Kansas Health Institute | Information For Policy Makers. Health for Kansans.

Dear Editor,

I am proud of the reputation I have in Kansas and on Capitol Hill as a behind-the-scenes negotiator who can work out legislative differences. We may not always get the best possible bill, but often we can get the best bill possible.

During last year’s farm bill negotiations, I worked with the other side of the aisle to protect crop insurance and direct payments, the main safety net for our producers when they are without a crop to harvest. After many intensive rounds of negotiations, winning some and losing some, I supported the legislation. I knew our farmers would be better off with this farm bill rather than no farm bill.

I wish I could say the same for health care reform.

I have been criticized by a few in the media for not taking my usual role as a pragmatic negotiator with regards to the health care reform debate.

As you know, I have been outspoken against the effort moving through the Finance and Health Committees on which I serve, not because I don’t want to reform our health care system, but because I disagree with this version of so-called reform, and especially with the process of this so-called reform.

Remember, this is not my first rodeo. I know how things can be achieved in the minority. Senators have a great many tools at our disposal. There have been many instances when despite my minority status, we have achieved good things for Kansas. For example: securing the new bio and agro-defense lab at Kansas State, helping residents in Treece find a solution to their contamination issue and blocking the relocation of terrorists held at Gitmo to our own Ft. Leavenworth.

But this time, the deck was stacked very firmly against the minority voice. I looked at the line-up and I did the math. My amendments simply would not pass a party-line vote.

Efforts to negotiate a better health care reform bill had already collapsed when the Obama Administration set a rushed and arbitrary deadline for signing a reform bill into law. Despite the fact that compromise negotiations were underway with colleagues who I deeply respect, including the chairs and ranking members of the two Committees, it was made clear there were going to be no compromises.

Even now, Majority Leader Harry Reid and a select few are merging the two Senate versions of the bill behind closed doors, contrary to the President’s promise that the creation of the bill would be on CSPAN for all to see.

What is worse, is that following Senate approval of this backroom creation, it will again go behind closed doors to merge with the House version in the conference committee. I don’t expect to recognize it when it comes out of the conference committee.

Despite the odds, I have not given up fighting for what is right. As the debate progresses, I continue talking with doctors and hospital administrators in my state because they will be on the front lines of the new health care system when it is imposed. They know what will work and what won’t for their patients.

I care what they think and I make no apologies for it. I also have listened to the overwhelming response from Kansans all across the state in the form of letters, emails, faxes and phone calls. The vast majority have urged a no vote against the Senate bills.

Rest assured, as the debate — which I expect to get even more heated — continues, you will hear my voice loud and clear. I’ll stand up for what’s right. I’ll offer and support alternative measures that I think make better sense and I’ll continue urging Kansans to share their concerns with me. I am saddled up and ready to ride.

U.S. Senator Pat Roberts