Archer County Advocate (Holliday, Tex.), Vol. 4, No. 63, Ed. 1 Thursday, June 21, 2007 Page: 4 of 18
This newspaper is part of the collection entitled: Archer County Area Newspaper Collection and was provided to The Portal to Texas History by the Archer Public Library.
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4 Thursday, June 21, 2007_
Capitol
Comment
U.S. SHNATOR
KAY BAILEY HUTCHISON
Informed and Empowered Consumers
Can Lower Their Health Care Costs
Archer County Advocate
State & Local
COMMENTARY
by Charles Finnell •
The Rest of the Story RE: 16
Constitutional Propositions
Rapidly rising health care
costs are an enormous burden on
families, individuals and busi-
nesses. Nationwide health spend-
ing rose almost 80 percent be-
tween 1997 and 2005, and is pro-
jected to reach $4 trillion by 2015.
As chairman of the Senate Re-
publican Policy Committee, I re-
cently invited academics, business
leaders and my fellow senators to
a roundtable discussion to exam-
ine the challenges facing our
health care system. We all agreed
that to address our health care cri-
sis and reduce costs, consumers
must have the freedom and ability
to make informed choices.
Americans are smart shop-
pers—we make dozens of eco-
nomic choices every day, on ev-
erything from cars to cereal. We
appreciate the value of quality ser-_
vice and competitive pricing, and
we take these factors into account
as we decide which products to
buy. Unfortunately, the same in-
formation is not always available
when shopping for health care,
and often consumers are not af-
forded a real choice.
For too long, breaking the
code to insurance pricing has been
a near mystery to most people.
Consumers need this information
as they compare and choose be-
tween available health plans. As
a result of an executive order,
health insurance providers are
now making detailed pricing in-
formation available to their cus-
tomers. Such transparency helps
Americans make informed deci-
sions and select options that lower
their health care costs.
Many Americans are forced
to visit only doctors covered by
their health plans or are barred
from important treatments not ap-
proved by their insurance com-
pany. I championed the creation
of Health Savings Accounts
(HSAs) to give Americans more
freedom in managing their health
care expenses. Instead of simply
paying a traditional insurance pre-
mium, HSA participants contrib-
ute to a tax deductible savings ac-
count reserved for health-related
expenses. Consumers spend only
what they need from these ac-
counts, and do not waste money
on insurance benefits they may
never require. They can decide for
themselves how to spend their
money, on the doctors and treat-
ments they choose. HSAs are
coupled with high-deductible in-
surance policies that provide a
safety net in case of catastrophic
injury or illness. These and other
consumer-driven options give
consumers ownership of their
health budgets, and follow the per-
son, not the job.
I also strongly support the
Medicare Part D prescription drug
benefit, which uses a market-
driven approach to deliver great
savings for seniors and the federal
government. The program gives
seniors many more options be-
cause it allows providers to design
a wide array of benefit plans. Par-
ticipants Can then compare plans
and make their choices based on
price and the type of medicine cov-
ered. As a result, over 80 percent
of Medicare Part D enrollees re-
port that they are satisfied with the
program, and participants are sav-
ing an average of $ 1,200 per year
on their drug expenses.
These programs have been
successful because they give
Americans the power and infor-
mation to choose the health care
options that are right for their fami-
lies and right for their pocket-
books. However, more can be
done to increase consumer choice.
For example, Americans who
choose to purchase their own
health insurance should enjoy the
same tax benefits that are available
to businesses that purchase insur-
ance for their employees. In-
creased transparency and more
consumer choice will further re-
duce health care costs, and I will
continue to support health care
options and the savings that they
represent for your family and busi-
ness.
■ Holliday City
Wide Clean-Up
City Wide Clean-Up
June 23, 2007
8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Dumpsters will be located
at the City Convenience Center
located North of Highway 82
across from College Avenue.
Oil, Oil Filters, Batteries, and
Tires will not be accepted. Se-
nior Citizens that need items
picked up should call City Hall
prior to June 22, 2007 to request
a work order. Please call 586-
1313 for additional information.
Engagment/Wedding
announcements are
welcome.
Please send, fax or email your
information to:
The Archer Advocate
P.O. Box 444
Holliday, TX 76366
940-586-0790 Fax 586-0826
news @ archeradvocate.com
Birth
announcements are
welcome.
Please send, fax or
email your information
to:
The Archer Advocate
P.O. Box 444
Holliday, TX 76366
940-586-0790
Fax 586-0826
news @ archeradvocate.com
As promised last week,
herein is an overview of the rest
of 16 topics to expect in the way
of proposed constitutional amend-
ments next fall. With all the daily
news coverage focused on bills
enacted, signed or vetoed by the
Governor during the last 20 days,
these are sometimes overlooked
until the “advertising blitz” be-
gins. So here is a “heads up” on
eight more proposals coming
down the pike or as Paul Harvey
would say “the rest of the
story”.
Please contact your very
able local legislative delegation
for any questions after ballot lan-
guage and proposition numbers as
provided by the newly-appointed
Texas Secretary of State, Phil Wil-
son. So be on the lookout for the
following propositions:
• Clarifying certain as-
pects of making of a home equity
loan and use of home equity loan
proceeds.
• Providing for the estab-
lishment of the Texas Cancer Pre-
vention and Research Institute and
authorizing the issuance of bonds
for the purpose of scientific re-
search on all forms of human can-
cer.
As this disease has touched
every family that I know of, State
and Local Commentary will
later feature thoughts of former
Texas Governors’ Dolph Briscoe
and Mark White on this proposi-
tion to which they have donated
much time and effort.
• Authorizing the legisla-
ture to provide that the maximum
appraised value of a residence
homestead for ad valorem taxation
is limited to the lesser of the most
recent market value of such home-
stead or 110 percent of it’s prior
year’s appraised value.
• Authorizing the legisla-
ture to exempt from ad valorem
taxation one motor vehicle owned
by an individual and used in the
course of the owners’ business or
profession and also for personal
activities.
• Authorizing the denial of
bail to a person who violates cer-
tain court orders in a felony or fam-
ily violence case.
• Allowing the repurchase
of real property taken by a gov-
ernmental entity through eminent
domain.
• Permitting a state justice
or judge who reaches the manda-
tory age of retirement while in of-
fice to complete that current term
of elected office.
Requiring that all final
votes cast on legislation (except
memorial and congratulatory reso-
lutions) be both printed and
posted immediately on the
Internet. (As one who never
missed a legislative vote taken,
except one “excused absence” for
aerial and ground level sunrise
survey of district damage the
morning after the April, 1979 tor-
nado, I’m glad that this matter is
finally on your ballot).
These proposed constitu-
tional amendments, totaling 16,
are certain to be numbered and
appear on your Tuesday, Novem-
ber 6 ballot, so it’s well to be
thinking on these well in advance
as they could become part of
your most basic governing docu-
ment. When included in your State
Constitution, they could only be
repealed by 2/3rd’ record vote in
both houses and majority vote of
Texas citizens.
FINALLY!
Affordable
Health
Insurance
for the
self-employed.
For more information,
call 940-767-0177
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Stevens, Charlotte. Archer County Advocate (Holliday, Tex.), Vol. 4, No. 63, Ed. 1 Thursday, June 21, 2007, newspaper, June 21, 2007; Holliday, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth829124/m1/4/?q=%22%22~1: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Archer Public Library.