The Canadian Record (Canadian, Tex.), Vol. 111, No. 28, Ed. 1 Thursday, July 12, 2001 Page: 2 of 28
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THURSDAY 12 JULY 2001
7/fe ttfUtiM RECORD
I
opinion
Page
Governor HMO
■OT SINCE KEVIN COSTNER made
IwWateneorid has a performance been ac umver-
»aUy panned as Owner Perry’* effort in the last
legislative season I ndecisve and absent tor modi of
the session. Perry was bokfiy 01-advised when be fi-
nally did set
The governor's record 82 vetoes—-including bills
to ban the execution of the mentally retarded, tm-
pnwe access to Medicaid, promote tiring wages on
the border, and force HMO* to pay their bills
promptly—have provoked a chorus of outrage from
a broad spectrum of interests, ranging from the
Texas Medical Association to Valley Interfoith.
Moet of the state's dailies have echoed the DalUu
Mnmtng Newt editorial headline: “Perry's
Mistake"
Virtually all of the vetoes came a* a complete sur-
prtse to the bills’ advocates, none more so than
Perry’s veto of HB 1862, which would have doeed
loopholes which the insurance industry has long
abused m order to withhold payment from doctors
and hospitals
Just two weeks before his veto. Perry had ad-
dressed the Texas Medical Association, the powerful
doctors’ organization, where he said it was time to
hold HMO* accountable. The TMA responded with
an early endorsement for Perry’s gubernatorial
campaign Imagine the doctor*’ surprise when
Perry vetoed the centerpiece of their legislative
agenda on June 17.
The group is meeting to reconsider its endorse-
ment, and a prominent member has rescinded his ac-
ceptance of a gubernatorial appointment to the
board of the Texas Department of Health.
But maybe this particular veto shouldn't have
been so surprising To aay that insurance interests
have good access to the governor's office is an under
statement His legislative director. Patricia Shipton,
ha former HMO lobbyist who*e past cfaents include
the Health Insurance Association of America and
the National Association of Independent Insurers
Shipton also represented the Texas Civi Justice
League, one of the Mate’* two tort reform outfit*.
Equally dose to Perry, and by some accounts
even more influential, are turn other insurance in-
dustry mouthpiece*. Mike Toomey and David Car-
ney Toomey is a former House colleague and
persons! fnend of Perry He is a lobbyist for Texans
for Lawsuit Reform, the group that has collected
and dispensed lavish amounts of campaign cash in
pursuit of its effort* to cut off citizen access to the
courts.
House Bill 1862 would have prevented health in-
surers from imposing mandatory mtstration on eh-
enta and doctors, a tactic used to forestall lawsuits
Mandatory binding arbitration ha* long been high
on the insurance industry's wish list
David Carney. the former political director of the
fir* Bush White House, now heads Amsneans for
Job Security Robert Vsgiey. president of the W**h
ington-based American Insurance Association,
formed the group m 19W, to counter the influence of
increased labor spending til Congresatonai elections
The group specializes in issue ads, spending *10-12
million in 2000 to take tones like “regulatory re-
form" straight to the public. Benjamin Ginaberg. an
attorney with George W Bush’s presidential cam
paign, is also affiliated with the group
Abo killed in the so-called “Father’s Day Massa-
cre” veto bash was another insurance reform, HB
2430, which would have fkrnded an ombudsman pos^
tion to help Texan* navigate the complex health care
system and protect their right* Bill sponsor Elliott
N aahUt summed up the fate of the bill, which had
breed bi-partisan support, in one lim- “The imur
ance industry didn't tike iL“
lie (ZtutfuUcut
RECORD
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letters
to the editors J
Graham family thanks
community and others
I HAVE BEEN trying to vnt* this letter to everyone who helped and
art continuing to help during thas roost trying tune in our bves lull
can’t find the right words to than* the nmmaniy and turreundmg
area for all that ha* been done for u*
The food, flowers, eards narts. offers of help, the memonabinJun'i
name, the stories of how Job touched your tivna—each b trammed «j
our hearts
Thanks again
LYNDA AND SHERRY GRAHAM
A Million Thanks
THE HEMPHILL COUNTY SherfT Department would kike to take a
moment to thank everyone for their support during our tone of lorn We
greatly appreciate all the great food ad the items that were daunted.
It wi s great feeing to see the community and surrouadmg tarn-
m unities come together to help
God Me* each and every one.
Thank you,
HEMPHILL COUNTY SHERIFF DEPARTMENT
Comments on Record reports
ONE CONSEQUENCE of The Rtw«, coverage of Deputy Jrni
Bn« Graham s death is that the gunman can now claim he won't re-
ceive a fair trial in Hemphill County due to sensational prejudicial pub
ticity I beheve that plea would be churned whatever you reported. Year
reporting accurately reflected the gravity of our loan.
The murder snal could not Hemphill County nUaen* -11.000,000
Its* compounding to* lo the community hard enough to loaeso fine a
man a* Mr. Graham, and sadder Kill to endure such irreducible eoats to
exact justice
Bob‘n » report* on the June 4 THA break
fort which labo attended Her late* report (bda t qurte show the afc
we^poesihihtiea we rural health care proponent* were advised U
J^iaBO ib, U8jnpul.fi i a sm.mugh»m nwjt0% udwfris,
£, ^******mer* u*mr*** **■**-
W* *W* U)ld (m *** rePort*d> tint suburban pop
are mrnueh better posrtion to pursue gram. We learned we d
***" no^aennn to caintrrbabaee the dw-
whxh mereasngiy flow to auburbaa area*
Ih^ soother rttrective option In, a Imrd meaner of the Tex*
Rural Community Health .System which co-spooaored the breakfast,
frSZ* 01,11 a*t*0,i“ *® V*™* better purchasing-options
"*** d°Ut f0r WTtil managed care organ
^ eredtotay for fQr
hrw *" Prote«n» organisation m RCHS, the
ter KEEKS m Mt“° ‘‘"""^cloeely with the Can-
HUGH H WILSON, JR. MD
Hale Center, TX 7904I I260
No fireworks?
I HAVE RESIDED » Canwton ust forth. I am wntrne a.
prma>y bas,miK.l~, ^
“3****°h*'r*r7patriotic,aadfaakeve
«f < amfiaa are smg out
CASSIWAfFORD
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Ezzell, Nancy & Brown, Laurie Ezzell. The Canadian Record (Canadian, Tex.), Vol. 111, No. 28, Ed. 1 Thursday, July 12, 2001, newspaper, July 12, 2001; Canadian, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth736047/m1/2/?q=music: accessed July 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Hemphill County Library.