Wes Vernon
Friday, June 22, 2001

The Association of American Physicians and Surgeons has fired off a letter to the Arizona lawmaker urging him to stop claiming that all doctors and nurses groups back the bill he is co-sponsoring with Sens. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass, and John Edward, D-N.C.

Doctors are not unanimous in their support of this legislation, says the AAPS, despite the claims of McCain in recent interviews. Most recently, the senator made that claim Wednesday on the Fox News "Hannity and Combs” TV talk show.

The AAPS says it has very publicly opposed this legislation since the introduction of it back in 1995.

The Thursday letter, signed by AAPS Executive Director Dr. Jane Orient, says the AAPS opposition to the McCain-Kennedy bill has been consistent and clear.

Making Health Insurance Even Less Affordable

"It will increase premiums, decrease the availability of insurance plans, and line the pockets of the lawyers and bureaucrats….” the doctors group states.

AAPS goes on to accuse the Arizona lawmaker of aiding and abetting the enemies of patients’ freedom "for what seem to be political purposes.”

"We know what Senators Kennedy and Clinton want,” says Dr. Orient, "a complete federal takeover of American medicine. That will mean managed care without any escape …. They are methodically crafting legislation that will achieve their goal, piece-by-piece, year-by-year. They seriously oppose any legislation that will increase patient freedom. For example, they can be counted on to fight any expansion of the medical savings account concept in the [1996] Kennedy-Kassebaum bill.”

"We ask that you correct the record and that your future statements reflect it accurately" the lack of unanimity in doctor support for the Kennedy-McCain-Edwards bill.

This legislation is so important to the Democrats that Senate plurality leader Tom Daschle has threatened to keep the lawmakers in session over the Independence Day holiday until it is passed.

Ironically, notes the AAPS release, theirs is a high-profile national organization that is based in McCain’s home state.

This is not the first time McCain has fallen short when it comes to keeping in touch with what’s going on in his own state.

Last fall, when he was chairing a hearing on Amtrak, the senator stumbled badly when he declared Amtrak does not serve Arizona. The Amtrak timetables clearly showed and still show that the passenger rail company has been serving Arizona with train service for years.

Read more on this subject in related Hot Topics:
Health Issues
A product that might interest you:
Have an Opinion About This? Send an URGENT PriorityGram Today