This wasn't the diary I had planned to write today. I had big plans for the second diary in my series chronicling Pete Hoekstra's dirty deeds and legislative whore-like behavior to be about Pete's cozy relationship with the Telecommunications Industry... However, my plans changed after I received a phone call this morning from my Mother.
I answered the phone this morning and my Mom was crying... Big-heaving-heart-wrenching-tears-can't-catch-your-breath kind of crying. If you knew my Mom, you'd understand just how unusual it is to hear my Mom cry. I can only remember hearing my Mom cry like that one time before in my entire life and that was when she got the call that her daughter was dead... It basically takes a tragedy of unimaginable proportions to make my Mother cry.
In between my Mother's heartbreaking sobs, she told that she had just gotten off the phone with my Grammy. My Uncle (my Mother's brother) hasn't been doing well for about 2 months.
I had seen him a month ago and he looked like he had lost a bit of weight. My Uncle has always been a big guy; 6'3" and around 350, so I thought it was great that he was losing a little weight... Then I saw my Uncle again last week for my Grandmother's birthday and my Uncle had lost so much weight in the 3 weeks since I had last seen him, that he weighed less than my Mom.
It was obvious to all of us that something was seriously, seriously wrong. So we convinced my Uncle to have some tests done and his Doctor called with the test results this morning. My Uncle has been diagnosed with cancer. The cancer is in his brain, liver, lungs, kidneys, and skin and they want to do more tests to see if it's spread anywhere else. So the cancer is basically throughout his entire body.
My Uncle is retired and has medicare for his health coverage. His Doctor apparently recommended he try herbal and natural remedies and pain relivers, since medicare will apparently not cover prescriptions and he needs to get his affairs in order.
So let's just get this straight... My Uncle is in considerable pain; wasting away and his doctor tells him to go to an organics store, because he won't be able afford the cost of pain medications and should save the little money he has for his fucking funeral!
And THAT is what passes for Health Care in our country folks...
You're in pain? What, you have no money and your medicare doesn't cover prescriptions? Well why don't you go to a health food store and fuck off on your way!
Being a survivor of non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma and a member of the human race; health care is a particular interest of mine.
I have developed even more of an interest since I heard that my Uncle can't afford goddamned pain meds this morning. I've been there and I can assure you that you do not want to go through what my Uncle is experiencing without pain medications. It hurts; it hurts so bad sometimes that you pray to god, allah, and anything else that might be listening to just please kill you now and end the agonizing pain.
I don't know how many of your have experienced such pain; pain so severe that even the strongest pain medications will only slightly dull the torment; pain so acute that a merciful death seems like your only way out... I have experienced that kind of pain and I can assure you that it is not something I would wish upon anyone, not even Cheney. I can't even imagine the torture it must be to be to not have pain meds while going through that; my Uncle has always been a good man and he doesn't deserve that kind of torment.
My Congressman Pete Hoekstra thinks my Uncle should just suck it up and it's his own fault he's in pain. Pete voted against the Medicare Prescription Drug Price Negotiation Act; legislation that maybe would have made the prescriptions my Uncle needs more affordable for him. Let's take a look at a few important votes Pete has cast over the last 6 years that concern health care, shall we?
Pete’s Voting Record on Health Issues
10/25/2007 SCHIP Reauthorization NO
10/25/2007 SCHIP Reauthorization NO
10/18/2007 SCHIP Reauthorization NO
09/25/2007 SCHIP Reauthorization NO
08/01/2007 SCHIP Reauthorization NO
01/12/2007 Medicare Prescription Drug Price Negotiation Act NO
07/28/2005 Malpractice Liability Reform Bill YES
07/12/2005 Independent Review of OSHA Act YES
05/12/2004 Medical Malpractice Liability Limitation bill YES
07/25/2003 Imports of Prescription Drugs bill YES
06/27/2003 Medicare Prescription Drug bill YES
06/28/2002 Medicare Modernization and Prescription Drug Act YES
08/02/2001 Amendment to the Bipartisan Patient Protection Act YES
08/02/2001 Bipartisan Patient Protection Act YES
So basically Pete has voted against his constituents on every major piece of Legislation that has come up for a vote in the last 6 years.
Hmmm.... I wonder why that is?
What on earth could make a member of the venerable United States House of Representatives vote against the interests of his constituents?
I don't have an answer to that question, but I do have my suspicions...
Pete's Insurance and Pharmaceutical Campaign Contributions
2002 - 2008 Campaign Cycles
Total: $38,790
2008 Campaign Cycle
Total : $5,000 (So far)
- NATIONAL COMMUNITY PHARMACISTS ASSOCIATION - PAC Pharmaceuticals $1,000
- PMA GROUP POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE Lobbying Firm $1,000
- NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF INSURANCE AND FINANCIAL ADVISORS POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE Insurance $1,000
- BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF MICHIGAN PAC Insurance $1,000
- Rogers, Edwina
Mc Lean, VA 22101The Erisa Industry Committee/Vice P (health insurance lobby) $2,000 09/30/2007
2006 Campaign Cycle
Total: $20,200
- HUMANA INC. POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE Insurance $2,000
- BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF MICHIGAN PAC Insurance $2,000
- HUMANA INC. POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE Insurance $2,000
- HUMANA INC. POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE Insurance $1,000
- HUMANA INC. POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE Insurance $1,000
- NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF INSURANCE AND FINANCIAL ADVISORS POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE Insurance $1,000
- BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF MICHIGAN PAC Insurance $1,000
- BUCHANAN INGERSOLL & ROONEY PC COMMITTEE FOR EFFECTIVE GOVERNMENT (BIRPC PAC) Health Insurance Lobbying Firm $1,000
- NOVARTIS CORPORATION POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (A.K.A. NOVARTIS PAC) Pharmaceuticals $1,000
- PMA GROUP POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE Lobbying Firm (Insurance) $1,000
- MYLAN LABORATORIES INC PAC(MYLAN LABS PAC) Pharmaceuticals $1,000
- Carey, Stephen
Alexandria, VA 22301 Fabiani & Company/Lobbyist (Pharmaceutical/HealthCare Lobbying Firm) $2,100 09/20/2006
- Carey, Susanna
Alexandria, VA 22301 HOMEMAKER/HOMEMAKER (Lobbyist’s Wife) $2,100 09/20/2006
- Hirschmann, Susan Brackin
Alexandria, VA 22304 Williams & Jensen/EXECUTIVE (Pharmaceutical Lobbying Firm) $500 12/31/2005
- Henry, Michael
Washington, DC 20002 Alpine Group/GVNT RLTNS CONS (Pharmaceutical and Insurance Lobbying Firm Formerly on Rep. Don Young’s staff) $1,000 07/26/2005
- Poe, Gregory
Washington, DC 20004 Logos Technologies/PRESIDENT (Pharmaceuticals) $500 11/08/2005
2004 Campaign Cycle
Total: $10,250
- INDEPENDENT INSURANCE AGENTS OF AMERICA POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (INSURPAC) Insurance $1,000
- GENERIC PHARMACEUTICAL ASSOCIATION POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE Pharmaceuticals $1,000
- INDEPENDENT INSURANCE AGENTS OF AMERICA POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (INSURPAC) Insurance $1,000
- PMA GROUP POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE Insurance Industry Lobbying Firm $500
- AMERICAN BENEFITS COUNCIL POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE Lobbying Organization (Insurance industry front group) $500
- Nelson III, William
Nashville, TN 37215 Artemis Strategies/EXECUTIVE (Pharmaceutical Lobbying Firm) $1,000 12/31/2003
- Brooks, Jim
Holland, MI 49423 ALPHA GENESIS LLC Property Owner $2,000 06/16/2003 (Primate Medical Research Facilities)
- Brummel, Roger
Holland, MI 49423 PARKE DAVIS DIRECTORAP.SCI $250 06/09/2003 (Subsidiary of Pfizer Pharmaceutical)
- Heyboer, John
West Olive, MI 49460 Hub International INSURANCE $500 05/11/2004
- Jandernoa, Michael
Grand Rapids, MI 49504 PERRIGO CEO $1,000 06/16/2003 (Pharmaceutical)
- Zook, David
Arlington, VA 22207 B&D Sagamore EXECUTIVE (Lobbying Firm for Insurance Industry) $500 06/29/2004
- Hirschmann, Susan Brackin
Alexandria, VA 22304 Williams & Jensen EXECUTIVE (Lobbying Firm for Pharmaceutical and Insurance Industries.) $1,000 10/05/2004
2002 Campaign Cycle
Total: $8,340
- BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD OF MICHIGAN POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (BCBSM PAC) Insurance $1,000
- Rooney, J. Patrick Mr
Indianapolis, IN 46278 Golden Rule Insurance/Insurance Sal (Insurance) $1,000 08/19/2002
- Brooks, Jim Mr
Holland, MI 49423 Alpha Genesis LLC/Entreprenuer (Primate Medical Research) $1,000 06/21/2001
- Brummel, Roger Mr
Holland, MI 49423 Parke Davis/Director (Pharmaceutical) $250 03/14/2002
- Brummel, Roger Mr
Holland, MI 49423 Parke Davis/Director (Pharmaceutical) $250 05/13/2001
- Jandernoa, Michael Mr
Grand Rapids, MI 49546 Perrigo/CEO (Pharmaceutical) $1,000 06/21/2001
- Jandernoa, Michael Mr
Grand Rapids, MI 49546 Perrigo/CEO (Pharmaceutical) $1,000 07/11/2002
- Landheer, Ben Mr
Fremont, MI 49412 Self Employed/Insurance (Insurance) $500 05/13/2001
- Landheer, Ben Mr
Fremont, MI 49412 – Insurance $370 06/07/2002
- Landheer, Ben Mr
Fremont, MI 49412 Self Employed/Insurance (Insurance) $350 11/06/2001
- Landheer, Ben Mr
Fremont, MI 49412 Self Employed/Insurance (Insurance) $250 11/06/2001
- Landheer, Ben Mr
Fremont, MI 49412 Self Employed/Insurance (Insurance) $500 03/14/2002
- Landheer, Ben Mr
Fremont, MI 49412 Self Employed/Insurance (Insurance) $620 06/07/2002
- Myaard, John Mr
Holland, MI 49423 Northwestern Mutual/Insurance (Insurance) $250 03/14/2002
I know some of you may find yourself thinking:
Boy $38,790 over 6 years isn't really a lot of money. Why would a member of Congress vote against their constituents and whore themselves out for such a relatively paltry sum of money?
And the only thing I could say in answer to such questions is this... I laid out the evidence and am leaving it for you to decide if you think Pete is a legislative whore for yourself.
I made no claims that Pete has any standards and I didn't imply in word or deed that Pete wasn't a cheap legislative whore.
I will concede that my hypothesis concerning Pete's campaign contributions and voting record could be wrong... It is entirely possible that Pete is just your garden variety douchebag-piece of shit and the money from the Insurance and Pharmaceutical companies never factored into his decision to knife his constituents in the back.
Pete Hoekstra is an inhuman monster and hell is too good for him. I would not want Pete's karma and I have nothing else to say to the bastard and all the other bastards that are just like him, except this:
Fuck you. Fuck you, you miserable piece of shit. I gleefully await the day you are held accountable for your monstrous behavior.