AMAC Action Leadership on Capitol Hill
AMAC Action hit Capitol Hill hard this week with meetings scheduled with Members of Congress and the House Ways and Means Committee. The topics of discussion included healthcare price transparency, AMAC’s HEALTH Act, and pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) rebating. Although the Lower Costs, More Transparency Act was pulled from the House floor last week, we’re being told that the issue of healthcare price transparency should be revisited in the coming months, which is encouraging news given how AMAC members have prioritized this initiative.
The Congressional offices we visited are aligned with AMAC Action’s stance on PBM rebating and we reiterated a US Government Accountability Office factsheet that shows how these transactions drive up the out-of-pocket drug costs for seniors on Medicare Part D. There is a lot of activity both legislatively and oversight-wise currently occurring with PBMs and AMAC Action is tracking this activity with the goal of exposin these anti-competitive business practices.
A lot of interest was generated for AMAC’s HEALTH Act, and we expect the number of co-sponsors to increase as a result of our meetings this week.
The Fight Continues: Recent Calls-to-Action Update
Here is an update on recent call-to-action campaigns where AMAC members responded by the thousands on high-profile issues:
Lower Costs, More Transparency Act
AMAC members want healthcare price transparency. They know that price comparisons among hospitals would drive down the cost for these procedures.
The Lower Costs, More Transparency Act would accomplish this objective and more. This legislation has gone through several iterations and AMAC members have been with this initiative every step of the way. Earlier this summer, they drove multiple Members of Congress to co-sponsor its predecessor bill known as the PATIENT Act. They responded again by urging their federal representatives to support what became known as the Lower Costs, More Transparency Act. Over 27,000 contacts were made directly to the House of Representatives by AMAC members to support healthcare price transparency.
After unanimous support on this issue from the powerful House Energy and Commerce Committee, the bill that became known as the Lower Costs, More Transparency Act was placed on the House schedule under suspension of the rules which means that it requires 2/3 of the House to pass the bill which means it had strong bipartisan support. Republican leadership was confident Democrats would deliver their votes in support the bill. Unfortunately, this was not the case. In the end, Democrats could not muster enough votes to pass the bill and it was pulled.
You notice the bill was pulled which means it is not dead. AMAC Action is committed to getting this legislation passed and is actively pursuing support for the Lower Costs, More Transparency Act on Capitol Hill.
North Carolina Senate Bill 747
Hurry up and wait. After AMAC members sent over 22,000 messages to the North Carolina legislature to assist in facilitating the passage of a comprehensive election integrity bill, we are still awaiting a vote to override the bill’s veto by Democrat Governor Roy Cooper. This bill now sits in a queue with others under consideration for veto override and should be voted on at the next opportunity by the legislature.
This is a prime example of government moving at a snail’s pace.
Opposition to the Nomination of Charles Brown to Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Right before the U.S. Senate adjourned for the August recess, it considered holding a vote to confirm “woke” radical General Charles Brown as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. AMAC Action quickly mobilized AMAC members and within approximately 36 hours, over 25,000 messages opposing the General’s confirmation were sent to the Senate. This campaign worked as Senate leaders scuttled the vote prior to summer recess.
When the Senate returned in September, Majority Leader Chuck Schumer covertly and quickly called for a vote to confirm General Brown. The General was confirmed, and it should be noted that this tactic used by Senator Schumer was deliberately employed to stop groups like AMAC Action from organizing a united opposition like what was done in July.
Chapter Meetings
In KY-03, members learned about central bank digital currencies. Texas State Representative Tony Tinderholt (District 24) gave TX-24 a legislative update. Members in OH-08 met Ohio State Representative (District 47) Sara Carruthers and discussed strategy to defeat the Ohio abortion bill.
All-State Meetings
On Thursday evening, Michigan had its third virtual All-State Chapter Meeting! MI-11 Chapter Leader Annette LeBaron hosted the event. Michigan State Representative (District 29) James DeSana and Karla Wagner of Axe MI Tax informed AMAC members of the citizens’ initiative proposal to eliminate property tax in Michigan. This initiative will stop the government’s ability to tax and seize homes, farms, and businesses while still funding essential services.
American Conservatism: Concise Guide to Conservatism by Russell Kirk
Chapter 11 – Permanence and Change
Russell Kirk believes the intelligent conservative does not share the radical’s frantic desire to change all things and upend society. And contrary to popular assumptions, true conservatives do not hold the opposite viewpoint that change is bad and to be avoided. Kirk states that the conservative knows that “change is essential to a good society.”
The conservative does not believe in change for the sake of change but believes in improvement through the work and independent efforts of men and women working within the framework of tradition.
Kirk sums up his view: “The Permanence in society is formed by those enduring values and interests which give us stability and continuity; without Permanence, the fountains of the great deep are broken up, and society slips into anarchy. The Progression in a society is that spirit and that body of talents which urge us on to prudent reform and improvement; without that Progression, a people stagnate, and society subsides… The intelligent conservative, therefore, endeavors to reconcile the claims of Permanence and the claims of Progression.”
Next week: Chapter 12 – What Is the Republic?
Quote of the Week
“Every government degenerates when trusted to the rulers of the people alone. The people themselves, therefore, are its only safe depositories.”
– Thomas Jefferson, Founding Father, third U.S. president
Fight to save the America we love! If you’d like to become a volunteer AMAC Action Advocate, please contact us at (855) 809-6976 or [email protected].
