McHenry County Blog

The following press release has been received from Robert Kaempfe, the Democratic Party's candidate for state representative against Republican incumbent Mike Tryon in the 64th district:

KAEMPFE WILL
CHALLENGE TYRON
ON HEALTH CARE
AT HEARINGS SATURDAY

CRYSTAL LAKE—Robert Kaempfe, Democratic candidate for the 64th District seat in the Illinois General Assembly, will challenge incumbent Mike Tryon’s assertion that “we don’t need” comprehensive, single payer health care in McHenry County.

Kaempfe is slated to testify at hearings being held by Rep. Mary Flowers on the Health Care for All Illinois Act (HB311) this Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the McHenry County College Shah Center, 4100 Shamrock Lane in McHenry.

“Before making a blanket statement like that he should have checked with all of the people in McHenry county that do not have any health care,” Kaempfe said. “That elected official did not ask my step daughter her opinion. She is a divorced single mother who works full time but does not have health care for herself or her 5 year old son. My guess is that he also did not ask the thousands of other people in McHenry County what their opinions were.”

According to Kaempfe the many un and underinsured are not the only victims of the current health care system based on private health insurance.“

This past January I had a medical procedure done, and was stunned to see a list of charges, like $25 for a pair of gloves. My neighbor was telling me about the time she went to an urgent care, and was charged over $300 for a shot of penicillin. A friend of ours went to the emergency room because of a reaction to a bee sting. She asked for something to blow her nose. Bang, $25 for a square gauze. I am sure that most people have a story about something ridiculously over priced in the hospital or emergency room. What’s wrong with this picture?”

Doctors and medical providers often pad bills to the insured to make up for losses incurred by service to the uninsured.

“There is an old saying that if something is not broke, don't fix it.” Kaempfe said, “By the same token, if something is broke, then it needs fixing. And the whole health care industry is broke. HB 311 can save billions a year, and give health benefits to everyone in the state. It will be publicly financed (like Medicare) and administered by regional boards. Universal, single payer health care will save in administrative costs associated with complying with complex and contradictory private insurance requirements.

“When elected,” Kaempfe will tell Rep. Flowers on Saturday, “I plan support Health Care for All Illinois.”

For more information call Kaempfe at 815 788-8252 or e-mail robert.kaempfe@yahoo.com.

Kaempfe is a retired postal worker where he was a union official.

Labels: 64th District, Health Care, Mike Tryon, Robert Kaempfe