Rep. Jenkins To Working Mother Unable To Afford Insurance: "Go Be A Grown Up"

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Rep. Lynn Jenkins ® of Kansas has, all of a sudden, started making quite a name for herself. Last week, the far-right lawmaker said she hopes to see a "great white hope" step up to defeat President Obama and congressional Democrats. Now a clip is making the rounds with Jenkins sharing her thoughts on the plight of the uninsured. In this clip, taken at a July town hall meeting, Jenkins is confronted by a constituent named Elizabeth Smith -- a full-time waitress with two young kids. Smith's employer doesn't provide insurance, and she can't afford private coverage. Smith's not looking for a handout; she's looking for an affordable choice.

"I want an option that I can pay for," Smith told her representative. "I work. I pay my bills. I'm not a burden on the state. I pay my taxes. So why can't I get an affordable option? Why are you against that?"

Jenkins responds, literally chuckling at the question, "A government-run program is going to subsidize not only yours but everybody in this room. So I'm not sure what we're talking about here."

Jenkins went on to tell Smith that "people should be given the opportunity to take care of themselves with a refund, or an advanceable [sic] tax credit, to go be a grown-up and go buy the insurance."

"Be a grown-up"? The taxpaying constituent Jenkins was blithely dismissing works full time and takes care of two young kids. She is a "grown-up." Indeed, tens of millions of Americans are lacking coverage -- some due to pre-existing conditions, some because their insurers dropped them through recission, some because they can't afford it -- and it's not because they haven't "grown up."

I'm trying to remember the last time I saw a member of Congress take such a condescending attitude towards struggling American families. Nothing comes to mind.

Later, Smith explained she hasn't been able to take her two-year-old son to a doctor in 21 months, except for emergency room visits for ear infections. "I am frustrated," she said. "In a functioning, civil society, people take care of each other."

I keep wondering if there might be one game-changing moment in the debate, a turning point in which one person stands up and becomes a symbol for the larger cause. That's probably not realistic, though I thought we might have seen such a moment recently when Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) callously rejected the concerns of a woman whose husband is a brain-injury victim. It got a little attention, but in general, people didn't care.

Maybe Elizabeth Smith's plight will gain more traction? She doesn't want charity; she wants an affordable choice for her and her family. Democrats want to give her one. And yet, here we have at least one Republican lawmaker who finds the idea of giving struggling families a choice laugh-out-loud funny. Indeed, she'd like to see Americans who can't afford coverage do more to "go be a grown-up."

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

These "compassionate conservatives" would be good if they were at least either compassionate or conservative and really great if they were both. Seeing that they're neither, I have no use for them.

[rebeccajo 14]

I don't think Jenkins took a direct swipe at the constituent as the article portrays.

Her comment was more backhanded than that.

I dislike articles such as this one. I don't like the way the writer portrays what was said. I think the wording is over-sensationalized.

Instead, this is one of those moments that plays out best if you actually watch the clip.

Single-payer advocates make themselves look bad when the write articles like this one. I say let the clip stand on television and on the web and let people make up their minds from what they see. It's one of the situations where when you first hear it, it does not sink in. After you've had a moment to digest it - well that's another story.

[alienlovechild 75]

"I want an option that I can pay for," Smith told her representative. "I work. I pay my bills. I'm not a burden on the state. I pay my taxes. So why can't I get an affordable option? Why are you against that?"

She doesn't pay income taxes if her income is that low. She will be burden on the state.

Want an affordable option? Get another job. Sorry, about that one, with high unemployment that's as good as it gets in Obama's America. Be patient he's working on the problem. Have a nice day.

[natty bumppo 297]

"I want an option that I can pay for," Smith told her representative. "I work. I pay my bills. I'm not a burden on the state. I pay my taxes. So why can't I get an affordable option? Why are you against that?"

She doesn't pay income taxes if her income is that low. She will be burden on the state.

Want an affordable option? Get another job. Sorry, about that one, with high unemployment that's as good as it gets in Obama's America. Be patient he's working on the problem. Have a nice day.

McDonalds is usually hiring ... and offers health benefits

[alienlovechild 75]

McDonalds is usually hiring ... and offers health benefits

That's silly.

It's far easier to reorganize the entire U.S. healthcare system than for this woman to get a job at McDonald's.

[Danno 1,228]

a full-time waitress with two young kids. Smith's employer doesn't provide insurance, and she can't afford private coverage. Smith's not looking for a handout; she's looking for an affordable choice.

"I want an option that I can pay for," Smith told her representative. "I work. I pay my bills. I'm not a burden on the state. I pay my taxes. So why can't I get an affordable option? Why are you against that?"

How can one take this example serious when the poor lady does not even have the facts about insurance or even her life understood.

She says.."She's not looking for a hand-out, just an Option she can afford"

*That means someone will be picking up the tab for the remainder (it's called a hand-out) and with her supporting two kids (who may or may not have a father around), I doubt she is expecting or able to "contribute" all that much. I wonder if she even went to her family for help first or was the townhall meeting Plan A.

She tells us she also "pays taxes".

*Is she talking about sales tax?

Nearly half the people DONT PAY ANY FEDERAL TAXES...

and I am betting with two kids she is in fact getting more money back on April 15th than she ever paid in (via -earned income tax rebate).

So this is the part of this whole thing that is so sad, this woman is asking for a hand-out and does not even know it.

And so it is with all of us, we want cheap insurance and we want to imagine that us paying less doesn't mean someone is paying for it.

Soon we will actually be at the tipping point where enough people will... without shame or hesitation, expect others to carry their load in life, soon after ..."self-Government" will no longer be possible because there will be no end to the "expectation level" and no consideration to the "contribution level."

[natty bumppo 297]

McDonalds is usually hiring ... and offers health benefits

That's silly.

It's far easier to reorganize the entire U.S. healthcare system than for this woman to get a job at McDonald's.

oops ...

[one...two...tree 2,762]

McCrew Care offers two medical plans: Basic and Mid 5. The plans differ in the maximum amount of benefits you can receive each year, but each offers a Prescription Drug benefit of a $10 co-pay for generic, and a $50 co-pay for Brand Name Prescription Drugs.

Basic Plan - The Basic Plan reimburses you for covered medical expenses incurred for sickness or off-the-job accidental injury. After you meet the annual deductible of $150 per person, the plan pays 70% of the allowable or usual and customary (U&C) covered medical expenses up to a maximum of $2,000 during the 12-month policy year.

Mid 5 Plan - The Mid 5 Plan reimburses you and/or your covered dependents for covered medical expenses incurred for sickness or off-the-job accidental injury. After you meet the annual $150 inpatient and/or $150 outpatient per person deductible the play pays 70% of the allowable or usual and customery (U&C) covered medical expenses up to a miximum of $5,000 ($1,500 of maximum for outpatient) during the 12-month policy year.

Costs as of March 2009

Basic for the employee only costs less than $56 per month. For the employee plus 1 the cost is just over $117 per month, and for the employee plus family the cost is under $180 per month.

Mid 5 for the employee only costs just over $97 per month. For the employee plus 1 the cost is just over $208 per month, and for the employee plus family the cost is just under $320 per month.

This is truly a unique benefit that only McDonald's can offer. We will pay $10 per month towards your premium, which equates to 18% of the premium for Basic - Employee only cost.

http://www.mcmontana.com/3059/1370/McCrew-...alth-Insurance/

.....

If any of you need help calculating those costs for somebody making minimum wage, just let me know. I'd like to see some of you try to make that work, especially the ones who have small children.

[rebeccajo 14]

a full-time waitress with two young kids. Smith's employer doesn't provide insurance, and she can't afford private coverage. Smith's not looking for a handout; she's looking for an affordable choice.

"I want an option that I can pay for," Smith told her representative. "I work. I pay my bills. I'm not a burden on the state. I pay my taxes. So why can't I get an affordable option? Why are you against that?"

How can one take this example serious when the poor lady does not even have the facts about insurance or even her life understood.

She says.."She's not looking for a hand-out, just an Option she can afford"

*That means someone will be picking up the tab for the remainder (it's called a hand-out) and with her supporting two kids (who may or may not have a father around), I doubt she is expecting or able to "contribute" all that much. I wonder if she even went to her family for help first or was the townhall meeting Plan A.

She tells us she also "pays taxes".

*Is she talking about sales tax?

Nearly half the people DONT PAY ANY FEDERAL TAXES...

and I am betting with two kids she is in fact getting more money back on April 15th than she ever paid in (via -earned income tax rebate).

So this is the part of this whole thing that is so sad, this woman is asking for a hand-out and does not even know it.

And so it is with all of us, we want cheap insurance and we want to imagine that us paying less doesn't mean someone is paying for it.

Soon we will actually be at the tipping point where enough people will... without shame or hesitation, expect others to carry their load in life, soon after ..."self-Government" will no longer be possible because there will be no end to the "expectation level" and no consideration to the "contribution level."

As long as it's not you asking for the handout, why don't you just shut up and mind your own business?

[one...two...tree 2,762]

a full-time waitress with two young kids. Smith's employer doesn't provide insurance, and she can't afford private coverage. Smith's not looking for a handout; she's looking for an affordable choice.

"I want an option that I can pay for," Smith told her representative. "I work. I pay my bills. I'm not a burden on the state. I pay my taxes. So why can't I get an affordable option? Why are you against that?"

How can one take this example serious when the poor lady does not even have the facts about insurance or even her life understood.

She says.."She's not looking for a hand-out, just an Option she can afford"

*That means someone will be picking up the tab for the remainder (it's called a hand-out) and with her supporting two kids (who may or may not have a father around), I doubt she is expecting or able to "contribute" all that much. I wonder if she even went to her family for help first or was the townhall meeting Plan A.

She tells us she also "pays taxes".

*Is she talking about sales tax?

Nearly half the people DONT PAY ANY FEDERAL TAXES...

and I am betting with two kids she is in fact getting more money back on April 15th than she ever paid in (via -earned income tax rebate).

So this is the part of this whole thing that is so sad, this woman is asking for a hand-out and does not even know it.

And so it is with all of us, we want cheap insurance and we want to imagine that us paying less doesn't mean someone is paying for it.

Soon we will actually be at the tipping point where enough people will... without shame or hesitation, expect others to carry their load in life, soon after ..."self-Government" will no longer be possible because there will be no end to the "expectation level" and no consideration to the "contribution level."

As long as it's not you asking for the handout, why don't you just shut up and mind your own business?

Danno has already admitted that he will be milking his Social Security and Medicare benefits for all he can get when he reaches qualifying age. In the meantime, he can sit high on his horse and talk of societie's leeches.

Edited September 2, 2009 by Col. 'Bat' Guano

[alienlovechild 75]

If any of you need help calculating those costs for somebody making minimum wage, just let me know. I'd like to see some of you try to make that work, especially the ones who have small children.

Don't forget to buy her a house, a car, insurance, college tuition, child daycare, retirement funds, clothes . .. that stuff isn't cheap ya know. Add those up on a minimum wage.

I'm a compassionate guy so I'm asking you to send her the money.

Danno has already admitted that he will be milking his Social Security and Medicare benefits for all he can get when he reaches qualifying age.

Here's where the "death panel" comes into the picture.

[Mark&Steph 0]

You know those "United We Stand" bumper stickers? Those things crack me the hell up.

This thread just brings out the warm fuzzies.

[Pinocchio Liberal 268]

Start lookin within before you start cryin your without! Did yo fvckin mommies and daddies teach you that you had a right to a good life?

I got some used pots and pans and some sheets if you wantem. If your a begger than accept what you get and love it too!

[one...two...tree 2,762]

If any of you need help calculating those costs for somebody making minimum wage, just let me know. I'd like to see some of you try to make that work, especially the ones who have small children.

Don't forget to buy her a house, a car, insurance, college tuition, child daycare, retirement funds, clothes . .. that stuff isn't cheap ya know. Add those up on a minimum wage.

I'm a compassionate guy so I'm asking you to send her the money.

If she qualified, she could get housing assistance (Sec 8). She may also qualify for food stamps, as well as childcare assistance. However, she said she wasn't looking for a hand out....just affordable health insurance.