Questions for Enzi, Barrasso, Cheney

Representatives for Sens. Mike Enzi,  John Barrasso, and Rep. Liz Cheney, will hold listening sessions at the Cody City Hall at 8:30 to 9:30 and  Powell City Hall from 10:30 to 11:30 on March 2nd.

These are questions that Wyoming Rising members will be bringing to the meeting. Please feel free to print this and bring along. Choose one or two of these questions to ask, or add your own.

Questions and Comments

Consider letting them know that you support Public Lands in Public Federal Hands.

Consider letting them know that you support BLM Planning 2.0 because it was designed to be responsive to change with greater efficiency which saves money; enables collaboration and strengthens transparency of process; encourages utilization of best available science; permits a landscape-level approach; and this updates the original regulations of 1979.

Consider letting them know that you value the Environmental Protection Agency and desire it to stay intact and functioning well.

Consider letting them know you value science integrity which is critical for making resource management decisions.

What are the “burdensome federal intrusions” on education cited by Senator Enzi in letters to his constituents that Ms. DeVoss, as Secretary of Education, will be able to repeal or replace?  How do they currently adversely affect our Wyoming schools?

How will Wyoming students benefit from an increase in the number of charter schools or creation of vouchers that will provide money to those not wishing to participate in public education?

If vouchers provide dollars that follow each individual student, will my tax dollars then be funding religious instruction?

How does the Every Student Succeeds Act differ from No Child Left Behind?

Former President George W. Bush recently called a free and vibrant press critical to a democracy and said its job is to criticize people like him.  What is your reaction to President Trump’s attacks on the press and punishment of any news outlet that criticizes him, e.g.  The New York Times and CNN?

A CIA assessment says and the rest of the intelligence community agrees that hackers with connections to the Russian government targeted the Democratic National Committee and leaked thousands of emails to WikiLeaks in an effort to sway the outcome in Trump’s favor.   Can we trust Republican members of congress to investigate this matter and why should we?

The Migrant Council for Park County predicts over 600 agriculture workers will be needed this year. Currently the Wyoming Workforce Service Department has requests to fill over 100 open positions in the hospitality/service industry. What plans to you have to address the pending shortage in Park County’s work-force needs?

Many immigrants who have traditionally filled agricultural and seasonal hospitality/service industry positions in Park County now fear coming to work in the United States. What plans to you have to address the pending shortage in our area and to assure these people they will be safe here?

What work is your office doing to ensure that the first amendment, freedom of the press/media and free access to information will not be restricted by the current administration.

What is your office doing to support equal rights for LGBTA citizens in this state and nation? What is the Senator/Congressperson’s position on transgender issues?

What concrete plans does your office have to REPLACE jobs lost in the coal industry and what efforts are you making to establish training programs to assist those workers who need to find new jobs in our state?

When can we expect you to appear in person at a Town Hall in Park County?

Would you be willing to participate in a panel discussion in August during the recess?

Do you consider the media as the enemy?

I am concerned that repealing/replacing the ACA could negatively affect the unique healthcare needs of women. Do you understand what the ACA now provides as preventative care for women and what might be taken away?  (Women’s preventative healthcare under the ACA provides: Mammograms, Pap smears, newborn care, breast pumps, domestic violence screening, STD counseling and HIV screening.)

With the considerable amount of confusion and conflict within the new administration concerning repeal and replace of the affordable care act, please explain to me the need for rushing into changing what is working for millions of Americans, for something new without careful consideration and due diligence.

Medicare is requiring significant increases in documentation requirements for healthcare professionals while simultaneously drastically reducing payments for healthcare services.  This is driving up the cost of healthcare for all and negatively impacts the time healthcare providers can spend with their patients. Can you please provide specific ways to reduce healthcare costs while preserving quality patient care?

According to Health Insurance.org, and Equality State.Gov – Wyoming has between 11,000 – 17,600 people who have no realistic access to health insurance.  Why does Wyoming continue to vote no for Medicaid Expansion?

If Medicaid is turned into block grant funding, what will happen if need is greater than the dollar allotment?  Will people be turned down for treatment?

Will you please explain how block grant funding would not turn into death panels?

How are you planning to provide coverage for people, especially in rural states like Wyoming, if you repeal the ACA?  Many low income workers will lose the health care coverage they currently depend upon if it’s repealed and not replaced with adequate coverage.  I urge you to work together with the Democrats to fix problems that exist and stop telling the voters that Obamacare is “broken”, because it is not.

The major Republican proposals to a replacement plan for the ACA/Obamacare include a refundable tax credit depending on age and not income, meaning that someone making $20,000 a year would receive the same tax credit as someone making $200,000.  How would a 30-year-old making $20,000 a year afford health insurance with the proposed refundable tax credit of $2,000?

I am concerned about women’s healthcare rights as a result of repeal/replacement of the ACA. The ACA’s contraceptive coverage guarantee is working—FDA approved contraceptive methods prescribed by a woman’s doctor are covered with expanded Medicaid and results in private insurance plan’s contraception coverage decreases in out of pocket costs for hormonal birth control. Increased access to effective and affordable birth control is now preventative care under the ACA.  If preventative care is redefined, women will lose this right resulting in unplanned pregnancies causing overwhelming social and financial burdens on society.  Are you aware/attuned to the plight of your female constituents needing birth control to prevent unplanned pregnancies?