Blumenauer (D-Ore.) says Republican attacks on health care are 'unhinged'

[stevedeshazer]

Well, at least my own Congressman will say it. He's the one who wisely proposed offering the option to receive end-of-life counseling to seniors and encouraging them to complete a living will.

http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2009/07/blumenauer_say_republicans_att.html

Blumenauer says Republican attacks on health care are 'unhinged'

WASHINGTON -- The highly partisan -- and increasingly caustic -- debate over health care has taken a deadly turn, with Republicans and conservative commentators zeroing in on language written by Rep. Earl Blumenauer that some say will lead to seniors being euthanized.

At the center of the screaming match is a provision Blumenauer proudly inserted into the Democratic health care proposal giving the elderly covered by Medicare the option of discussing end-of-life options once every five years.

This has been an issue close to Blumenauer for years and he insists that the language in the health care bill was a practical and needed approach to providing seniors options at a difficult time of life.

It is entirely voluntary, a frustrated Blumenauer points out. Even so, that important distinction has been largely obscured in the intense battle over the larger health care bill.

Rep. Virginia Foxx was one of the Republicans who incorrectly insisted that the Democratic health care plan would require seniors to discuss euthanasia.

more @ link

[billyoc]

1. "Take us back, insurance lobby, we love you more than they do!"