Catch and Release : Daily Press Release Wrap-Up

STATEMENT OF REPRESENTATIVE STEVE DRIEHAUS ON HOUSE VOTE TO END ANTI-TRUST EXEMPTION FOR HEALTH INSURERS
From Congressman Steve Driehaus

WASHINGTON, DC—Representative Steve Driehaus today issued the following statement after the U.S. House of Representatives passed with overwhelming bipartisan support the Health Insurance Industry Fair Competition Act, which would end the anti-trust exemption for health insurance companies.

“The anti-trust exemption for health insurance companies is an unfair and outdated policy that stifles competition, promotes harmful business practices, and hurts American consumers. Families across the country are facing double-digit increases in their premiums every year, while insurance companies enjoy special treatment and saw a 56 percent increase in annual profits in 2009. The bill we passed today is a simple piece of legislation that will require healthcare insurers to compete for customers just like every other industry in America. We still have a long way to go to fix health care in this country, but today’s action is an important step forward in leveling the playing field between health insurance companies and patients.”

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SPACE: HEALTH INSURANCE COMPANIES CAN NO LONGER TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OHIO FAMILIES
Long-Overdue Measure Restores Fairness to Health Insurance Marketplace
From Congressman Zack Space

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Continuing his efforts to provide Ohio’s consumers with increased choice and access when purchasing health insurance, U.S. Rep. Zack Space (OH-18) today supported legislation that ends the longstanding anti-trust exemption for companies in the health insurance industry. This overwhelmingly bipartisan action requires these companies to adhere to the same anti-trust laws as other companies.

“Today, we said ‘no’ to insurance companies hijacking Ohio’s families,” Space said. “Allowing the big insurance companies to continue arbitrarily driving up premiums is outrageous, unfair to middle-class Ohio families, and flat-out wrong. We have now ended those policies.”

“Health insurance companies now have to play by the same rules as every other industry, which is a major victory for families across my district,” Space continued. “It will increase competition, provide my constituents with more options, and create a fair health insurance marketplace.”

The legislation passed by the House today in an overwhelmingly bipartisan vote amends the McCarran-Ferguson Act to repeal the blanket antitrust exemptions afforded to health insurance companies. This action will require these companies to bear legal responsibility for price fixing, dividing up territories among themselves, and sabotaging their competitors in order to gain a monopoly in the marketplace – all practices that have been outlawed in other industries for decades.

Congressman Space has represented Ohio’s 18th Congressional District since 2007. He has been working to restore integrity to the office, and create the conditions to bring new industry and jobs to Ohio. Recently, Congressman Space launched FIGHTING TO RENEW OHIO, the second phase of his plan to provide long-term economic growth in Ohio’s 18th Congressional District. More information on FIGHTING TO RENEW OHIO is available at http://space.house.gov/RENEW.

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Rep. Wilson Votes to Restore Competition & Fairness in Health Insurance Marketplace
From Congressman Charlie Wilson

Washington, DC - Today, Rep. Charlie Wilson (OH-6) voted to ensure that American consumers get a real choice and a fair deal when purchasing health insurance. The Health Insurance Industry Fair Competition Act will take away the anti-trust exemption for health insurance companies, requiring them to compete fairly and adhere to the same anti-trust laws as other companies.

“For reasons that don’t make any sense, only the health insurance industry and Major League Baseball are exempt from anti-trust laws. That’s just crazy! Our health care isn’t a game. It’s time we stopped catering to the insurance industry and instead cared for American families who need more choice and better care at lower costs,” Wilson said.

For 65 years, the health insurance industry has been legally exempt from anti-trust laws, and the federal government was banned from even investigating evidence of possible collusion. In the last 14 years alone, there have been 400 mergers among health insurers and now 94% of all insurance markets are “highly concentrated” – meaning consumers have little or no choice between insurance providers.

Health insurers that were previously exempt from anti-trust laws will now bear legal responsibility for price fixing, dividing up territories among themselves and sabotaging their competitors in order to gain a monopoly in the marketplace. Such practices have been outlawed in other industries for decades.

“Competition helps drive down costs and it creates more choice. Not only do families in Ohio need this, our economy needs this,” Wilson said.

The legislation is supported by numerous groups including the American Hospital Association, American Nurses Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, Consumers Union, Consumer Federation of America, Center for Justice and Democracy, and U.S. PIRG.
The bill now moves to the Senate for consideration.

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Rep. Sutton Votes to Restore Competition, Fairness in Health Insurance Marketplace
From Congresswoman Betty Sutton

Washington, D.C. - Today, with support from Rep. Betty Sutton (D-OH), the House passed legislation to ensure that American consumers have access to more health insurance choices, improved quality and lower costs. H.R. 4626, the Health Insurance Industry Fair Competition Act, will repeal the special anti-trust exemption for health insurance companies, requiring them to compete fairly and adhere to the same anti-trust laws as other companies. According to the Consumer Federation of America, repealing these antitrust exemptions will save consumers more than $40 billion in insurance premiums. The House passed this measure by a 406-19 margin.

“For far too long the health insurance industry has been exempted from playing by the rules that most other American businesses must live by,” Rep. Sutton said. “The result has been excessive consolidation in the health insurance industry and insurance companies taking advantage of honest, ordinary Americans. The families that I proudly represent have the right to be confident that the cost of their insurance and the actions of their health insurance providers reflect competitive market conditions, not collusion. This bill is a critical step to ensure competition in the insurance industry and provide access to quality, affordable health care for all Americans.”

For 65 years, the health insurance industry has been legally exempt from anti-trust laws, and the federal government was banned from even investigating evidence of possible collusion. In the last 14 years alone, there have been 400 mergers among health insurers and now 94 percent of all health insurance markets are “highly concentrated,” which means consumers have little or no choice between insurance providers. While this concentrated market has enjoyed its exemption from anti-trust regulation, health insurance premiums have doubled during the past decade.

Under this legislation, health insurers that were previously exempt from anti-trust laws will now bear legal responsibility for price fixing, colluding with each other, and setting their own markets without fear of being investigated. Such unfair and egregious practices have been outlawed in other industries for decades.

The legislation is supported by numerous groups including the American Hospital Association, American Nurses Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, Consumers Union, Consumer Federation of America, Center for Justice and Democracy, and U.S. PIRG.

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Maryland Attorney General Calls for Honoring Out-of-State Marriages of Same-Sex Couples
From Freedom to Marry

“Following the Practice of Honoring Marriages, Without Exception”
New York, February 24, 2010 - Statement by Evan Wolfson, Executive Director of Freedom to Marry, following the release of Maryland Attorney General Doug Gansler’s opinion calling for recognition of out-of-state marriages:

"As this important Attorney General's Opinion makes clear, Maryland will continue to follow the tradition and common-sense practice of honoring out-of-state marriages, without a ‘gay exception’. As same-sex couples marry next door in the District of Columbia and across America, Maryland will treat those families with respect, giving Marylanders a chance to see neighbor couples legally married, with families helped and no one hurt."

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Kucinich Obesity Bill Could Fund Child Hunger Initiative
From Congressman Kucinich

Washington D.C. (February 24, 2010) – Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) today offered the following statement on the address by U.S. Department of Agricultural Secretary Tom Vilsack about the Administration’s priorities for reauthorizing the Child Nutrition Act. In his speech at the National Press Club yesterday, Secretary Vilsack said the administration will seek to end child hunger by 2015 and would ask Congress for $1 billion per year for 10 years to pay for the initiative.

“I strongly support the effort to end child hunger in America. It is a tragedy that any child goes hungry in the world’s wealthiest nation. Ending child hunger by 2015 is an ambitious yet obtainable goal. The cost to our nation, our health and our morality is far greater than the cost of feeding our young. Noble initiatives like this could be funded by HR 4310, which would revoke the tax breaks that companies receive for advertising and marketing junk food and fast food to children.

“HR 4310 would protect American children and ensure that they grow up in a healthier environment while allowing the revenue to be used for a number of healthy child initiatives like ending child hunger.

“According to the Institute of Medicine, in 2004 approximately $10 billion was spent on food advertising directed at children. Plainly stated, marketing to children works. If it didn’t work, they wouldn’t do it. A child’s developing brain is no match for a $10 billion industry that uses the best behavioral and developmental research to create emotional bonds to brands and taste preferences before a child’s ability to distinguish fact from opinion has developed.

“Based on this recent estimate, my bill has the potential to raise literally billions of dollars in revenue to help fund initiatives to promote healthy kids. I look forward to working with Secretary Vilsack and other leaders in Congress and the administration to promote a healthier environment for our children,” said Kucinich.