prime example of what is wrong with goverment schools. Go to a private school and learn to write.
JL
March 18th, 2010
5:54 pm
Whatever happened to the state republicans who were planning to do away with the state regulations for insurance companies? That was suppose to lower cost. Of course that would mean that insurance companies would not have to pay for mammograms, a colonoscopy or other preventive tests. We would be responsible for picking the insurance that suits us best. Can you imagine buying a plan that did not cover parkinson’s disease only to get it. We might as well use a ouija board to select the plan best suited to us.
Jim
March 18th, 2010
6:11 pm
Interesting – the repubs did not even have healthcare on their radar screen until the dems start moving on it. Now all of a sudden, we are to believe that the GOP has the insurance needs of all people in their ” to do list”.
P.S. People like georgiadawg70 and rafe – lets try to have some real discussion on this without the name calling and put downs. So easy to do on a computer. The ideas, not attacks, are what count.
Lynn43
March 18th, 2010
6:24 pm
Backroom, sweetheart deals? Backed-up legislation to save Sonny hundreds of thousands of dollars, land deals to make him more money, “Go Fish”, horse barns, etc, etc. How the man does talk when it isn’t about him.
AngryVoter
March 18th, 2010
6:56 pm
Why would the Dems rush to pass this bill? The only thing that will happen if they pass this bill is that they will lose control of Congress in November and the first thing the new Congress will do is either undo the bill or fail to fund it. Either way, this is an exercise in futility but for the Dems shooting themselves in the side of the inflatable life raft. They’re sinking themselves for no reason.
Those who care about healthcare are squarely against what is happening right now, as it will make it unlikely the issue will be raised again in our lifetimes. Only those who care about who wins the DC urination derby are pushing for this bill to pass in this manner at this time.
Dave
March 18th, 2010
7:01 pm
“The unregulated free market is a good model for car companies, awful for liver transplants. And yet the GOP wants it the other way around. You guys are like a broken record.”
“The GOP wants the feds to control the car market? Where the heck do you get that?”
The Feds own a big percentage of GM. As to free market economics, they’re fine for us people. When the big guys fail, they get bailed out. Just how free market is that? And when did it start? When W was in charge and when Republican politicians voted for it.
So as to not be labeled a liberal, I’m not too impressed with either side. Both have contributed to this farce of health care reform. Lop off the extreme left and right and you have plenty of Senators and Representatives in the middle that should, and aren’t, acting responsibly to deal with our problems.
Dick
March 18th, 2010
7:03 pm
Bishop can tease all of you all along but we know how he is going to vote. He will vote the way Botox Pelosi tells him to vote. As they said on Major League II, he has no marbles.
majii
March 18th, 2010
7:11 pm
I’d like to know why Governor Perdue, Mr. Oxendine, and our state legislators have done nothing/little to lower our health care, car insurance, home insurance rates, and property tax rates?
Base
March 18th, 2010
7:52 pm
This is all Sonny has to think about? What about ethics legislation.
retiredds
March 18th, 2010
7:56 pm
The Republicans have only one strategy, defeat anything that is proposed by President Obama or the Democrats. That is their only plan and has been since he took office. It is the plan because Rush Limbaugh, Hannity, and Beck bark the marching orders to the Republican leadership. To think otherwise is wishful thinking. Remember folks when it comes to the people the Republicans are not on YOUR side and historically speaking never have been. Many of you will say but they cut taxes. Yes, they did, for the top 1% of wage earners. I am not against that, I just want all you folks who keep saying that Republicans cut taxes to remember whose taxes they cut. Also while cutting taxes they kept on spending, i.e. borrow and spend, borrow and spend. The current budget deficit stands at about $12.6 trillion 84% of which was incurred by prior administrations, 50% of those being Republican, and about 85% of the Republican spend and borrow debt was incurred under, guess who? I’ll give you a hint, he was president from 2001 until 2009. So my Republican friends, you have a very weak argument when it comes to tax policy and deficit creation. And yes, my Republican friends, you are also responsible for foisting this debt burden on future generations, some of whom may be your own grandchildren and great grandchildren. (Oh, perish the thought)
Rafe Hollister
March 18th, 2010
8:18 pm
If it passes, it will just be the beginning of 40 years of strife. The Republicans will have a campaign issue for years. As the money runs dry and doctors leave the profession, rationing begins. No one will be happy, taxes will rise to unsustainable levels, people will complain about customer service by the providers. It is going to be a mess. Just wait til someone shows illegals standing in line with old folks waiting to see the same overworked doctor. Sad, Sad.
Red
March 18th, 2010
8:23 pm
Classic liberal retort – “Well Bush did it” or “well Republicans did it”. Liberals cannot come up with anything intellectual to respond to than this. So let me see, it’s OK for liberals to screw things up because conservatives did? Such a mature society. Good to see above age 18 physically but mental toddlers out there.
To those who respond in a manner of “what’s the Republican response to pre-existing conditions?” I ask is raising the deficit and forcing people to have healthcare or else the way to get that? Seems awfully bloated just to solve a pre-existing condition problem. Tell me what college loans have to do with healthcare?
Rafe Hollister
March 18th, 2010
8:28 pm
Retireddds, Mr Drill and Fill, Your attitude is that old numb nuts W borrowed and spent like an idiot, so we will show you, our guy can do better. I saw yesterday where GWB increased the national debt something like 8 Trillion $ in 8 years. Your guy, Barry, has added over 2 trillion in one year. With the programs he wants to implement, I think we can predict that the pattern will continue. You will argue that Barry inherited a mess, which he did and quickly moved to make worse. GB fought two wars and 9/11 and Katrina, the worst natural disaster in years. Neither of them have any excuse for the irresponsible spending. When you are in debt, common sense tells you to tighten the belt and live on beans and rice until you get in better shape. We can not continue with this level of spending. The two wars W fought cost less than the irresponsible “Stimulus” bill Barry likes so much. God help us!
dawgmom
March 18th, 2010
8:34 pm
Anyone who truly believes in the United States, the principles upon which it was founded, and the Constitution cannot be in favor of this legislation. Do there need to be reforms in the insurance/legal industries? YES. However, this legislation, as proposed, does nothing other than give even more power and control to the government. Why the rush? Obama stated that he would fundamentally transform the United States of America. Wake up! This legislation takes us to the brink of a total government control of every aspect of our lives. Call it Socialism, or whatever — it is not good for the future of our country. Why throw the baby out with the bathwater? Take a step back and address individual issues. First, fix Medicare/Medicaid fraud. Next, address tort reform. After that, do away with pre-existing conditions and open up buying insurance across state lines. The current legislation does not deal with all these issues — PLUS it adds government control of student loans. I say again — WAKE UP!!! We cannot and should not support this burden on ourselves, our children and our grandchildren.
Ronnie
March 18th, 2010
8:36 pm
Same people who don’t buy insurance somehow find the money to buy a flat screen, 22″ rims, a cell phone, a tatoo, some gold for their grill, a pack of cigs, and some Colt 45.
dawgmom
March 18th, 2010
8:44 pm
Ronnie — I have two children that have college degrees but cannot find a job in today’s environment that offers health insurance. They are living “bare bones” and would take great offense if they could afford internet and read your comment.
Jim
March 18th, 2010
9:05 pm
Hey Ronnie – Could you be just a tad more racist? Or maybe a tad more ignorant? Oh wait, its the same thing. LOSER
Michelle
March 18th, 2010
9:06 pm
If John and Sanford try to defend a vote or a deemed vote for the bribe laden disaster called Obamacare, they will be shortly unemployed. We don’ want this bill.
benny
March 18th, 2010
9:06 pm
The good ole USA is being changed to the USE – United States of Entitlements. Don’t work for anything – vote for us and we will give you everything you want for free. Typical democrat – I want to use the poor to further my own goals but keep them at enough distance so I do not have to put up with their funny odor.
Ronnie
March 18th, 2010
9:10 pm
Hey dawgmom- I bet your kids have a top notch cell phone.
Ronnie
March 18th, 2010
9:12 pm
Jim, there is nothing racist in my comment. It’s simply the truth. I see blacks, mexicans, and whites doing exactly what I said. I’m black by the way. Seems you are the ignorant and racist person here.
dawgmom
March 18th, 2010
9:12 pm
Ronnie — Again, WRONG. Like I said, they are truly living bare bones — something I’m sure you have never had to experience.
Student
March 18th, 2010
9:13 pm
Red – Doctors and healthcare workers take out student loans. Then due to the reimbursement rates of Medicare, Medicaid and private insurance they can’t afford to repay their student loans and provide services to low income individuals, the elderly and disabled. The student loan issue in the bill is supposed to help with that situation.
Dawgmom – The government has had control of student loans for decades. Anyone with any financial and common sense would prefer a government backed student loan to a private student loan. The interest rates are usually lower and there are safeguards in place for the student, the university, and even the federal government in case the student defaults on the loan. But then your kids go to UGA so they probably spend all their time drinking instead of learning this stuff that is important to the future of many other college students.
Ronnie
March 18th, 2010
9:17 pm
No more Medicaid drug prescriptions at Walgreens starting in April. Just the beginning of much more to come.
Damian D.
March 18th, 2010
9:19 pm
Although I have fully supported the President’s efforts to try to improve some aspects of health insurance/ healthcare I so grown weary of the vile nastiness and exceedingly harsh vitirol unleasehed by his opponents that I now hope the measure fails. Then I can sit back in a moment of schadenfreude and smirk when some of those same opponents have their own issues with healthcare/health insurance in its present grossly imperfect form. Happy ICU to all haters !!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ronnie
March 18th, 2010
9:22 pm
Dawgmom – A generic college degree is now worthless. Kids who go to college and expect a job when they get out have been duped by the universities. Tuition prices go up 7% annually (twice to three time inflation rates). They sign you up freely for loans and when you finish you are screwed. The colleges and professors laugh all the way to the bank. Suckers!
oldtimer
March 18th, 2010
9:23 pm
I live in TN now and wish our governor would do the same..he is pretty conservative and is a business person…you would think he would.
dawgmom
March 18th, 2010
9:24 pm
Student – I probably had student loans long before you were a glimmer in your daddy’s eye. Point being, any loan offered by the government, backed by the government and subsequently written off by the government is paid for by taxpayers. The loans I had were not government loans and were at a lower interest rate. I had one child that needed loans (the other supplemented their education on their own) and was denied any government loans; therefore, they took out private loans. I do not want my tax dollars being pooled into the sole source of student loans — especially in view of Obama’s State of the Union message that, if you go into the private sector after college you will have 20 years to pay off your loan; however, if you go into the public sector, your loan will be forgiven after 10 years. WTF??? And, by the way, my kids did not go to UGA and I resent your accusations.
oldtimer
March 18th, 2010
9:35 pm
I tell everyone if ole GW had been a real republican we would not have a Marxist in the White House now. Be very afraid. he is doing exactly what he promise.
Ronnie
March 18th, 2010
9:37 pm
Right on oldtimer. Couldn’t agree more. As the libs would say it is truly all Bush’s fault.
Foghorn Langhorn
March 18th, 2010
9:40 pm
Georgia passed tort reform right after Sonny was elected. Have health insurance costs gone down? Jus sayin.
Ronnie
March 18th, 2010
9:42 pm
Middle class will ultimately pay for this through higher taxes on their insurance plans, higher medicare taxes, and taxes on investments. Don’t worry though Obama said he’d only raise taxes on the “rich” who make > 250k. Best of all though is the fact that illegals are exempt from the mandate to buy insurance. Won’t matter though b/c Obama’s next step is to legalize all illegals.
Ronnie
March 18th, 2010
9:44 pm
Tort reform was to lower malpractice insurance costs to keep docs from fleeing the state. Ask Pennsylvania, who has no tort reform, how their physician retention rate and ability to attract providers is going.
Used to be Disgusted
March 18th, 2010
9:45 pm
Didn’t stop Sonny from grovelling before Obama for money for the farsical RTT did it?
What a doofus.
dawgmom
March 18th, 2010
9:46 pm
Ronnie — unfortunately, Lindsay Graham is part of the illegal legalization (no fun intended). Just wrote him an email, but I know it won’t do any good.
TnGelding
March 18th, 2010
9:46 pm
How benevolent of the governor and the GOP to be offering Dems political advice.
Reality
March 18th, 2010
9:47 pm
I am a mad as h@ll GA citizen and anyone that listens to our idiot governor Purdue should be shot. He and his repub idiots have lead our state down the tubes. There is no reason why we should have a state budget deficit so large – wasn’t the repubs the party of fiscal responsibility? There is no reason GA should have one of the top unemployment rate – we have too many natural resources and too many universities. There is just no excuse for how quickly and how deeply the repubs and Purdue has destroyed my GA.
Ronnie
March 18th, 2010
9:49 pm
Lindsey Gramnesty loves the illegals. He along with GW and Juan McMexican should all move to Mexico. Better yet they could just move to Gwinnett Co. That would be the same.