FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 8th, 2009

VOTES AGAINST HEALTHCARE DEMONSTRATE REP. KING’S DISCONNECT WITH THE PEOPLE OF WESTERN IOWA

Council Bluffs, IA – November 8, 2009 – Mike Denklau, Democratic candidate for Congress in Iowa’s 5th District, issued the following statement on healthcare reform.

With 15% of Iowans in the 5th District uninsured, the current healthcare rationing in our country is unacceptable. Healthcare costs bankrupted over 700 western Iowa families last year alone. If left unchecked, rising costs threaten to bankrupt businesses across western Iowa along with our country. Clearly, the status quo is not the answer. We need to take an initial step toward reform, and Mike congratulates the House of Representatives on the passage of the healthcare bill.

However, Representative King continues to prefer distractions over real concern for his constituents who live in danger under the current healthcare system. When recently asked by a reporter “How many people are uninsured in your district?” Representative King dodged that basic question and stated: “My people want freedom.” Steve King’s position fails to value families or businesses in western Iowa. Steve King voted against protecting vulnerable children in 2007 and last night he voted against lowering healthcare costs for all Iowans, making those with insurance more secure, and providing affordable coverage for the 83,000 uninsured children and adults living in Iowa’s 5th District.

Mike Denklau does agree with Representative King that western Iowans want freedom. Western Iowans want the freedom to select a high quality, low cost health insurance plan regardless of pre-existing health conditions, regardless of age, and regardless of their particular type of employer. Mike Denklau opposes the rationing that dominates our current healthcare system. Republicans and Democrats can agree that the “freedom” to die or suffer without preventative or therapeutic medicines is not one most western Iowans welcome. The 5th District deserves better than Steve King’s failed vision for healthcare reform.

Mike Denklau recently stated: “When I am elected Congressman for the 5th District of Iowa, I will provide strong and clear support for real healthcare reform. I intend to turn the page on the George W. Bush approach to addressing the cost burdens of our broken healthcare system by applying my experience in the financial markets and my respect for fiscal conservatism.” Denklau views reform as an economic imperative and is dedicated to bringing responsive representation to Washington. That’s why he recently committed to rejecting Congressional healthcare benefits until reform that works for all western Iowans is achieved.

You can learn more about Mike Denklau’s healthcare policies at http://www.denklauforcongress.com/healthcare.html

Contact
Justin Petersen
Denklau for Congress
(712) 256-0742
justin.petersen@denklauforcongress.com

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