RUSHED HEALTH INSURANCE BILL - BAD DEAL FOR MAINE.

AUGUSTA, ME -- The following information was released by the Maine House of Representatives, Democrats:

By Rep. Mark Bryant

Having served in the Maine Legislature for the last 7 years, I have seen legislation take varied paths to its ultimate fate - whether that is the law books or the recycling bin. The legislative process is designed to be thorough and deliberate.

Last week I witnessed an abuse of the legislative process that I find disturbing. On Thursday, May 5, Republican lawmakers voted along party lines to give initial passage to a complex proposal to axe Maine's health insurance protections without the customary study and public input. You can view my reaction on YouTube.

What's especially concerning is that the bill is about one of the most important issues we work on in Augusta - the cost, quality and access of health care.

Early reviews of the bill suggest it will have damaging impacts on seniors, people living in rural areas and anyone with a pre-existing condition. Unfortunately, the bill was pushed through before the Bureau of Insurance was allowed to study its impact.

The original bill, LD 1333, was sent to the Insurance and Financial Services Committee as a simple four page document. This was the only version that the public had the opportunity to weigh in on at the hearing in late April.

In two day's time, the bill had morphed into a 29 page document. When my Democratic colleagues asked questions about the amended bill there were few answers; and in fact, the state's Bureau of Insurance spokesperson was unable to give feedback to the committee as they usually do, because the document was presented just prior to the work session.

There were multiple attempts to request information and appeals to allow for time to research the most complex parts of the bill - all were denied.

At the final language review the bill was now 45 pages of almost entirely new language that the public never saw and that my colleagues did not have input in. The Republicans of the committee then voted to support the new, longer version.

LD 1333 was then fast-tracked to go before the House in only a few days and literally only hours after the amended bill was available to the public over the internet. Some legislators in the House, from both parties, admitted to not having had time to read and digest the new version they were being called upon to vote for.

During the floor debate in the House many questions went unanswered leaving many to believe that the bill's authors simply did not have them. It was a very strange feeling to hear silence after a question, unlike most cases when the authors proudly explain their viewpoint and want others to understand what they are voting on.

Again, several colleagues asked for time to look at this proposal and again were denied.

There were questions about insurance companies putting Mainers in need of on-going care in a separate insurance pool to fend for themselves, there were questions about repealing the law that keeps insurance companies from sending you to the hospital of their choosing based on price. There were questions about the tax on all insurance premiums.

During the debate I pointed out that we took more time for LD 71, the whoopie pie bill, 52 days from the public hearing to the first House vote. It took eight days for LD 1333 to do the same.

In the end, the House split along party lines to accept the majority's bill 76-72.

I have grave concerns about rushing something as serious as health insurance reform. Any bill that deserves passage should be able to stand up to public scrutiny. I have no problem fighting the good fight and I have no problem losing after healthy debate. What I have a problem with is how this "win" was accomplished.

By the time you read this, the Senate will have worked this bill and hopefully cooler heads will have prevailed to at least let this idea cook a bit longer. But judging from the track this bill is on - I believe it will be fully passed by another partisan vote and headed for the law books and Maine people will be punished for it.

I hope I am wrong.