Democrats Block GOP Health Care Mailing

[Emit]

Democrats Block GOP Health Care Mailing
July 23, 2009
By Jackie Kucinich
Roll Call Staff

Democrats are preventing Republican House Members from sending their constituents a mailing that is critical of the majority’s health care reform plan, blocking the mailing by alleging that it is inaccurate.

House Republicans are crying foul and claiming that the Democrats are using their majority to prevent GOP Members from communicating with their constituents.

The dispute centers on a chart (view PDF) created by Rep. Kevin Brady (R-Texas) and Republican staff of the Joint Economic Committee to illustrate the organization of the Democratic health care plan.

At first glance, Brady’s chart resembles a board game: a colorful collection of shapes and images with a web of lines connecting them. But a closer look at the image reveals a complicated menagerie of government offices and programs that Republicans say will be created if the leading Democratic health care plan becomes law.

In a memo sent Monday to Republicans on the House franking commission, Democrats argue that sending the chart to constituents as official mail would violate House rules because the information is misleading. In their eight-point memo, which was obtained by Roll Call, Democrats identify a litany of areas where they believe the chart is incorrect.

~snip~

Congressional rules for franked mail bar Members from using taxpayer-funded mail for newsletters that use “partisan, politicized or personalized” comments to criticize legislation or policy.

The dispute over Brady’s chart is being reviewed by the franking commission, which must approve any mail before it can be sent. No decision had been made on the matter by press time.

Brady adamantly denied that the chart was misleading and said Democrats are simply threatened by the content of the graphic.

~snip~

“The chart reveals how their health care bureaucracy works, and people are frightened by it,” he added. “So this is their effort to try and discredit” the chart.

Republican Members have made 20 requests to mail a version of the chart to their constituents and have been told that the requests are being delayed while the commission reviews allegations that the chart is misleading.

~snip~

Republicans quickly embraced Brady’s chart, and over the past week about 50 Members have posted it on their Congressional Web sites or used it in a floor speech. It has also been posted on the home page of the Republican National Committee.

http://www.rollcall.com/issues/55_12/news/37125-1.html?type=printer_friendly

[ensho]

1. good, don't let them put out lies

nt

[lumberjack_jeff]

2. Good. It is long past time for someone to simply say "No, I won't let you lie with tax dollars.". nt

[Happyhippychick]

3. It's about fucking time.

[nightrain]

4. Rec. False and misleading chart. And isn't our health "system" complex to navigate?

Bureaucratic, fragmented, and multi-layered, rather than, dare I say it?, single-payered?

So, as a practitioner, we have to deal with these layers and layers of programs, differing eligibility requirements, exclusions, etc etc etc. Perhaps folks might appreciate where I'm coming from now?

[Raine1967]

5. If the RNC wants to post it , fine. (grudgingly I say that)

But I don't want this being sent out on our taxpayer dollars.

Let them spread the lies on the republicans wallet.

[Raine1967]

6. Another questions maybe DU can help me with:

Who created this chart?

[Doremus]

7. From the OP:

The dispute centers on a chart (view PDF) created by Rep. Kevin Brady (R-Texas) and Republican staff of the Joint Economic Committee

[niceypoo]

8. The nuclear option

is the only way we will get an acceptable plan

[Gman]

9. So the GOP wants taxpayers to pay for their games and lies

that's why we need change.

[backscatter712]

10. Let them send this chart of the GOP's much simpler health care plan...