On no less than eight occasions during his presidential campaign, Barack Obama made it quite clear that debate over health care would be transparent, bipartisan and would appear on C-Span so that the whole country would know exactly what was going on with it. Nothing could have been further from the truth. As you read this, Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid and a few faceless bureaucrats are deciding your health care future. This is so outrageous that words cannot describe it. Americans are so adamantly opposed to this debacle that it is practically a foregone conclusion that the Democrats will pay dearly at the midterm elections. This has not phased Obama, and many of these same Democrats are willing to “fall on a sword” to give their guy his government takeover of the health care industry. That is the measure of their resolve. They know that their time is short. That is why you see the big push to “get it done” as fast as possible.

Give Congressman Bart Stupak, D- Michigan, credit for his courage. He formed a coalition of pro-life Democrats and was able to amend the House bill so that the taxpayers would not be funding abortions in the name of “health care.” Unfortunately, the Senate version, as of yet, contains no such language. These people and their cronies are so bent on killing unborn children at taxpayer expense that they will stop at nothing to see that it happens. Even worse, there is no conscience clause for health care providers who are opposed to abortion. They would be forced against their will to participate in abortions or go against the law.

There are many other things in the health care bill that should make us shudder. Did you know that it contains a huge marriage penalty? How does this encourage and strengthen marriage? Did you know that it slashes Medicare benefits to seniors and will lead to rationed care? Did you know that the middle class will be hit hard with tax increases to pay for this debacle? As it is written, the so-called “benefits” would kick in by 2014 but the tax increases would begin now.

If you are outraged by what is going on behind closed doors in Washington concerning the future of our health care the time to let your voice be heard is now. Our current congressman, Tim Walz, and both of our U.S. senators, Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken, are big supporters of Obamacare, and they need to hear from us! You can reach their offices by calling the Capitol switchboard at: (202) 224-3121.

Scott Bute

Alden