On Nov. 24, Rep. Jeffrey Timberlake’s column in the Sun Journal discouraged his colleagues in the state Legislature from submitting a bill to expand Medicaid in Maine.
This bill would accept federal funds already earmarked specifically for Maine in order to extend quality, affordable health care access to 70,000 Mainers who wouldn’t otherwise have it.
In that column, Timberlake made at least one statement that indicates he doesn’t have a full understanding of this bill.
He wrote: “Why shouldn’t taxpayers insist that these 70,000 people buy the inexpensive new private market policies that have federally subsidized rates?”
In reality, one of the very reasons the Feds have offered to expand MaineCare is to provide coverage for people who are not eligible for subsidized rates. That he is misinformed about this bill is alarming and disheartening, given that he will be voting on it in the upcoming session.
This is not some kind of partisan game. A failure to pass this bill will result in very real consequences in the health and quality of life of many of these 70,000 people. They are not faceless numbers. They are our neighbors, our friends, our family members, and our co-workers. Many of them are low wage employees who work very hard for what little money they are paid.
Last session, Timberlake voted against a modest raise in the minimum wage. He voted to hinder the ability of employees to organize for better conditions and fair compensation. In the spring of 2012, he voted to deregulate the health insurance industry in Maine, paving the way for insurers to raise rates and decrease coverage for older and rural workers.
In short, his actions have made it increasingly difficult for people to get fair pay for their work, while simultaneously making necessities like quality health insurance too expensive for them.
As a state legislator, Timberlake is in session for six months of the year but is not even required to be at the State House full time. And, yet, according to the human resources office at the State House, Maine taxpayers could be shelling out anywhere from $692 to $1,286 for his health insurance every month.
In November 2013, Maine taxpayers spent $121,909 for legislators’ top-notch health insurance plans. And that’s okay; they should have that. We live in a civilized, wealthy society and everyone should have access to affordable health care.
I just want to know: What makes lawmaker so much worthier that they would deserve this but low-wage employees do not?
It’s time for the Legislature to acknowledge its hypocrisy, put aside the partisan point-scoring and vote to expand MaineCare.
Gina Melaragno, Auburn
Editor’s note: LD 1066, which will be reconsidered when the Legislature reconvenes in January, would add anyone earning below 138 percent of the poverty level to MaineCare. The Affordable Care Act offers federally subsidized rates to anyone earning between 100 and 400 percent of the poverty level. If LD 1066 does not pass, Mainers who fall between 100 and 138 percent of the poverty level would be eligible for 94 percent federal premium subsidies for private market plans. Those earning under 100 percent of the poverty level are not eligible for subsidies.
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