Health Care

A Little Gordon Smith Polish

Gordon Smith never misses an election year opportunity to gloss over his record.

The Say Anything Senator has cast vote after vote denying crucial health services to Indian Country.

Now, after years of digging a health care hole for Oregon tribes, he wants election year credit for helping them climb out of it.

Smith’s Quotes:

Today, Smith applauded the U.S. Senate’s update to the Indian Health Care Improvement Act.

“With this bill, we are working to end the deepening health care disparities this community has faced and to give tribes a chance at a healthy future.”
(U.S. Sen. Gordon Smith (R-OR) Press Release, 2-26-08)

Smith’s Votes:

In previous years – when he wasn’t up for re-election - Smith has repeatedly voted to deny funding for Indian Country’s critical health care needs.

Smith Has Voted Against Increased Funding for Indian Health Services At Least Four Times. In Each Of The Below Votes, Smith Cancelled The Yes Vote Of Oregon’s Other U.S. Senator, Democrat Ron Wyden.
In 2004, Smith voted against creating a reserve fund to allow up to $3.4 billion in additional spending for Indian Health Service clinical services. In 2003, Smith voted against increasing funding for the Indian Health Service, including clinical services, three times. The Portland Area Indian Health Service provides access to health care for an estimated 158,000 Indian residents of 42 Tribes located in Idaho, Oregon and Washington.
[Vote 52, 3/11/04; Vote 362, 9/23/03; Vote 356, 9/23/03; Vote 87, 3/25/03; Portland IHS]

“Where were the press releases and self congratulatory pats on the back in 2003 and 2004 when Gordon Smith denied health care funding to Indian Country?” DPO Communications Director Marc Siegel asked. “In 2003, Smith voted three times against funding for the health care needs of our Indian population. In 2004, Smith again opposed funding critical health care services for Indian Country. Now, nine months before election day, he’s suddenly concerned. Gordon Smith's credibility has become a casualty in his re-election bid. His quotes simply don’t match his votes.”

Discuss: A Little Gordon Smith Polish

Posted February 26, 2008 in Health Care, Smith vs. Smith - 0 comments

Money Talks. And It Has Gordon Smith On Speed Dial.

They say that Money Talks.

Apparently it has Gordon Smith on speed dial and is telling him to charge seniors as much as possible for prescription drugs, oppose improving Medicare and limit prescription drug coverage in rural areas.

The Say Anything Senator has accepted hundreds of thousands of dollars from the Pharmaceutical and Health Products Industry over the last several years. And they have gotten their money’s worth.

Industry: Pharmaceuticals/Health Products

Cash In: $254,009 [Center for Responsive Politics, accessed 2/18/08]

Votes Out:

In each of these votes, Smith canceled the vote of Oregon's other U.S. Senator, Democrat Ron Wyden.

Smith Voted Against Improved Prescription Drug Coverage For Rural Areas.
Smith voted to kill an amendment to provide comprehensive drug coverage for rural areas by opposing a federal “fall back” provision to the Bush drug plan. The Bush plan relies heavily on participation by private insurers, but rural advocates pointed out there are often few or no available private plans in less populated areas, so they proposed a special government-run insurance plan for areas that were not served by at least two insurance companies to ensure competition and lower prices. Smith rejected this plan that would have protected rural Oregonians.
[Senate vote #238, 6/24/03]

Smith Opposed Efforts To Ensure Lower Drug Prices For Seniors.
Smith voted against an amendment to allow the federal government to negotiate volume discounts for seniors the way it does for military personnel and veterans.
[Senate vote #60, 3/17/05]

Smith Voted Against A Comprehensive Medicare Drug Plan.
Smith voted to kill the Democratic Medicare prescription drug plan. This plan cost $594 billion over eight years and would have provided prescription drug coverage to all senior citizens through Medicare, not private insurers. The beneficiary’s out-of-pocket costs would be limited to $4,000 a year.
[Senate vote #186, 7/23/02]

"Gordon Smith is letting special interest cash, not the health needs of Oregon seniors, dictate his votes. Our seniors shouldn't have to write a check to Smith for him to look out for them,” DPO Executive Director Trent Lutz said. “Gordon Smith accepts pharmaceutical company cash, and then on vote after vote allows rural seniors to be left medically stranded and does nothing to reduce the outrageous bite prescription drugs take out of seniors' budgets. Gordon Smith's priorities are the special interests, not the people's interest.”

Discuss: Money Talks. And It Has Gordon Smith On Speed Dial.

Posted February 19, 2008 in Health Care, Who Loves Gordon? - 1 comments

Smith Contradicts Himself On Health Care

How can you tell Gordon Smith is running for re-election?

Because he runs from his record.

Smith’s Quotes:

Although the Say Anything Senator has voted several times against funding for Indian Health Services, he complained yesterday about the lack of funding for such critical services.

“I urge Congress to take a needed and significant step in updating current law to end the health care disparities that Native Americans face.”
(U.S. Sen. Gordon Smith (R-OR) Press Release, 2-14-08)

The Say Anything Senator does have guts. Even though Smith has repeatedly voted against funding for Indian Health Services, he still thinks it’s appropriate to go on the floor of the U.S. Senate, before C-Span, before his constituents, and in direct contradiction to his voting record, and complain about the lack of such funding.

Smith’s Votes:

In previous years – when he wasn’t up for re-election - Smith has repeatedly voted to deny funding for Indian Country’s critical health care needs.

Smith Has Voted Against Increased Funding for Indian Health Services At Least Four Times. In Each Of The Below Votes, Smith Cancelled The Yes Vote Of Oregon’s Other U.S. Senator, Democrat Ron Wyden.

In 2004, Smith voted against creating a reserve fund to allow up to $3.4 billion in additional spending for Indian Health Service clinical services. In 2003, Smith voted against increasing funding for the Indian Health Service, including clinical services, three times. The Portland Area Indian Health Service provides access to health care for an estimated 158,000 Indian residents of 42 Tribes located in Idaho, Oregon and Washington.
[Vote 52, 3/11/04; Vote 362, 9/23/03; Vote 356, 9/23/03; Vote 87, 3/25/03; Portland IHS]

“In 2003, Smith voted three times against funding for the health care needs of our Indian population. In 2004, Smith again opposed funding critical health care services for Indian Country. Now, nine months before election day, he’s suddenly concerned,” DPO Chair Meredith Wood Smith said. “Just look at the Say Anything Senator’s votes against funding health services for Indian Country. His quotes don’t match his votes.”

Discuss: Smith Contradicts Himself On Health Care

Posted February 15, 2008 in Health Care, Smith vs. Smith - 0 comments

Smith Will Be Silent On His Real Senior Health Care Record

What will U.S. Sen. Gordon Smith (R-OR) hide from his audience today?

That he’s voted against their best interests.

As Smith touts his health care record at a health conference for seniors in Eugene today, don’t expect him to expound on his votes against low-income drug subsidies for seniors, against “fallback” plans to make drug coverage more available and against Medicare price negotiation.

“For Gordon Smith to boast about his record on senior health care is like President Bush bragging about his record on Katrina,” DPO Chair Meredith Wood Smith said. “Smith’s votes don’t match his quotes.”

Read the facts on the jump.

Read more and discuss: Smith Will Be Silent On His Real Senior Health Care Record

Posted August 8, 2007 in Health Care, Smith vs. Smith - 0 comments