For Immediate Release
Contact: Luke Esser
425-460-0570

Bellevue, WA – State Republican Party Chairman Luke Esser sent a letter to Governor Chris Gregoire on Thursday, asking the governor to speak on behalf of all Washingtonians in urging rejection of the Senator Max Baucus’ health care bill.

The full text of the letter reads:

Dear Governor Gregoire:

Last week, Senator Max Baucus of Montana introduced a new health care bill that is a cause of great concern for the citizens of Washington State. This bill fails to reduce health care costs for middle class Americans and actually increases taxes on common medical services. Furthermore, I am disturbed by the notion that the federal government would force states such as our own to shoulder additional costs from Medicaid. You shared the same concern back in August, as evidenced by your quotes in a New York Times article, “Governors Fear Added Costs in Health Care Overhaul.”

It is extremely important that Republicans and Democrats work together to increase the quality of health care and to make health care more affordable through common-sense reforms to our system. The Baucus proposal, however, offloads immense expenses on our state and is not the right reform for Washington State or our country. At a time when Washington is already struggling to balance our budget in the midst of a recession, taking on these extra expenses will certainly have a devastating impact on our state, our families and our economy. Because of these large unfunded mandates, critical services will have to be cut or state taxes will have to rise. Even Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is concerned over the impact this bill would have on his home state, saying that Nevada “cannot afford to shoulder the second highest increase in Medicaid.”

Health care costs are too high right now, and families and small businesses are already struggling to pay their bills. Simply put, our nation needs health care reform, but shifting the problem and the costs to states like ours does not constitute reform; it is irresponsible, and an affront to the working men and women of our state who will ultimately have to pay for it.

As Chairman of the Washington State Republican Party, I ask you to stand up for the taxpayers, employers and the fiscal health of our state and oppose this government-run health care experiment. Additionally, I ask that you call on President Obama, Senators Murray and Cantwell, and Reps. Larsen, McDermott, Inslee, Smith, Dicks, and Baird to state their opposition to unfunded mandates or any aspect of health care reform that shifts undue financial or regulatory burdens to states. It is time to make clear whether you stand with our Washington workers and families, or support this massive tax increase on the middle class.

Thank you for taking the time to read this letter, and I hope you will speak out in the best interest of all Washington citizens on this important issue.

Sincerely,

Luke Esser
Chairman