**UPDATE** This was just posted on Twitter and Facebook. It is wonderful when concerns are listened to and he sees that the autism community does need some relief.
*****UPDATED 10:29am Feb 1, 2012****
With all the confusion surrounding SB 138 and hearing that it could handicap the possibility that HB 69 (Utah Autism Insurance Reform) has before it even gets to be heard I decided to do a little reading up on the bill. It seems to me like it is dressed up and being told it is one thing but then it is actually something different. I wasn’t sure what to think. I want to show you the first line of a post that Todd Weiler, freshman Senator from District 23, wrote about his bill.
Screen shot
Okay, got that last line, he points out right there it is NOT an anti-mandate bill. Whew, ok then we are still full steam ahead fighting for the rights of our children and the Utah Autism community… then I saw this on twitter and was FLOORED.
Ah, so IT IS an anti-mandate bill according to Mr. Weiler, but wait didn’t he say before it wasn’t? I agree that you should work for your lunch, but wait just a second, I do. So I decided to reply…
Ah trying to make your point in 140 characters is a lot of fun right, however since he uses the means of twitter a lot and is actually quite happy to be getting more followers since he has gotten into the state senate I hoped I could reach him in a medium he is familiar with. Oh wait here is another contradicting tweet from him to another tweeter :
Confused yet? Ya I feel like I’m on a carousel and want to get off. Sadly after countless calls from myself, neighbors, family and friends I feel like our elected officials are ignoring us. I feel like I’m getting a pat on the head and being told to sit down and if I’m good I’ll get a sucker but let daddy decide what’s best. I don’t want to be patronized.
A good friend said how I feel right now very well:
If you are successful in making sure that no mandates pass, families across Utah will not have the opportunity to get treatment for their kids and have no hope of having the type of parental success and joy you are experiencing today. Please consider that the cost of $0.44 per month is not too much to ask to give other kids the same opportunities your kids enjoy. Forcing unfair fiscal note requirements with the intent to kill mandates will have devastating effects on thousands of children throughout Utah.
Praying for good news and maybe some clear skies in the minds of our Senate as they debate this bill so they can listen to We, The People.
February 1st, 2012 at 10:03 AM
I think you need to become a news reporter and let the world know the truth about the bill and the senators that hide behind it! Great job in describing what only one could image….no solution for those wonderful children that need health care.
February 4th, 2012 at 10:29 PM
Love it Bobbie! Well said. Let’s be clear on what is actually happening with this bill. Glad Senator Weiler is supportive of our proposed amendment. I hope he follows through with it. I have heard conflicting reports on his intentions but have met with him personally and he assured me he would support Senator Osmond’s amendment that would require fiscal analysts to consider state precedence in calculating the fiscal notes on mandates that have been implemented in other states. If he does that, this bill could achieve true transparency. The kind of transparency that indicates what a specific mandate ACTUALLY costs rather than the kind of pseudo-transparency scare tactic that indicates what insurance carriers what you to think it will cost so that you are convinced it is unaffordable.