Posted: April 6, 2012 at 12:06 pm
The Fight Against Discrimination in Women’s Health Care
Pam Bucy has a guest editorial in the Missoulian today in which she proudly recounts how she fought, as Deputy Attorney General, for women’s prescription drug coverage, a benefit that insurance companies once denied. She writes:
Contraception has not always been a partisan or gendered issue. In 1970, Republicans and Democrats, women and men, worked together to pass landmark legislation establishing Title X. Signing the bill, President Richard Nixon stated, “It is my view that no American woman should be denied access to family planning assistance because of her economic condition.”
When Bucy first took up the fight, Viagra and male pattern baldness medication were both covered by insurance companies, while birth control–a prescription 99% of women use–was not.
In March 2006, then-President of the Montana Senate Jon Tester requested an opinion from Attorney General Mike McGrath, specifically asking if this exclusion of contraception violated Montana statute. As McGrath’s chief deputy attorney general, I researched and wrote the opinion that ended gender discrimination in insurance purchasing by mandating insurance companies cover contraception if they covered prescription drugs. While these are basic services, at the time this provision was unique to Montana and broke ground in providing unprecedented access for women to contraception.
Please realize, too, that insurance industry lobbyists are donating to Bucy’s opponent. These lobbyists killed legislative anti-discrimination measures in three straight sessions: 2001, 2003 and 2005.
Which one? Please be clear.
It’s been a while since I looked this up so this list is not comprehensive. I’ll do some more checking over the weekend.
Health Insurance Industry Executives, Lobbyists and Agents:
Steve Turkiewicz, Executive, Banserve, Healthserve, Montana Bankers’ Trust $100
Todd Lovshin, Vice President, Allegiance Healthcare (health insurance) $200
Jim Edwards, CEO, Mountain West Benefits (health insurance / agent) $300
Mary Kay Puckett, Vice President, Mountain West Benefits (health insurance / agent) $50
Richard Miltenberger, Partner, Mountain West Benefits (health insurance / agent) $50
Patrick McCutcheon, Insurance Agent, Payne Financial Group (health insurance / agent) $200
Mary Belcher , General Counsel, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana $500
Francis Cote, Chief Marketing Officer, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana $620
Michael Frank, CEO and President, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana $250
Tanya Ask, Vice President, Govt. Affairs, New West Health (Insurance) $200
Marilyn Bartlett, Chief Financial Officer, Employment Benefits Management System $100
Marcy McClean, Insurance Sales, Montana Medical Association $175
Bryan Porch, Insurance Agent, Montana Central Insurance $50
Brad Porch, Insurance Agent, Montana Central Insurance $50
William Harp, Insurance Agent, ING Reliastar Life $100
Sub-Total: $2,945
Cowgirl, that wasn’t the question, though I was unclear. Which Opponent? If Bucy v. Laslovich is going to be played out online, lets us all be very upfront about it.
Sorry, yes, these are Laslovich campaign donors. They may also have donated to Fox/Shockley but I have not looked that up so I can’t confirm. It seems likely, however. If I have time I’ll check.
By the way I like your blog, gives me a new perspective on issues to think about. Thanks
Dont know if this helps Rob, But it is the 2012 cycle For Lasovich:
http://www.votesmart.org/candidate/campaign-finance/40780/officials
It does help. I just want honesty in this primary race.
And for the record, I haven’t mae up my mind yet.
I think those are contributions from his legislative races- if you click on the link it goes to past races and doesn’t have anything from 2012.
Good site, unfortunately my district’s info isn’t that populated for the state legislative level, but other areas are great!
Makes me wonder if Insurance companies have a formula or criteria for qualifying the prescriptions they cover specifically under the prescription plans they offer.
I find it interesting that this debate is really getting steam right now, as I don’t think I have really seen it being covered so much in the past.
I know previous carriers I used had picked and choose which prescriptions to cover, because I had to change plans for allergy medication coverage.
I guess I see it similarly to a store that provides the products it wants. Some stores provide all the products, some pick and choose.
I never had a problem getting birth control through my insurance or when I was not on an insurance in several states, (TX,MS,LA,SC&NC).
I also know that Viagra is NOT covered by all insurances either, a lot maybe, but not all. I used Cigna in NC, they covered IUD & BC pills, not Allegra, nor Nexium, or Metadate, nor Viagra. We switched to BCBS for the Allegra, Nexium and Metadate coverage.
I don’t see why all insurances should cover all RX’s. If so there would be no competition, because there would be no difference.
I think it would be better to have more streamlines plans, catering to the needs of the people. A diabetic plan, catastrophic plan, mental health plan… but that is dreaming I guess… If you can’t pick and choose your TV channels, I don’t foresee getting to pick your prescriptions either.
Since we are tarring laslovich with the efforts of ‘these lobbyists’ to stop particular bills in past sessions wouldn’t it be more fair to discuss what votes laslovich himself had on those bills?
It seems pretty clear that fairness has nothing to do with what’s happening here.
After reading this, I am even more enthusiastic about my support for Pam. I am stunned at how the conversation has been turned so far backwards recently, in regards to women’s health and access to contraception. I want to know that the next AG has actual courtroom experience to stand up for my access to healthcare, and that experience is clearly demonstrated in Pam’s experience as Chief Deputy Attorney General. To me, that is crucial experience that I am looking for in an Attorney General.
me too http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/04/07/1081531/–Why-is-my-womb-attached-to-a-transportation-bill-
There are a lot of people who comment here who chime in under generic names. My son, who is smarter and better looking and funnier than me, tells me that this is because most of these names are not real people but rather avatars invented by “cowgirl”, herself an invention of the by the Montana Democratic Party.
BTW, for those of you who think I am merely anti-Democrat no matter, my own blog has recently had commentary to the effect that Tester’s FJRA was sidetracked and defeated by principled Democrats from other states. I know they are out there, I vote for the, when I can, but they are so few!
Funnier than “I,” dipshit.
“Funnier than I am” … Is how it should be worded. Why the name calling? Do you not know enough of the regular words?
The West is broken, Toke; and you’re adding sand to the machinery trying to fix it.
I’m not good at free association.
Your not good to know, at any distance and for any association of free thinkers and reasonable people!
Don’t you ever, ever, use the words “free thinker” in my presence again. You have no clue what they mean.
You have no right, no title, and no claim to those words Buttarski. In fact those particular words are any part of a description of you. Your description is closer to:
fool, half-wit, imbecile, dolt, dunce, numskull, parasitic loafer, drone, Tool, Liar, crusty, harsh, surly, rude, sullen, uncivil, brusque, irascible, splenetic, choleric, cross, grumpy, grouchy, crabby and stupid!
And you said this to a woman under this Post? Incredible! What a Jerk!
You cant tell me what to do or say Mark! Any real free thinker would allow others that right, so we know it definitively doesn’t fit you, regarding this or any other conversation!
Freethinkers form their own opinions without bowing to authority. You, both of you, form your opinions based on those handed down to you by authority. You insult my intelligence by using that word to describe yourselves.
If indeed you were freethinkers, you would find yourselves shunned by groups who accept the wisdom of authority. Instead, you belong to such a group. That’s why your use of the word is so insulting.
In order to be a free thinker Mark you have to bench your Opinions of the basis of science, logic, and reason. This you do not do!
Disrupting others, and treating people like the trampled carpet below your feet make you a despot of thought against the free will of others. Repeating GOP dogma, and even Ron Paul Dogma makes you a tool of their parties.
You cannot separate yourself from your religious dogma, or your treatment of women…. that just makes a desperate little man…. the farthest thing from a free thinker!
Save your BS for someone who cares!
By the way when I was up in Helena, I checked for your business License, you know the one that says you are doing business as a CPA. Funny thing is there were none. You deliberately must of done your business under the table then???? Kinda like a snakeoil saleman? Screwing the state of Montana out of revenue? You have no licenses in Colorado either??? Do people really trust someone like you who can just close up shop and leave like the con artist you are….
Look up freethinkers on Wiki. It’s about real people in history, what they called themselves. You haven’t a clue what it means.
I’ll explain the process once again: You are deeply indoctrinated, and far from having your own ideas and thoughts, are in a position of acting out in spite of knowing on some level that the world as presented to you is not right. You believe opposing ideas (Bush wars bad, Obama wars good, Bush tax cuts bad, Obama tax cuts good, Burns bad, Tester good when they do the same thing, etc.) It’s called cognitive dissonance – walking around believing contradictory ideas – really and truly believing them.
You don’t like facing the music about that, and so do not wander around the blogs seeking opposing viewpoints. You only come here for affirmation and validation. This is typical of Americans, and is not just Democrats, but the other party too. It is why we are such a polarized country.
A person suffering CD does not like being confronted with it. The normal reaction to the discomforts you feel when someone points out your condition is anger. That’s why you, Norma, Monty (the real one) and his bro, the Larry’s don’t just disagree with me. You despise me! You demonize me. I am a mirror, and you do not like looking in it. Look atnthe string of ivectives you just laid on me! I must be a really bad person!
I’m not. There are people who come here like, say, Craig, who while I do not agree with him has no fear of confrontation and is comfortable in his skin. You’ll find him out and about on various blogs having freewheeling discussions. People who come to my blog to disagree with me are secure in their shoes. The first indication of CD isolation and polarization, only wanting affirmation and fearing exposure to contrary ideas.
I am not a Republican, I am somewhat conservative on some matters, but more like a European socialist on most. I am anti-war, anti-imperialist, a supporter of civil liberties of public lands and open spaces and wilderness. For those reasons I have to oppose Obama, Tester and the Democrats. Your party and the Republcians march lockstep on those issues, somwhere does a person go? There’s no one to vote for, so i don’t vote.
In your mindset, and this is so funy to watch, since, I do not support your people, I must be a Republican. You can’t categorize me! It’s you, Michael, and not me, that is tied up in intellectual knots.
Don’t know what you discovered in Helena. I was a Montana CPA for 33 years. Really weird behavior you’re doing there.
Look up freethinkers on Wiki. It’s about real people in history, what they called themselves. You haven’t a clue what it means.
I’ll explain the process once again: You are deeply indoctrinated, and far from having your own ideas and thoughts, are in a position of acting out in spite of knowing on some level that the world as presented to you is not right. You believe opposing ideas (Bush wars bad, Obama wars good, Bush tax cuts bad, Obama tax cuts good, Burns bad, Tester good when they do the same thing, etc.) It’s called cognitive dissonance – walking around believing contradictory ideas – really and truly believing them.
You don’t like facing the music about that, and so do not wander around the blogs seeking opposing viewpoints. You only come here for affirmation and validation. This is typical of Americans, and is not just Democrats, but the other party too. It is why we are such a polarized country.
A person suffering CD does not like being confronted with it. The normal reaction to the discomforts you feel when someone points out your condition is anger. That’s why you, Norma, Monty (the real one) and his bro, the Larry’s don’t just disagree with me. You despise me! You demonize me. I am a mirror, and you do not like looking in it. Look atnthe string of ivectives you just laid on me! I must be a really bad person!
I’m not. There are people who come here like, say, Craig, who while I do not agree with him has no fear of confrontation and is comfortable in his skin. You’ll find him out and about on various blogs having freewheeling discussions. People who come to my blog to disagree with me are secure in their shoes. The first indication of CD isolation and polarization, only wanting affirmation and fearing exposure to contrary ideas.
I am not a Republican, I am somewhat conservative on some matters, but more like a European socialist on most issues. I am anti-war, anti-imperialist, a supporter of civil liberties of public lands and open spaces and wilderness. For those reasons I have to oppose Obama, Tester and the Democrats. Your party and the Republcians march lockstep on those issues, somwhere does a person go? There’s no one to vote for, so i don’t vote.
In your mindset, and this is so funy to watch, since, I do not support your people, I must be a Republican. You can’t categorize me! It’s you, Michael, and not me, that is tied up in intellectual knots.
Don’t know what you discovered in Helena. I was a Montana CPA for 33 years. Really weird behavior you’re doing there.
Opinions are like recta: everybody has one.
Mark Udall making Colorado wilderness news:
http://www.realaspen.com/article/1090/Sen-Mark-Udall-implores-colleagues-to-back-San-Juan-Mountains-Wilderness-Act
Udall family has been very good over the years on environmental issues. Mark Udall is worth supporting and I’ll vote for him next time around, as unlike Bennet, Salazar, Baucus, Tester …ad nauseum… there is a high quality man behind the title.
Larry, you don’t seem to possess much self-awareness. Are you able to look at your views, see that they are lockstep with the “other” party, and break free?
I am a party operative, toke: you are a bitter old man who has squandered your gifts and has allowed your bile to well up into your amygdala.
Way to answer the question! Demonize much?
Pogie is picking through your crap nicely as he diagnoses your pathologies. Montana is not Oregon or New Mexico: voters here are conservative: expect centrists to be elected.
Pathology: Study and diagnosis of disease.
Care to be more specific? What “disease” do I suffer from? That’s a nice invective, but carries no content. If you want to critique me without personal attack, you might discuss my attitudes about cognitive dissonance, indoctrination, perception management, and the use of fear as a motivating force in politics.
From there we might discuss the ongoing wars on choice (without tint of party politics), the domestic attack on civil liberties, tax policy, health care here contrasted with the rest of the world, the dollar as reserve currency (the driving force behind our wars, IMO) … down to local issues – wilderness, pipelines … oh, you know – issue-based political discourse.
But since you are a “party operative”, none of this seems to cross your mind. You are only interested in landing your people in office, and allow them to hold any political position they desire, even to deceive you about their views, so long as they carry a “D” by their name.
Montana is not different than any other western state, and elections can be won by issue-based dialogue and leadership. Take “single payer” or the “public option” – each had the potential to be mined, just as Schweitzer mined the prescription drug issue in 2000 – leadership. Other issues are equally valuable. But your party shies away from issues, refuses to take ownership and lead, and for very good reason – the money behind you will not let you support the public good. Money demands that each party pursue the same agenda with a different tint of color – one “red”, the other “blue”, in truth, purple.
So you retreat into party politics and blame the public for your own lack of will. Shame on you.
Narcissistic Personality Disorder: Mayo Clinic.
Our mission is the opposite of yours: angering Democrats to get to the polls to reverse Montana’s red state collapse imposed upon the state by earth haters like Denny Rehberg.
Buttarski, I know what a free thinker is. You are definitely not one. You can continue to explain yourself, by defecting to some other topic until Blue in the face, and I will not believe you…. because your a Pathological Liar.
Coulda fooled me.
Michael, I agree that you should look up the definition of freethinkers on Wikipedia, a website where content can be changed or scrubbed by just about anyone. How else will you really understand the herd definition? Or you could look up the list of free-thinkers at the freethoughtpedia website, but keep in mind that:
Nothing says anti-dogmatics like a blatant threatening beg for attention. (/sarcasm)
Should you find Tokarski’s list of great “free thinkers” you will notice that Tokarski isn’t on that list, but Pol Pot and Josef Stalin are. It’s not just that Mark is a nobody. It’s also that he’s not a free thinker. He’s just traded one dogmatic morality for another, one which he assumes to be something that it’s not. To Tokarski, not being a free-thinker makes one a lesser intellect, a lesser person. Notice that is an assumption of moral value that Tokarski never argues because he doesn’t understand it. Yet his assumption of righteousness is so strong that he thinks not being a free thinker carries weight as an insult. It doesn’t, at all, because the establishment of ‘free-thinking’ as an effective cause of moral behavior doesn’t follow at all.
That would be the root of Mark’s pathology, Narcissistic Behavior disorder. It allows Tokarski to always put the cart before the horse, so to speak. His assumption is that free thinking is moral, and he’s a ‘free-thinker’ hence he is moral. Those who disagree with him, or get angry with him are not moral, and thereby cannot be free-thinkers. It’s circular, but affords him the opportunity to speak with dogmatic authority about what others believe. Tokarski can claim:
That’s funny on it’s face considering that Tokarski arrives at these conclusions only by the fact that he hasn’t even begun to examine his own moral assumptions. He simply places himself in the company of great people (Richard Dawkins, Stalin, Jefferson and Sagan) and then proceeds to attempt to bulldoze anyone who doesn’t immediately see his inclusion among the ‘great free thinkers’.
He goes on to claim that yourself, your mother, the LK’s, my brother and myself are all weak in thought (morality) because we do not ‘visit’ websites that disagree with the views he’s already assumed we must carry. If ever again, he discusses blindness of others, consider this. When I started my website, it was the second left leaning website in the state only to Jeff Balboni, a true “free-thinker” in the classical German sense of the original organized movement. (For the record, Jeff is smarter than me; he figured out that Tokarski was a troll well before I did.)
Most of my online activity has been at websites that not only disagree with me but can often be disagreeable in general. I was asked to go to Great Falls and speak to a community of predominantly right-wing bloggers. Some of those people I now call friend. Mark has never had such an experience, yet he knows that we all shun disagreement save himself. And he relishes it. There is one explanation for that. He ‘suffers’ from a Narcissistic Personality disorder, though sadly it is the rest of us that actually suffer.
Tokarski recently wrote a post about the two people he has banned from his website have joined forces against him. He remains completely baffled by the fact that though Dave and I have gone tooth and nail at each other, we understand that there are well thought out moralities in play when we engage each other. Morality leaves Mark completely flummoxed.
So, my suggestions if you will have them, one you have already embraced. Treat Tokarski with nothing more than laughing derision. And/or challenge him to engage on a moral level. He is completely without depth on that score. He will continue to insult and assume, but at least he’ll look more the incompetent the more he’s challenged to do so.
Bravo Rob, (applause) Very well done sir!
WTF? First, I am noting group dynamics here. Rod, you’re like the schoolyard bully, in that you can’t act outside of a group. That is, you can, but you are normally shunned and ridiculed, so you have settled here in a place where you have assembled some fools who admire you. That’s weakness of character. But it is why you frequent here and hardly write anywhere else, LITW gone, and your own self-adulating website a trickle of inconsequential brain farts.
Second, Norma listed herself as a freethinker, not having a clue what it meant. Of course, when I challenged her, and then later Monty II, they each claimed to know what it was and to have thought it through before using the word. Each is full of shit, much like you.
I don’t claim to be of that honorable group of mean and women, but only admire them.
Regarding human psychology and thought control, it goes back to the late nineteenth century when a Frenchman began to understand that people in groups exhibit characteristics apart from the individuals in those groups and so could be controlled in group setting while not individually. Freethinkers are not group members, and do not, as you and the others here, absorb their “thoughts” and “opinions” from group leaders. Americans developed these ideas, and it produced the Creel Commission, the groups that first engaged in agitprop and led us until WWI. Later the Germans would advance the science, as would the Soviets and Chinese, but as I see it, the Americans are the very best at it. Each of you is under a thought control regime, and has not a clue.
Of course you’ll deny any such thing, but you are the best specimen in that you self-indoctrinate, seek out groups, try to achieve status in those groups, and thereby validate. You are one fine piece of work, a lab experiment.
Good night, you silly fool. You have no clue.
Its Sat night and Mark’s projecting AGAIN…I am praying to the God of Blogs that Mark’s blog gets some traffic soon so he’ll be occupied there instead of spewing his crap here.
No matter what the subject, its the same stuff-the most important thing in the world-Mark
How sad Mark is….Not smart enough to know when to leave, not bright enough to even light up a conversation on his own blog!
Shorter Buttarski: I have delusions of adequacy
I think that’s all you needed to write, Tokarski. Happy Zombie Jesus Day.
Montana’s opioid and prescription drug abuse rate is among the highest in the US: <a href="http://www.santafenewmexican.com/localnews/New-Mexico-among-painkiller-hot-spots"Santa Fe New Mexican even though it has a MMJ law.
Think: ALEC.
Beatles!
I didn’t know that Bucy had done this and am thankful to learn it. I guess it makes sense since she was McGraths deputy for years when he was AG. Regardless of how the race turns out, I’m glad Pam was there to make this a reality for Montana women. If anyone from her campaign or volunteer team is reading this, please thank her.
Musical interlude! I really, really like this guy. It’s a great song that I just came across today. Maybe you’ve heard it before. Share and enjoy. The song pretty much captures my mood.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbWRfBZY-ng
Better version.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTW0y6kazWM&feature=related
By the way another Montana GOP Joke of a law was cut down today.
A Helena district judge on Thursday temporarily blocked a 2011 law that reduced potential increases in cabin leases on state lands in northwestern Montana.
District Judge Jeffrey Sherlock issued the temporary injunction to stop Senate Bill 409 from taking effect, along with any rules or regulations adopted by state agencies to implement it, until he issues a final decision in the case.
“Clearly, the state of Montana is obligated to obtain full fair market value for these leased properties,” Sherlock wrote. “Although there is some evidence to the contrary, the overwhelming weight of the evidence, cited above, shows that SB409 will not result in the state obtaining full market value for its leased school trust lands.”
He cited a Washington state court case, referenced by the Montana Supreme Court in 1985, declaring that a trustee must act with undivided loyalty to the trust beneficiary to the exclusion of all other interests and must realize full value for the assets.
However, Schweitzer said Thursday both he and his natural resources director, Mary Sexton, made it clear to the Legislature that this law would be thrown out of court. The Land Board has a fiduciary obligation to get full market value on state land leases for the benefit of Montana school children, he said.
“These legislators came to town and carved out sweetheart deals for their pals that have cabins on lakes,” Schweitzer said. “God bless someone who has a cabin on a lake. We’d all love to have that opportunity, but you’ve got to pay market value for the land.”
http://missoulian.com/news/local/judge-halts-law-to-cut-increases-in-northwestern-montana-cabin/article_6ae6006e-7f92-11e1-b1c7-001a4bcf887a.html
And to my Dillon Candidates Both Jeff Welborn and Debbie Barrett voted for this crap! Just goes to show you, that if they thought they could sell Beaverhead county, and its people cheaper then the real world prices they would!
Michael, I’m running against Debby Barrett for Sen. Dist. 36. I’d like to talk to you about this — an issue I’m just now learning about. Are you coming to our Jefferson-Jackson Dinner on April 13?
Richard, I would have considered it an honor as my Step Mom(Norma Duffy)has High regard for you, but I am already Back in Yonkers New York.
I made it a point to come home to Dillon to help her, when her mom had a stroke. But I left last Thursday. I am hoping to come back in August though, and even that might be iffy, because the Marines are asking some of us to reenlist from my battalion.
I have specialized communications array training, and yep I am not happy about it but the Gov does have that right to ask for 4 years after you get out honorably, and I have only been out three. But I will be proud to serve my country again if asked.
So now my main focus is to please my Wife and little girls, while finishing up a few tasks I have had as a consultant for the GOV also. Ask my Mom, we did an exhaustive search on Welborn, and Barrett they voted the same way on a lot of that GOP Batcrap laws also. Now that moms home,and not running to Missoula every other day she will be working on her election again and more!
Richard,
Go to the 2011 MT Legislative Session (LAWS) and look up SB409. You can get there through the Montana Legislature website. Click on the fiscal note. The fiscal note will provide a brief description of the bill and it’s impacts, including revenue impacts. It’s a good start.
While on the bill scroll down to find the committee hearings that were held. Much of the debate is held in the committee hearings and the committee hearings are generally on video/audio. The audio should provide the pro/con on the bill; who was for it, who was against it and why.
Dallas gave up some good info Richard Look in your Frozen acct in about an hour I will send you my notes as well. Finally getting to sit down and get stuff done here!
Thanks, Norma. See you at the dinner.
Community Radio for Northern Colorado interviews author of Pot, Inc. KUNC.
I told ya Michael, things might be getting desperate in Israel about Iran! We knew this was coming, `sigh!` What about your older brother Simon, where is he stationed right now… Call me tonight please!
The GOP has totally overreached on this issue- its part of the reason they all hope Santorum will drop out immediately. Lucky for us there is no sign of that happening anytime soon