EC from DC - October 25th, 2013

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There are a lot of changes underway in the healthcare system in this country. This, you obviously know. And I understand there are many justified concerns about this, and changes that can be made to better the system.

I have always tried to convey that I am open to this conversation, to compromise, and to making this a complete and comprehensive system that is affordable and best serves those in Missouri's Fifth District – as well as across our country. I do not believe a government shutdown is the way to go. We should never threaten our economy and the full faith and credit of our nation to stop the Affordable Care Act.

There have been issues with the website. In my opinion, those are unacceptable and need to be remedied immediately. While frustrating, they are being addressed and are certainly not a reason to stop.

Work is ongoing around the clock to implement hardware and software fixes to make certain the system works more efficiently for consumers. There is also an effort underway to diagnose potential issues more quickly, and to create better solutions that will enhance Healthcare.gov.

We should not root for failure, but for the success of millions of Americans who can now buy quality, affordable health insurance on the open market.

I wanted to share with you some quick updates on the implementation of the Affordable Care Act. So far:

• HealthCare.gov had more than 19 million visitors in the first two weeks.

• Almost half a million applications for health insurance have now been submitted.

• The Affordable Care Act is designed to make health insurance not only affordable, but high quality, and available to all.

• Millions of Americans are already receiving benefits – keeping their kids on their plans, not getting dropped for having a pre-existing condition, and accessing preventative services.

• HealthCare.gov allows consumers to preview plan information and comparison shop.

• There are 4 ways to apply for healthcare coverage, including on the phone, online, by mail, or with the assistance of an in-person visit.

As I mentioned, the website failures are unacceptable. But so is the idea of leaving behind millions of Americans. My hope is, in Congress, we will work together, in a bipartisan way, to strengthen this country's healthcare system – while keeping it affordable and accessible to all Americans.

This past week, with great vexation but with a deep understanding of the need for water development projects throughout our nation, I voted for H.R. 3080. This is the Water Resources Reform and Development Act, often referred to as WRRDA. Overall, this is an important bill, make no mistake about that.

My frustration is that it has within it, 23 earmarks. And none of them are in Jackson, Clay, Saline, or Lafayette Counties. You may not see these projects claim the title of earmarks in the media, but do not be fooled: an earmark by any other name will be spent just as sweetly. I have been told by House Leadership that the 23 projects used to be called earmarks, before earmarks were prohibited. But they have now been – transformed. I am not persuaded.

That's like cutting off the tail of an alligator, clipping some papier-mache ears to his head and saying, "This used to be an alligator, but now it's a puppy."

Earmarks have been banned for years now, but they remain. Now, though, they are away from the inspection and evaluation of the taxpayer. For example, there was an earmark in the debt ceiling deal. It was a $2.1 billion authorization of funds for the Olmsted Dam Project in Kentucky.

Please don't miss my point. I am not against earmarks. I have spoken in favor of them many times. What I am against, is this maze of political smoke and mirrors, that allows some areas to prosper from the newly named ‘approval-worthy projects', while Missouri's Fifth District doesn't get funding for projects we need and deserve.

All duly-elected representatives of the people should have the same ability to work on behalf of our district, not simply the most senior or significant in status.

The public has been intentionally misinformed by some in this process, both pundits and politicians, that earmarks increase the deficit. Sometimes people are so afraid of being taken in that they are vulnerable to being left out.

Contrary to what the public has been told by some, for instance, there's no such thing as a "bridge to nowhere". There is, however, a proposed Gravina Island Bridge. This bridge, if constructed, would replace the ferry that connects 50 residents of the islands to the Ketchikan International Airport. If your grandma is one of the residents there, and needs to get to the hospital, you might also agree that it's a good project. Or you might think it is a project that costs too much money. But the debate should be transparent, truthful, and complete with facts.

Before the earmark ban, in our own area, federal funding, in the way of earmarks, has been used to help victims of rape. Earmarks have been used for youth crime prevention programs. Earmarks have been used to implement job training programs. And earmarks have been used to rehabilitate the Harry S. Truman National Historic Site.

The public is never told by those who don't like earmarks that when their representative is prohibited from bringing them forth, the President then gets that responsibility. There is no reason to believe that President Barack Obama, as smart as I know he is, knows better than I, the needs of Missouri's Fifth District.

It frustrates me to no end, that for some inside the Washington Beltway, Missouri is often considered "flyover" America. Territory that is likely to be ‘forgotten' if there isn't someone fighting for it.

I want to be allowed to get in the ring and advocate strongly for the best interests of Missouri's Fifth District. I don't want politics and slight of hand to keep us from moving forward with projects we need here for our economic growth, stability, and safety. An earmark by any other name – is still an earmark.

Near harvest time, a Saline County Missouri corn grower became quite pleased with his tall and healthy crop. After the drought the previous year, the farmer's prayers for a lucrative crop had been answered. This would be one of his best years ever. Just when he began to get ready for the harvest, what the weather man called an October Surprise hit the area. This unexpected and unusual snow storm preceded by a biblical proportioned hale, was so heavy that it destroyed about 100,000 trees and wouldn't you know it, most of the hard working farmers' corn, as well.

Several days later the farmer got a visit from the head of the county Farm Bureau, who expressed sympathy over the obvious financial catastrophe. "What are you going to do now?" the bureaucrat asked. The farmer quickly answered, "Well, I am going to collect all the corn I can use, and burn the rest."

In thinking about that story, and then thinking about past four weeks here on Capitol Hill, I have concluded that if Congress is smarter than the public believes we are, we will collect any and all the lessons we have learned and burn the rest. We cannot go back and undo the heavy storm of negativity and condemnation that damaged this crop of members. There is no value in stewing over the storm. It has already done its damage. Finally, mistakes can be a remarkable lesson. The key, of course, is after a big blunder, we must not confuse the crowd's noise with a standing ovation.