Stapleton speaks out against Amendment 69

South Platte Sentinel/July 27

The intent might be positive, but the result for Colorado will be devastating. That is the news Colorado State Treasurer Walker Stapleton brought to Sterling Tuesday morning.

Stapleton was in Sterling Tues-day talking about Amendment 69, a ballot question proposing a state health insurance program. He said as state treasurer he deals with a lot of ratings agencies, companies who moni-tor how a government entity manages its funds.

“We would have a AAA rating except it is too easy to amend the Constitution,” Stapleton said.

He said Amendment 69 is a ballot question that imposes a tax before the program is implemented. It also will be given the authority to raise taxes outside of the authority of TABOR.

Stapleton said the Vermont governor considered a similar proposal. He vetoed it, his own proposal, when he learned it could bankrupt the state, Stapleton said.

Stapleton said Amendment 69 is not the answer to the healthcare crisis. He said Amendment 69 would add another 10% tax on every dollar earned. He said sole proprietors and independent contractors will have the pay the entire 10% of the healthcare costs. Employees and employers will share the 10% income tax.

Stapleton said the idea of free healthcare will attract people to Colorado, comparing it to other recent initiatives.

“If you think recreational or medical marijuana brought people to Colorado, try free healthcare,” he said.

Stapleton said the ballot question does not specifically state what services will be covered by the proposed healthcare plan. One member of the audience disagreed, quoting the ballot question.

Stapleton said the system will be required by insurers to define what is covered and what is not. He also said Amendment 69 calls for taking over Workers Compensation and Disability, but only the health care part of the programs, not indemnity.

“This is not the answer” in fixing the healthcare system, Stapleton said.

He said the healthcare system is broken, but Amendment 69 is not the fix. He said Amendment 69 will immediately impact the state’s credit rating, resulting in higher interest rates for the government.

Stapleton was asked if the proposal can be amended if it cannot do what it is said to do.

District 1 State Sen. Jerry Sonnenberg (R-Sterling), also in attendance, said once an amendment is added to the constitution, the legislature might be asked to clarify it, but it cannot amend it.

Jeff Shelton, CEO of Sterling Regional MedCenter, said the Affordable Care Act exempted companies with less than 50 employees. Amendment 69 is across the board; no exemptions.

“I’m just going to call it like it is: Obamacare. I thought Obamacare was supposed to be an end all,” said Phil Pollock.

Shelton said providers have to contract with Colorado Care.

“Guys, this is socialized medicine at its best,” Shelton said.

Laurie Jones of the Logan County Economic Development Corporation and Small Business Development Council said the impact on small businesses is huge.

Stapleton and Sonnenberg said one of their concerns is they cannot get an audit of the state’s healthcare system completed. Sonnenberg said the state has “huge issues” with the health care industry.

“I don’t know what the answer is, but this will bankrupt the state,” he said.

Pollock, a retired chiropractor, said some of the issues started when the American Medical Association limited the number of doctors graduating from school in a year. Secondly, he urges the medical industry to use a free market approach.

“We need to get back to competition,” he said.

He said when he was practicing, insurance and Medicaid would not allow him to offer discount rates such as cash discounts.

“Once you start down this path, you’re stuck,” Pollock said.

He encourages full disclosure of costs, from use of the bed to the pain pills prescribed in the hospital.

Shelton said the ACA did some good. It eliminated pre-existing conditions and mandated a set percent for administrative costs. He said some of the shortfalls in the ACA are the cost of deductibles and premiums. He said bankruptcies due to medical expenses are still a major concern.

“Healthcare is capitalism at its best,” he said.

Patty Bartlett said the state needs to be more cautious in its actions.

“Colorado needs to stop doing a knee-jerk reaction,” she said.