GOP Health Plan is For the Dogs

As an animal lover and pet owner, I can’t fault Rep. Thaddeus McCotter (R-Mich) for trying to whip up support for the Humanity and Pets Partnered Through the Years (HAPPY) Act, H.R. 3501.

The bill would provide a $3,500 annual tax deduction to pet owners to pay for their pets’ medical care. Taking care of the animals in our charge is a good thing. That said, I can certainly find fault with his priorities and his timing.

Rep. McCotter has been very vocal in his opposition to reforming the human health care situation in our country, specifically targeting the public option.

According to OnTheIssues.org, McCotter voted against giving mental health full equity with physical health (2008); against adding 2-4 million children to SCHIP eligibility (2007); no to requiring negotiated prescription prices for Medicare Part D (2007); yes to denying non-emergency treatment for lack of Medicare co-pay (2006); yes on limiting medical malpractice lawsuits to $250,000 damages (2004); yes on a limited prescription drug benefit for Medicare recipients (2003); against allowing reimportation of prescription drugs (2003); yes on capping damages and setting time limits in medical lawsuits (2003); and is rated 0% by the American Public Health Association (APHA) indicating a anti-public health voting record (Dec 2003).

Using words like “repugnant,” and promoting the ugly specter of “government-encouraged euthanasia,” McCotter jumped on the scare tactics bandwagon early on and has earned his place in the party of no. No to real reform, no to a public option, no to helping families with a most basic need. Perhaps Rep. McCotter and other members of Congress who oppose reform should think about giving up their own government-sponsored plans.

Thank you, Rep. McCotter for trying to give us a break with our pets’ medical care costs — we do appreciate it — but you might want to think about priorities and timing. How about supporting a break for human health care?

If you want to see a major overhaul of our current health care system, please sign the petition: We Demand a Public Option. Tell President Obama and Congress why we need comprehensive health care reform — including a public option –NOW.

Photo: http://www.sxc.hu/photo/911229

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Smith J.

5:13PM PDT on Aug 28, 2010

This is a wonderful opinion. The things mentioned are unanimous and needs to be appreciated by everyone.
I appreciate the concern which is been rose. The things need to be sorted out because it is about the individual but it can be with everyone.
Smith
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send a green star

11:47PM PDT on Aug 25, 2010

well now days dogs are the most lovable pets people like to have.so it should given special attention.every thing has to be done just to keep them healthy.
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LLOYD H.

9:56AM PDT on Sep 28, 2009

Animals, hell! Convicted rapists, murderers et al are guaranteed better health coverage than an ever growing number of Americans can get or afford! There are no pre-existing condition clauses, no co-pays or other out of pocket, no premiums, no denials of coverage or treatment, for full coverage medical,dental,veision, hearing,organ transplants you name it with conviction you can get it all for FREE on the tax payer's back.And as for taxes if the top 2% wealthiest Americans and American corporations paid,actually paid,the same percentage on their wealth and income in taxes,after all the legal loopholes, and Republican tax breaks, etc for the rich only, as the average American there would not have to be any more taxes on Average America to pay for real health care reform with the necessary cornerstone public option for people.Take care of the people, keep them alive,well and out of bankrutcy so they are able to feed and care for what ever pets they want, then worry about more freaking Republican tax breaks.

Heather C.

11:28AM PDT on Sep 27, 2009

Jamie:

I don't know what country you live in, but you certainly can not be referring to the great US of A when you claim that animals are treated better than people. Go to any shelter or just watch an episode of "Animal Cops" and you'll see how far off the mark your statement is. Nope, sorry, animal cruelty is alive and well and still extremely prominent in this land of ours. Not to mention, healthy, viable, innocent people are not forcibly euthanized by the millions every year - animals are. As for your comment on how easy it is to get health care for our pets? Again, I don't know what planet you live on, but I can assure you it's just as difficult, just as costly and has just as many loop-holes as for people.

Carol H:

This is a "pet" care bill - yes, your bird babies are included. :)

Roger H & Joe C:

This is a post about tax breaks for pet medical care - why are you both flapping about the Health Care Reform? I'm sure you can find the appropriate forum to whip out your soapboxes on - this one isn't it.

Jaette C:

Excellent rebuttal!! :)

Jaette C.

7:40PM PDT on Sep 26, 2009

That's all fine and well Joe C. But what if you have the kid with a severe disability that no insurance company will take? What if you work so hard to get help for that kid that you end up ruining your heart? It's kind of hard at that point to just,'go it alone, depend on Godly people to help at a whim, there is no dignity or constant support in that, when what is needed for a family that has a child with a severe disability IS a constant support. We have been the other direction already and that is why supports were set up. Like the family of an alcoholic could many times effect their family for generations, the family with a child that is severely disabled will loose everything to help that child thus affecting the jobs, housing, health of the care giver family for generations. The minimal supports were set up for those families so that the Mother and Father could simply work to help support that system. I know it sounds ludicrous, but if you take away the supports, such as a care giver while the family members work, or health care where there was originally nothing offered by the current stupid health ins. co., the entire family collapses. You should try it sometime, it's true.
Start to remove the straws one at a time and boom, the entire thing starts imploding. To tell you the truth, I trust my child with a severe disablity to the Govt. supports a lot more than to the God Folks who many times bring a finger point or three. I say this being a religious person.

Joe C.

10:40PM PDT on Sep 25, 2009

Look, we need health care reform, but we don't need more taxes, and someone that can't get out of their own way running it. The Federal Government was never meant to have as much power as it has today. We all need to take control of our own lives, help others as GOD as directed us to and be less dependent on hand outs. Let's get real reform, such as more options, more choice by allowing less insurance lobbying at the state and federal level. I am smart enough to make my own choices, save money for emergencies, pay my bills why should I have more taxes taken out of my pay for someone that doesn't pay taxes, or hasn't ever paid taxes.

Marilyn K.

3:56PM PDT on Sep 25, 2009

In a country that sends people to the moon I am certain we can spend the dollars for health care for people and animals.

We love our pets, they are family members with feelings, emotions, unconditional love and completely dependent on us. For all that they bring to society and us individually, they deserve good health care and not everyone can afford it. Is it better to abandon them? We seem not to be able to limit the amount of pets that people take in or monitor their care, we can at least try to give them some health care benefits.

3:50PM PDT on Sep 25, 2009

Sorry, our federal government can't run Medicare and Medicaid properly now, so why would they be able to cost effectively run a public option plan? Besides that, we need to be realistic and know that the public option plan will increase the cost of health care for all people that already have private or employer provided health insurance thru new taxes to health insurance companies and health providers that willbe passed down as higher premiums and higher doctor and hospital bills. Let alone the $3800 penalty you will pay if you can't afford to buy health insurance or the taxes on existing health insurance benefits that are currently tax exempt that will be deferred until after the 2012 elections, so that the President and incumbant members of congress can get re-elected before voters realize they were responsible for these backdoor taxes.
When something sounds too good to be true there is usually hidden fine print that you will find if you read the entire bill(s).
Health care reform is needed but the bills presented in congress so far are far from the reform needed. In the long run, they all will indirectly cost all Americans more for their helth care.

clara H.

12:28PM PDT on Sep 25, 2009

Sorry but let's get health reform for humans together first than the animals. I love animals but we need to get ourselves together first.

Carol H.

11:40AM PDT on Sep 25, 2009

I think it is a great idea but will that include birds as well because our bird nearly sent us to the poor house and he lived for thirteen (13) and we took excelent care of him because he was our resposibility.