Letter to the Editor: Rep. Joe Atkins—Out of Touch

In a recent email Joe Atkins offered the following statement regarding the Patient Protection and Affordable Health Care Act (Obamacare) and it’s impact on the residents of Minnesota. 

“My guess is most folks won't even notice a difference, now that Chief Justice Roberts has joined a liberal bloc of Supreme Court justices in upholding the Affordable Care Act. Since Minnesota has among the highest rates of insured residents in the country, the mandate for individuals to have health insurance will not be noticed by as many people here." 

Really? Apparently he hasn’t read the 425,116 words in the statute and 1,147,271 words (and counting) published so far in regulation documents associated with Obamacare.   

In an April 2012 report from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) current projections show that upwards of 20 million people will be forced off of employer health plans as result of Obamacare and it’s ill-advised regulations, penalties and tax increases. A CNN Money report from March 10, 2011 detailed the impact of Obamacare on employers and the resulting cost increases and shedding of retiree health plans. 

Medical device makers are going to be impacted also due to taxes and regulations in Obamacare specifically directed toward makers of medical equipment. 

Minnesota is a leader in medical device research, development, manufacturing and distribution. It is no wonder that Boston Scientific recently announced the layoff of 1300 employees with the jobs going to China. Medical device companies employ people that Mr Atkins currently represents. A diminishing of jobs in this state will not enhance availability of employer provided health care. 

The Democrat Party (who’s moniker Joe Atkins runs under) has for years espoused a single payer government health care system. It appears that Joe Atkins is cultivating this notion. Mr. Atkins is either naïve to current events or wishes to deceive his constituents in showing his true political intentions. 

- Kevin Sethre