The Health Care 13

These are the 13 Senators that have been chosen to craft the Senate version of Trumpcare. Notice anything these Senators have in common? Notice anything missing from this group? 

My guess is that the plan these people come up with will have wonderful coverage for prostate exams and procedures, Viagra prescriptions and other ED procedures. Mammograms, Pap smears, birth control, prenatal care maybe not so much. 

Last time I checked, women made up almost 51%, African Americans over 12%, Hispanics around 17% of the US population. There are also the Asians and Native Americans. Yet, the Republican Senate leaders think a 100% white male group can determine the health care needs of the entire country. Not just white males, but old conservative rich white males in probably fairly good health. How arrogant can they be? It also shows how out of touch they are. If for no other than PR and appearances there should be at least token diversity on the panel. Then even if the white male leaders ignored female, black, chronically ill or poor input, they could claim those constituencies had their say. 

To be fair, Senate Republican leaders invited Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) to the Tuesday working meeting. There has been no indication yet if she will be a permanent member of the group, or if this is a one-off deal. This only occurred because of the public, media, and Democratic uproar. Another indication that the old farts are tone deaf and do not have their finger on the nation's pulse.

I am not delusional enough to think that the Republicans will produce a comprehensive, affordable, fair health care bill regardless of who is on their working committees. My only hope is that it might be slightly less draconian with some diverse input. Make no mistake about it. The purpose of the American Health Care Act (AHCA) or whatever it is called is to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA, Obamacare) and provide tax relief for the rich and some savings to pay for 2018 budget. It is only marginally about health care. 

My hope at this time is that the Republican House and Senate can not reach an agreeable compromise and the AHCA flounders for the next two years. 

We'll see whether the Republicans can govern from their majority position or continue to disagree among their various factions. It's only the nation's health care at stake.

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