McMorris Rodgers benefited

Cathy McMorris Rodgers’ Republican rebuttal following Obama’s recent health care press conference was hypocritical. Wasn’t her special-needs child well cared for by our government-supplied health care system? Why didn’t she opt out for a private plan? Apparently what’s good for her is not good for average Americans.

In the last eight years, Cathy voted in lock step with Bush and the Republicans to forbid the federal government to negotiate volume purchase discounts with the pharmaceutical companies. They forbid European and Canadian pharmaceutical competition, even though it would mean drastically lower prices.

HMOs and PPOs take 25 percent of every tax dollar for shuffling paperwork before any health care is dispensed, as designed by the Republicans. Exorbitant corporate profit comes first.

Clearly the system is set up to benefit the insurance and drug companies and the highly paid physicians, just as Cathy and the Republicans want it to remain. Americans pay double for the same procedures in Europe and Japan because of our Republican-designed top-loaded system. Nurses’ and staff workers’ wages are stagnant while health care costs are three times inflation rates.

Public health care will be done in spite of our favor-the-rich corporations, Congresswoman. Support Obama and health care for all Americans.

Kelly Brown

Liberty Lake