John Shadegg was elected to Congress as part of the Republican Revolution in 1994 and represents the 3rd Congressional District of Arizona. Mr. Shadegg established himself as a leader in that class and has continued to hold fast to the principles of freedom and limited government. He has introduced legislation to promote patient choice, individual ownership, and portability in health insurance. His two bills – the Patients Health Care Reform Act and the Health Care Choice Act – offer comprehensive, free-market solutions to the rapidly rising cost of healthcare by allowing individuals to choose a health care plan that best meets their needs. Congressman Shadegg was kind enough to answer questions from Smart Girl Politics and our very active AZ group.

You have introduced the Health Care Choice Act, which includes competitive regulation of health insurance. Senators Tom Coburn (R-OK) and Richard Burr (R-NC), along with Reps. Paul Ryan (R-WI) and Devin Nunes (R-CA) have introduced a mandate price control bill. Even in the GOP there are problems over what is right and wrong in the form of an alternative. What do you believe will be the outcome will be of the healthcare debate?

Tragically, unless the American people become engaged to stop Democrats in Congress, the outcome of this debate will be the enactment of radical changes to America’s health care system. Virtually every American who already has health care coverage they like will lose their current coverage and be forced into a new system. In fact, the House bill specifically requires that every health insurance plan in America meet a new set of rules and regulations prescribed by a new federal bureaucracy: the “Health Benefits Advisory Committee.” I’ve been encouraging everyone I speak with to tell their friends, neighbors, colleagues, and, most importantly, their Representative in Congress their concerns. Only aggressive action by individual Americans can stop the overwhelming majorities Democrats hold in the House and Senate from passing this legislation before the August break.

This week, I introduced a truly patient-focused alternative, the Improving Health Care for All Americans Act. The most critical component of my bill is that it does not take away the exclusion from income, which makes employer-based health care possible. It allows Americans to keep their employer-provided health care plan and also offers a tax offset to those who would prefer to purchase health care on their own. For those unable to purchase their own health care, it provides a government stipend so they, too, can buy the health care plan of their choice.

The problem with our healthcare industry is the result of government interference. The AMA warned forty-four years ago that Medicare and Medicaid would be more expensive than projected (which was determined immediately), that rationing would occur, and health care costs would soar. Do you think government should play any role in determining how the health care industry operates and how American citizens receive medical services?

Government, in a limited role, should ensure the integrity and honesty of the marketplace. This function should be performed primarily at the state level. We should also ensure that Americans with chronic illnesses and/or preexisting conditions can obtain affordable coverage through either high-risk pools or risk-adjustment mechanisms.

Mr. Shadegg, I live in your district, I voted for you, and I will again. I want to know what you recommend–with all of the steamroller tactics of the left coming on strongly to promote a socialized healthcare, what do you see as the two or three things we as regular citizens can do to help you and your peers STOP this healthcare socialization? [Question submitted by Gayle Plato.]

I urge every American to talk to everyone they know and warn them about the radical changes being considered in Washington today. These sweeping changes will destroy health care as we know it. Encourage everyone you know to speak up! They should call, e-mail, or write their Member of Congress and their United States Senators and participate in public demonstrations to make their voices heard. If you don’t know who your Member of Congress is, click here to find out!

Congress is a “pressure-sensitive institution,” and only pressure from the public will stop Congress from doing severe damage to America’s health care system.

Weighing in on the issues that are important to you, like health care, whether it be through social networking sites like Smart Girl Politics or through friends and neighbors, can help spread the message. By spreading the word, you can make your voices resound in the halls of Washington and help protect our health care freedoms.

You co-sponsored the The No Cost Stimulus Act of 2009, which talked about job creation as a way to deal with outsourcing of US energy production to other countries. We are now looking at a stimulus bill raising our deficit more and more to create jobs. What are our next steps?

It is obvious that the stimulus has not worked. Even Vice President Biden has said that the White House “misread” the economy. This is no excuse in a time when Americans are unemployed at record levels and sacrificing to make ends meet.

The keys to stimulating our economy are private capital, small business innovation, and reducing the burden big government imposes on the economy and job creation. For example, the No Cost Stimulus Act would have enabled the production of vastly more American-made energy, creating jobs and reducing our reliance on foreign oil. No country in the world has locked up its natural resources and forced itself to rely on foreign suppliers on the scale we have done here in America. These policies hurt our economy and place our national security at risk.

President Obama seems to be straying into dangerous constitutional territory by appointing various policy “czars.” As the sponsor of the Enumerated Powers Act, you are a strong voice for returning the Constitution to the halls of Congress. What can be done to ensure that the President of the United States adheres to similar principles?

With the growth of the federal government over the past six decades, many have come to doubt that the remaining vitality of the Tenth Amendment – which restates the Constitution’s principle of federalism by providing that powers not granted to the national government nor prohibited to the states are reserved to the states or the people – is a central feature of our Constitution. But the belief that the central government should have only limited powers remains alive in the hearts of the people.

If Congress passed the Enumerated Powers Act, Congress and the Supreme Court would be forced to apply the Constitution and to at least consider the proper role of the federal government, as opposed to state and local governments, as it legislates.

In the wake of the 2008 election, many new conservative grassroots groups, such as Smart Girl Politics, have begun to organize. What role do you see these kinds of groups playing in future elections and policy debates?

Smart Girl Politics and other grassroots groups have the unique task of galvanizing public awareness and encouraging greater participation in the political process. In my opinion, it is not an overstatement to say the future of America lies in the hands of Smart Girl Politics and similar efforts. Whether you’re blogging or posting links and messages on Facebook, Members of Congress must pay attention. Our constituents can have more influence over what Congress does than ever before, and that’s a great thing.

What are your thoughts on the current direction of the Republican Party? Should its policies be more centrist in nature or should it return to its conservative principles?

The Republican Party is based on a belief in individual rights, personal responsibility, and freedom. At its core, the party believes in limited government, low taxes, and a strong national defense. These are broad concepts that appeal to a majority of Americans.

Unfortunately, the former Republican majority in Congress did not live up to these principles. It is not enough to say we support a set of core beliefs. It is essential not only to articulate our principles, but also to act consistently with them. Until the Republican Party returns to its support of core conservative principles, and its leaders act and vote consistently with them, we cannot hope to attract the support of the American people.

Who do you think are the rising stars of the GOP? Are there any up-and-comers in Arizona that we should keep our eyes on?

I’m happy to know a number of Republican leaders with potential for party success in the Congress. In Arizona, Kirk Adams is showing great potential, as is Steve Pierce and, again, many others.

*** You can find more information on Congressman Shadegg at http://johnshadegg.house.gov/ ***

It is no surprise that Ted Kennedy is at the forefront of the new health care reform movement. He’s been pushing for public health care for the last forty years and is finally getting a chance to see his dream come true. His plan, however, is even a little left for many democrats in office. Kennedy wants a comprehensive government sponsored health plan. As the GOP pointed out, Kennedy wants health care to have the compassion of the IRS and waiting lines like the U.S. Post Office. Senator Baucus, D-Montana, on the other hand, wants to create a more balanced health care system. Baucus wants the plan to be more bipartisan, and more appealing to all citizens. Public policy is never about choosing option A or B, rather politicians have to agree on a C, D, E, etc. in order to come up with the best fit for the nation. I applaud Baucus for trying to find this balance.

Concurrently, the GOP is hard at work and has unveiled the Patient’s Choice Act of 2009 (PCA). The bill is the Republican party’s answer to the health care crisis. It proposes giving individuals $2290, and families $5710 in tax0cuts to go out and find their own health insurance. This plan, which was  heavily campaigned by the McCain-Palin camp, gives patients the option, responsibility, and freedom to choose what they want for health care which doctors they will see.  The PCA promotes healthy competition amongst insurance agencies, driving down the cost of health care as agencies compete with one another. The tax-cut money for citizens will come from reducing tax-breaks that insurance companies currently receive for offering employee coverage plans.  The best part about the bill is that everything the GOP wants to do will better health care without raising taxes or increasing spending. Democrats say that while this might look good on paper, the tax cuts will only go so far, and won’t be enough in the long run. Further, the GOP should include a strategy that addresses lowering the health care expenses related to chronic diseases.

Another strong check in the Patients Choice Act is the prevention of cherry-picking, as Senators Tom Coburn and Richard Burr point out. Cherry-picking is when insurance agencies choose to only cover healthy patients to minimize patient pay-outs. The PCA will equalize tisk across insurance companies and reverse the incentive to leave unhealthier people uninsured. America has the best doctors in the world, the best hospitals, and should have the best health care system too. The Patients Choice Act would “remove the barriers that separate Americans from high‐value health care by enhancing individual purchasing power and creating rational government rules.”

Here are the core concepts of the PCA:

• Emphasis on disease prevention
• Create a Market that Works for Patients
• Guarantee Choice of Coverage Options
• Insist on Fairness for Every Patient
• Fairly Compensate Patient Injuries
• No Tax Increases or New Government Spending
• Restore Accountability to Government Programs
• Include Ideas from Governors and States

The Patients Choice Act has very little chance of surviving the current Democratic Congress. Congress is heavily politicized, as is the health industry. An interesting article from the Boston Globe reported that the Democrats have a single outlook on health care: “We are on track to make America’s health care system more efficient and better in quality. Leave us Alone.” On board with this mentality are several groups including American’s Health Insurance Plans, The American Hospital Association, the American Medical Association, and the Advanced Medical Technology Association. The strangest thing about the Advanced Medical Technology Association is their claim to take steps to reduce medical errors now that Obama is in office. Couldn’t and shouldn’t that be an everyday goal, and not one that is magically pulled out of a hat as a direct response to the Obama Administration? Perhaps even stranger is the American Hospital Association’s claim to undertake “various measures to reduce infections.” I was seriously under the impression that this was already their job. It is clear that reform should start within the hospitals, and not in the White House. For now, what we can do is contact our representatives to push as fierecly as possible for the PCA, talk to friends about the benefits of the PCA over the democrat’s plans, and hope Congress will find a middle ground that represents us all.

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