Robert J. Dold, Republican...

...of Illinois, is my representative in Congress. (Looks the part, doesn't he?)

I just received a response to an e-mail I sent him regarding his ill-considered vote to repeal the Affordable Care Act. After the usual introductory paragraphs, Dold says (my emphasis):

These fundamental flaws in the law led me to vote in favor of H. R. 2 -- to repeal the PPACA -- and begin the critical steps needed to replace the current health care law with one that is patient-centric, lowers cost and increases quality. The absence of these key principles from last year's overhaul, and one of the major reasons for the law's failings, is that the last Congress simply did not encourage broad, bipartisan cooperation on health care reform. Rather, the law grew out of a closed legislative process, where some of the best ideas to lower cost and raise quality were ignored. The American people deserve better.

Begin the critical steps? Is he kidding? The Republicans still don't have a health care plan? When, exactly, do they intend to get around to that little detail? After all, the U. S. has been considering health care reform since Theodore Roosevelt.

The law grew out of a closed legislative process. This couldn't be further from the truth. The process went on for over a year and included key Republicans at every step of the way. President Obama and the Democrats were desperate to pass bipartisan legislation and gave up only when it became apparent that Republicans had no intention of dealing in good faith. Remember "death panels?"

The end result was very similar to the reforms passed by Mitt Romney in Massachusetts and the bill put forth by Senate Republicans in response to HillaryCare back in the early '90s.

Dold concludes the letter by saying (my comments in bold):

With these principles in mind, I am preparing to introduce legislation that lays out common-sense reforms to the health care system. This bill will be composed of the following key components:

* Expanding insurance coverage without raising taxes;

(How, exactly?)

* Ensuring that the government does not get between a decision you make with your doctor;

(By keeping insurance companies between you and your doctor?)

* Encouraging medical malpractice reform, which will reduce the practice of defensive medicine and lower health care costs;

(I'll give you this one, although I've read it's not significant.)

* Lowering costs and expanding access to care by empowering people to purchase the insurance plan anywhere in the country that works best for them;

(In other words: create a race to the bottom. Allow insurance companies to locate in the state with the most "favorable" legislation and then sell bad policies across state lines. The ancient Greeks had a term for this one: Trojan Horse. No thanks.) 

* Equalizing tax benefits for self-employed individuals so that they can receive the same tax advantages as employers who purchase health insurance; and

(We tried that one already; couldn't pass, remember?)

* Eliminating waste, fraud and abuse in Medicare and Medicaid.

(Why didn't I think of that?)
 
The Congressman concludes with the usual: thank you for contacting me, what an honor it is to serve you, and blah, blah, blah.
 
Thanks for your letter, Mr. Dold. But get back to me when you're serious.