SUNUNU'S DISTRACTION: DON'T MIND MY VOTE TO BLOCK HEALTH CARE FOR 200,000 NH SENIORS

For Immediate Release
July 10, 2008

One day after voting against health care access for Medicare patients, Sununu announces fake election-year proposal

(Manchester, NH) - Just one day after voting for the second time to endanger access to health care for New Hampshire's 200,000 Medicare enrollees, John Sununu today announced a phony election-year gimmick to distract from his record of blocking meaningful health care reform. The proposal, S. 3072, has just one other co-sponsors, a right-wing Republican from Mississippi who like Sununu is facing a tough battle for reelection.

"For twelve years in Congress, John Sununu has not only been part of New Hampshire's health care problems, he's made them worse. And now that he's facing reelection, he's trying to distract voters from that record with a phony election-year proposal," said Alex Reese, press secretary for the NHDP's Coordinated Campaign. "The fact is, Sununu has broken his promises to support cheaper prescription drugs, voted against funding for Medicare and Medicaid, and in just the last two weeks, he's voted twice for a Medicare meltdown that would prevent New Hampshire's 200,000 plus Medicare enrollees from accessing health care. Sununu's election-year distraction isn't fooling anyone, and he can't run from his record."

Yesterday, Sununu again voted against a proposal to fix Medicare reimbursement rates and prevent a 10.6% pay cut for doctors who treat Medicare patients. Sununu failed in blocking the proposal, but his vote endangered access to health care for over 200,000 seniors and disabled individuals in New Hampshire who rely on Medicare and over 29,000 military retirees and families who rely on Tricare for health care.

Sununu is paying lip service to health care today with an election-year distraction, but for twelve years in Washington, he has blocked meaningful reform and commonsense steps to bring down the cost of health care for middle class New Hampshire families.

The Sununu Record: "Stop Complaining About Health Care"
When Sununu's own constituents asked him about the rising cost of health care, he told them to "stop complaining about health care." [Concord Monitor, 12/3/06] Sununu doesn't have a problem with our health care system because the health industry has given him over $400,000 in campaign donations. [Center for Responsive Politics] And his record shows it:

• Sununu Voted Four Times Against Re-Importing Safe, Cheaper Prescription Drugs. [Senate Vote # 150, 5/3/07; Senate Vote # 232, 6/20/03; Senate Vote # 191, 7/11/06; Senate Committee Markup, 7/21/05]
  • Despite His 2002 Campaign Promise to Support Re-Importation. "Last week, the Senate approved an amendment that allows drugs to be imported from Canada to certified pharmacists and wholesalers .... 'I would certainly support that kind of provision,' Sununu said." [Union Leader, 8/3/02]
• Sununu Voted Against Medicare Funding 8 Times. [House Vote #143, 5/21/97; House Vote # 343, 7/30/97; Senate Vote # 21, 1/23/03; Senate Vote # 89, 3/25/03; Senate Vote # 101, 3/25/03; Senate Vote # 303, 11/3/05; Senate Vote # 363, 12/21/05; Senate Vote # 62, 3/16/06]
  • Even Though Over 200,000 Seniors and Disabled Individuals in NH Are Enrolled in Medicare. [Kaiser Family Foundation, State Facts]
• Sununu Voted Against Medicaid Funding 9 Times. [House Vote #146, 5/21/97; Senate Vote #64, 3/20/03; Senate Vote #158, 5/15/03; Senate Vote #39, 3/1/04; Senate Vote #58, 3/17/05; Senate Vote #114, 4/28/05; Senate Vote #303, 11/3/05; Senate Vote #363, 12/21/05; Senate Vote #62, 3/16/06]
  • Even Though Over 138,000 NH Residents Are Enrolled in Medicaid. [Kaiser Family Foundation, State Facts]