This bill would not provide comparable guaranteed access to specialists as the Patients Bill of Rights would have, nor would the bill that passed eliminate restrictions on doctor-patient communication or ban limitations on the prescription of drugs that doctors considered necessary for their patients. The fact that the Patients Bill of Rights was so narrowly defeated is a testament to a number of factors, not the least of which is that plenty of money being spent by the bill s backers. Indeed, lawmakers are planning to reintroduce consumer-friendly health care reform proposals and are backed by groups such as the AMA, the top lobbying spender in 1997. Corporations and wealthy individuals, many of which have financial interests in policies that affect senior citizens, are able to give millions of dollars to political candidates. As long as we maintain the current campaign finance system, public policy will continue to be unduly influenced by special interests and their donations.
Good people can t compete for office on equal turf.
Candidates spend too much time chasing campaign contributions. Political campaigns cost too much and last too long. The goal of comprehensive campaign finance reform should be to create a system that reduces the influence of special interests and their money and creates a level playing field so all good, qualified candidates can run for office. The goal of real reform is to diversify how Congress and state legislatures look, to make our elected bodies more representative of the public as a whole. We need to have governing bodies that will be free to look at the needs and concerns of citizens of all ages.