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Agent Fly-in Report - Washington D.C.
Prepared by Scott T. Buie
July 15, 2009
Upon arriving we were told by the organizers of the Fly-in that they were expecting 400 attendees. Over 1,000 agents registered and showed up.
Janet Trautwein, CEO of NAHU, told us that we are coming at the perfect time. Right at the moment key decisions were being made in both houses. While there Senator Hatch successfully added the "Hatch amendment" which allowed licensed agents to act as navigators in the new health system if approved.
We had breakfast with the Utah group of around 9. We consisted of a coalition of NAHU, NAIFA, AHIA, Big I etc. There were around 8 that went to each apt together. We must have looked like the FBI, all in dark suits and white shirts. We meant business!
The National people made our appointments for us. We had a very productive, full day.
We came up with a brief 10 minute presentation. Curtis Breitweiser, from Independent Agents, the Big I (a veteran of 9 DC trips like this) started and gave a brief introduction of who we were. That we are for health reform and are here on behalf of our customers. I took the next few minutes telling a brief story of how agents work to hold down rate increases, and how we took a 60 employee group from a 13% increase to a 3% decrease by negotiating with the insurer and the employer, how we care for and advise our clients..., then Brad Kuhnhausen took the next few minutes and spoke about the pitfalls of the Government Run Plan... We had a good dialogue with and were well received by all we met with. Listed below is a brief report of each member of congress we met with:
1. Congressman Rob Bishop. He agreed with all we said. He felt disdain and disgust for the liberal democrats in the house and the bills they were passing. His advice to us was to spread the word about what a Government-run Plan would mean. Higher taxes, care rationing, poor quality etc.
2. Congressman Jason Chafetz. He wasn't in, so we met with his 2 aides. They were very smart and agreed with all we said. They said they would pass it on. He is very conservative and is with us. He sleeps on a cot in his office to save rent. That's the story anyway.
3. Congressman Jim Matheson. Was in a health care committee meeting and couldn't meet. We met with his aide.
We discovered that Matheson is part of the "Blue Dog" coalition of over 50 conservative democrats. He is not excited about a Government-run Plan. Concerned with the costs.
4. Senator Bennett. We had a nice meeting with him. He listened, agreed with us. Shared with us his insights. He said that the key in the senate was the conservative "Red State" democrats. That we all should be focused on them. He had to run to a health care meeting that was being held as we met. He was gracious to take time to meet with us.
5. Senator Hatch was unable to meet with us. He was in the same health care meeting that Senator Bennett was heading to. We spoke with 3 of his top aides. Janet Trautwein met with us. We thanked them for Senator Hatch's amendment. We were impressed with his aides grasp of the subject. We were all very impressed. We offered our help. We are fortunate to have him as our Senator. He is extremely influential.
We need to spread the word to all we speak with the negative effects of a government run plan. We are for quality, private, non-government health reform.
Janet Trautwein told us that Utah's insurance portal has been the topic of much discussion in Washington. She is glad to have a state to point to that has taken action on health reform.
Scott T. Buie, CLU