Progress Illinois

Here is our latest round-up of health care news:

Biggert Promotes Euthanasia Lie

Last night in Naperville, Reps. Judy Biggert and Mark Kirk entertained questions about health care reform at a town hall forum. No violence or rowdiness was reported -- after all, both are strongly opposed to the Democratic proposals -- but Kirk, who's now a U.S. Senate candidate, continued to suggest that health care reform would harm people with life-threatening illnesses and would cost the government too much money. Biggert, on the other hand, took her criticism one step farther. According to the Daily Herald's editorial board, the Hinsdale Republican joined the Palin brigade, passing around literature claiming that the bills working through Congress would lead to end-of-life euthanasia:

Misinformation will continue to abound. At a forum Wednesday in Naperville, guest speaker U.S. Rep. Judy Biggert, a Hinsdale Republican, distributed a flier stating the Democrats' proposal will require counseling of seniors that might encourage those who are seriously ill to "give up." Later, she admitted to Politics & Projects Editor Joseph Ryan "that was a little inflammatory."

This is a tendentious myth that has been widely debunked. The language in multiple bills actually says that physicians will be paid through Medicare to counsel elderly or terminally ill patients about what medical interventions they would prefer near the end of life. The sessions would take place once every five years and would be completely voluntary. As Jonathan Cohn writes, health care opponents are "swiftboating health reform." Sadly, Biggert knows that this criticism is ridiculous. So why is she distributing such an obvious lie?

Costello: Health Care Reform Too Complex

Rep. Jerry Costello has made quite clear that he would oppose any health care reform package if it didn't include language to prevent federal funds from being used for abortions. But he has other objections, as well, according to the AP:

In southwestern Illinois, Rep. Jerry Costello, D-Belleville, and Rep. John Shimkus, R-Collinsville, have opted not to host town hall meetings about health care, preferring to hear from constituents by appointment or in small groups.

Both lawmakers opposed the health-care reform measures that have been voted out of the Democrat-led committees. Costello doesn't like the bills' complexities, while Shimkus objects to the absence of market-based solutions, including tax breaks, to soaring health-care costs.

Costello opposses the bill because it has too many complexities? Democrats are hoping to implement a massive overhaul of the American health insurance system, which accounts for 15 percent of the nation's GDP. It should be complex!

After voting against Obama's climate change bill, it's worth asking if Costello realizes he has a "D" next to his name.

Halvorson Backtracking?

Rep. Debbie Halvorson is feeling pressure from all sides on health care reform and she's yet to take a conclusive policy stance. But this indecision stands in direct opposition to her campaign rhetoric, in which she repeatedly hit opponent Marty Ozinga for being "out of touch" on the issue. After we flagged a CAN-TV interview in which Ozinga stated that "there are very few people nowadays that have no health service at all" because the uninsured can "go to the hospital and you get taken care of," Halvorson and the DCCC even unveiled a series of campaign ads noting health care reform was one of Halvorson's top priorities. Backtracking on that promise is a bad political move, writes SouthtownStar columnist Kristen McQueary:

If Halvorson votes against whatever plan emerges, she will add fuel to the criticism often directed at her that she's a vapid flip-flopper.

Before running for Congress, she was Senate President Emil Jones' right hand in the state Senate, nurturing proposals for state-funded health care expansions. She was lead sponsor on legislation mandating cervical screenings and crafted a bill to lower prescription drug costs for senior citizens.

She is on record, over and over, lamenting the health care status quo.