Congressman Roskam's attack on IRS, Obamacare false and irresponsible

Illinois 6th District Congressman Peter Roskam’s September 6 email to constituents falsely attacking Obamacare and the IRS simply follows the Tea Party line he champions in Congress to delegitimize Obama administration efforts to help the 40 million Americans shut out of our health care system. His attack on the IRS failed to mention that the Tea Party IRS scandal has been debunked. The IRS, as required by law, closely scrutinized tax exempt requests of both conservative and progressive political organizations, was authorized under a Bush appointee, and surprise, no organization lost its tax exempt status. 

 

But Roskam aimed his heaviest salvos at his real "bête noir", Obamacare. Since its passage he’s voted to repeal it 40 times, once for every million folks it was passed to bring into our health care system, and in so doing, lower the gargantuan cost of the most inefficient health care system in the industrialized world. Disgracefully, Roskam never mentions any of its numerous benefits which include: 

 

1  No annual limits on healthcare benefits

2  Insurance companies can't drop you when you are sick

3  You can't be denied coverage for pre-existing conditions

4  Obamacare focuses on preventive services

5  Women's health services are greatly improved

6  Reforms reduce wasteful spending

7  Better care and protections for seniors

8  Children can stay on parents health care policies till age 26

9  Starting January 1, 2014, insurance plans must include:

·        Emergency services

·        Hospitalizations

·        Lab services

·        Mental health

·        Substance abuse treatment

·        Outpatient  care

·        Pediatric care

·        Prescription drugs

·        Preventative care

·        Rehabilitative services

·        Vision & dental care for children 

 

Obamacare represents "Obama cares". It’s the law of the land, has been upheld by the Supreme Court, and is becoming as embedded in our culture as surely as Social Security and Medicare.  Congressman Roskam can vote against it 40 or even 400 more times but it will still be around to deliver vitally needed health care services to the 40 million folks he heartlessly ignores. His use of sophistry instead of reason, falsehoods instead of facts when discussing Obamacare does not serve the public interest.