John Boozman last night again demonstrated his allegiance to the Chamber and the big insurance companies and betrayed the most vulnerable among the people in Northwest Arkansas. By a 268-148 roll call vote the House of Representatives passed a bill to require equal health insurance coverage for mental and physical illnesses when policies cover both. Arkansas Democratic Congressmen Vic Snyder, Marion Berry, and Mike Ross all voted yes; only our disappointing excuse for a Congressman, John Boozman (R-Pinnacle Gated Community), voted NO.
The Chamber of Commerce opposed HR 1424, the Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act, so it is no surprise that Boozman voted as they told him. Forty-seven Republican had the courage to stand up to the Chamber and vote for mental health insurance, but not our John Boozman. Of course, he already has access to mental health coverage, paid for by the taxpayers in the health care coverage for Congressmen.
Boozman seems to think everything is only about businesses making more money. This mental health parity bill is about helping people who are suffering and looking for hope. It's about opening up the doors and ending the shadow of discrimination against the mentally ill. It's about helping erase the stigma of mental illness that prevents many people from seeking treatment, but John Boozman doesn't care. His voting record proves that.
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