Gov. Taft Is An Idiot

The following document is an email newsletter from the American Diabetes Association. It's amazing how short sighted Bob Taft can be. I knew he was stupid but I had no idea the depth of it. The Diabetes Cost Reduction Act (DCRA) SAVES $3 of taxpayers money for every $1 spent by reducing the money spent on emergency room visits, hospital stays and surgeries caused by diabetes complications. Ohio is one of only 4 states that hasn't passed some sort of DCRA legislation requiring state regulated insurance companies to cover diabetes testing and treament supplies and medication. MORONS! Here's the news as sent out by the ADA.

(BEGIN)
Dear Tony:

Now we know why our progress on the DCRA -- solid, deliberate progress -- has slowed. Despite the statistical facts, the many phone calls and visits, and the flood of letters to the decision-makers in Columbus, their leader, Governor
Taft, recently told his Small Business Advisory Council this:

"So far, so good. We haven't had any more [health mandates]. We have to remain vigilant from that standpoint."

Well. So much for his overtures that he wanted to do something about diabetes in Ohio. So much for his full consideration of the facts about the cost effectiveness of the DCRA, which speak for themselves.

Bob Taft is a proud anti-mandate politician, even if it means he has to be wrong!

Further complicating this issue is the Ohio Senate Leadership's reliance on the Governor's position. The Senators who could bring the DCRA up for a vote in the Insurance Committee -- Senator Stivers (the Committee Chair) and Senate
President Harris -- know the Governor opposes the DCRA, so they don't have to bring it for a vote. This not only gets us nowhere, it protects those two Senators from going on the record against helping people with diabetes get the life-saving coverage they need to manage their disease well. Let's call them out and, one way or the other, get them on the record.

The best way to do this is to call Senate President Harris and Senate Insurance, Commerce and Labor Committee Chair Senator Steven Stivers today. Their contact information:

Senator Harris: 614-466-8086
Senator Stivers: 614-466-5981

Tell both Senators:

*you are an Ohio resident who supports the DCRA (Senate Bill 113)
*you want to see the DCRA brought to a vote in the Senate Insurance, Commerce and Labor Committee
*you would like to know if those who oppose the DCRA are providing documentation to support their claims that it raises costs
*you would like to know, now, on the phone call, what the Senator's position on this bill is -- support or oppose?
*give your name and phone number (to ensure your call is recorded properly) and insist that your message be given to the Senators (if you speak with staffers, which is possible)

Then shoot us an email at makingnoise@diabetes.org and tell us what they said. They will try to be evasive: don't let them. They will try to talk in circles: ask them simply, support or oppose the DCRA? Let's get them on the record and if they support us, fine. If they oppose us, that's fine, too, but we want to
know.

You know the DCRA is important, Tony.
Many of you have put in years in support of this issue. The last twelve months have been our most successful ones yet. Are we going to let these three men string us out forever? We say no, and we think you'll agree. Get'em on the record on the DCRA today! (END)

Please help CF Ohio fight these clods. If you have any contacts with anybody in any form in Ohio write, call, email these lunatics and help us. Thanks!