Manchin: Media lied about “fat tax”
Gov. Manchin yesterday sent state employees an announcement that calls reports on a proposal to charge overweight state employees extra for health insurance premiums “grossly inaccurate,” “hurtful” and “completely false.”
As Phil has reported, Public Employees Insurance Agency director Ted Cheatham said at a meeting last week that Manchin had raised the issue after hearing about a similar thing in North Carolina.
Since then, Manchin has distanced himself from the idea, saying it did not come from him.
He’s also upset the media dubbed the proposal a “fat tax,” which I can understand. But this reminds me of when the Gazette and West Virginia Public Broadcasting reported in May that the Manchin administration’s draft 2010 budget included cuts for legal services that help domestic violence victims. The next day, Manchin issued a statement calling the reports inaccurate and unfair.
Read on for the entire text of the governor’s e-mail. It also includes the schedule for PEIA public hearings.
From: Announcement_No_Replies
Sent: Thursday, October 29, 2009 4:22 PM
To: Announcement_No_Replies
Subject: A Message from Gov. Joe Manchin III to our Public Employees
A Message from Gov. Joe Manchin III to our Public Employees:
The rising cost of health care is one of the most pressing issues facing
our state and nation. And, there have been several news articles in the
last few days about the Public Employees Insurance Agency (PEIA) looking
for ways to continue providing quality health care to our hard-working
state and local employees without having to dramatically increase
premiums.
Unfortunately, there’s been grossly inaccurate and hurtful information
reported that suggests that PEIA and I have supported what some media
have termed a “fat tax,” a health insurance penalty for employees whose
individual body size or Body Mass Index (BMI) exceeds a particular
limit.
Let me be clear in saying that this is completely false. And let me also
sincerely apologize to you if you were led to believe that this
insensitive and offensive term would ever be used by this
administration.
I am as offended and disheartened as many of our state employees may
have been upon hearing that this proposed “tax” could be suggested in
West Virginia.
Certainly one of my top priorities as governor is to ensure we provide
the tools that allow you to live the most healthy and productive
lifestyle you can.
Since I became governor, we have promoted healthier lifestyles for West
Virginians by encouraging all of us to make wise personal health
decisions and to take preventative health care measures. I still
sincerely believe that is the right path to a healthier West Virginia.
Beginning in November (schedule is listed below), I want to hear from
our current state employees and retired employees about how we can
encourage healthy lifestyles and keep our health care costs down.
Working with the Public Employees Insurance Agency Finance Board, the
state will host a series of public hearings that will initiate the
dialogue as to how we can improve health and wellness throughout state.
I encourage you to bring forth any suggestions and/or comments you think
can help.
Again, I want to thank you for your hard work and commitment to the
state of West Virginia. Our continued success depends on you. Please
keep up the good work.
With warmest regards,
Joe Manchin III
Governor
PEIA Public Hearing Schedule
Registration for the hearings will begin at 5:30 p.m., and the hearings
will start at 6 p.m. If you wish to testify at the hearing, you must
indicate this request at registration. The hearings will be held as
follows:
Monday, Nov. 9, 2009
Civic Center, Little Theater
200 Civic Center Drive
Charleston, W.Va.
Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2009
Tamarack Theatre
One Tamarack Park
Beckley, W.Va.
Monday, Nov. 16, 2009
Holiday Inn
301 Fox Croft Ave.
Martinsburg, W.Va.
Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2009
Ramada Inn
20 Scott Ave.
Morgantown, W.Va.
Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2009
West Virginia Northern Community College
1704 Market Street
Wheeling, W.Va.
Thursday, Nov. 19, 2009
Marshall University Medical School, Harless Auditorium
1600 Medical Center Drive
Huntington, W.Va.
Written comments may be submitted to:
PEIA Finance Board
601 57th St., SE
Charleston, WV 25304
Or via e-mail to: peia.help@wv.gov
12 comments
[…] Blogs @ The Charleston Gazette - » Manchin: Media lied about “fat tax” blogs.wvgazette.com/squawkbox/2009/10/30/manchin-media-lied-about-fat-tax – view page – cached Gov. Manchin yesterday sent state employees an announcement that calls reports on a proposal to charge overweight state employees extra for health insurance premiums “grossly inaccurate,”… (Read more)Gov. Manchin yesterday sent state employees an announcement that calls reports on a proposal to charge overweight state employees extra for health insurance premiums “grossly inaccurate,” “hurtful” and “completely false.” (Read less) — From the page […]
Notice the teabaggers present at the rally in Wheeling yesterday:
Everyone was white, everyone was aged 60+
GOP = greedy old people
How about a big, fat liar tax instead?
http://wvstate.wordpress.com/2009/10/30/how-about-a-big-fat-liar-tax/
“”As Phil has reported, Public Employees Insurance Agency director Ted Cheatham said at a meeting last week that Manchin had raised the issue after hearing about a similar thing in North Carolina.”"
nnn
If anyone LIED it would be Cheatham or Manchin
So… has Ted Cheatam been ordered to take this topic off the table in the upcomming meetings?
I mean seeing as how the statements he made were “grossly inaccurate,” “hurtful” and “completely false.”
well?
It is imperative the topic is taken off the PUBLIC HEARING agenda .
Google ‘public hearings purpose’, this is a small exerpt:
“While following proper hearing procedures may not eliminate litigation over the issues addressed in hearings, it will help prevent having the decisions made following public hearings overturned by the courts on procedural grounds.”
Public hearings were not held, before, they tried to increase the Turnpike tolls the first time. So… They held the hearings last year and, then, they raised the tolls.
Can you all see where this is headed?
It is apparent that this particular “tax” was considered way back when the tobacco tax was introduced. at the time alabama had instituted it’s own fat tax. at that time there was no “political will” to do it but the nicotine nazis were in full favor. While i find smoking to be destructive expensive and stupid (i am a former smoker) i argued against the cigarette tax and cited the fat tax from Alabama. People hooted laughed and were basically derisive at such a silly idea that taxing habits and tendencies could lead to anything as riduculous a fat tax. now we have the fat tax.
soon we will have the tendencies tax. my family has a genentic predisposition towards cancer. it costs more to cover me. we should then charge me and mine more because the tendency is that i will cost more. one thing that i know for sure is that if i die cancer free the extra money i was charged will surely not go back to my family who could have used those dollars while i was alive. go ahead laugh hoot holler and be derisive! it is coming.
Just remember folks while everyone is screaming about the fat tax there are other more heinous insertions into the new PEIA plan. they plan to remove more medications from the formulary. the death watch is back too. they will be giving you a break if you sign a living will. i am all for end of life counseling but my decision should not be the basis for my health care premiums. it should be a private decision made after my counseling with my doctor. there is more to this plan than the fat tax.
Stacy N, you are correct about the end of life being on the list of topics to be discussed. My post on that was deleted??? Wonder if Ted and Joe are going to sign up for the end of life option? Yeah, right.
Manchin reminds me of Richard Nixon. Nixon said the president is above the law: “When the president does it, that means that it is not illegal.” This, in Manchin’s mind, goes for the Governor too. Look at all his transgressions in the past. They’re too long to list here.
A Message from Gov. Joe Manchin III to our Public Employees: “Unfortunately, there’s been grossly inaccurate and hurtful information
reported that suggests that PEIA and I have supported what some media
have termed a “fat tax,” a health insurance penalty for employees whose
individual body size or Body Mass Index (BMI) exceeds a particular
limit.
Let me be clear in saying that this is completely false. ”
Well then… Joe, Ted, take it off the hearings agenda if you don’t support it .
If it stays, we all know who is in charge, and, more importantly who, is going to get the credit for it .
Simply picking a word or two ” tax” / “fat tax”, out of an entire article and implying the gazettes entire peremise was “grossly inaccurate,” “hurtful” and “completely false” is not reasonable, by anyone standards.
If the Gazettees premise were incorrect, The BMI topic would have been taken off the PUBLIC HEARING agenda by now.
Joe, Ted, “You can put lipstick on a pig, but it’s still a pig,”
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