Rep. Joe Walsh, millions of others in IL having a hard time with health care
“This Is Going To Impact My Wife and Myself to a Serious Degree”                                      Â
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(Submitted by the Campaign for Better Health Care)
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Rep. Joe Walsh (IL-8), an incoming GOP freshman, ran his election campaign on a promise that should he be elected, he would refuse for himself the taxpayer subsidized, government administered health plan he wanted to deny to millions of other Illinoisans. Surprisingly, despite the fact that his wife has a pre-existing condition and insurance rates in the private market would surely reflect that, the Representative is thus far sticking to his word.
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So, how’s that private market stuff working out for you, Congressman? In an article in Politico, Representatve Walsh said, “I can simply, honestly say that this is going to impact my wife and I to a fairly serious degree, like it would any average American out there.”
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Any “average” American? Not quite, Representative. The $174,000 annual salary that Congressman Walsh earns as a member of Congress is almost three times the median family income in his district, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Joe Walsh, a self described “independently wealthy” member of Congresss, admits to having a hard time making ends meet over the cost of health care for his family, yet he continues to support repeal of the health insurance reform law. The Affordable Care Act protects the working families of Representative Walsh‘s own district, and all Americans, from the worst abuses of the insurance industry – such as discriminating against people with pre-existing conditions like Mrs. Walsh has.Â
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“Congressman Walsh comparing himself to the “average” Illinoisan while drawing a six-figure salary is completely ridiculous. Health care is the key to economic security and oppportunity for all Americans, including the working families of the 8th district. Representative Walsh is feeling some of the same pain that most of the people he represents feel, but still wants to take away the consumer protections of the Affordable Care Act from them and all Americans,” said Jim Duffett, Executive Director of the Campaign for Better Health Care. Â
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“Luckily for the Congressman and his family, the Affordable Care Act will prevent insurance companies from denying he and his family coverage, and even more luckily for them, he can afford to pay whatever rates those companies want to charge him for it. It is cruel and senseless that the Congressman would want to withhold the same security that this law provides to average Americans by repealing it,” Duffett concluded.
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