2SSB 5597 on the way to the Governor's Desk

April 14th - Saturday morning our bill appeared in the first 10 of the bills to be concurred to by the Senate. The insurer lobbyists went crazy! They sent in the negative PI editorial, they sent in sheets of their propaganda lying about the costs, and then they continued to send notes to every single Senator to try to change our votes.

At the Republican doors I saw the frenzy. Our Republican supporters came out 1 by 1 and challenged me with what they were sending in against our bill. It seemed the more work they did, the more votes we picked up. Senator Carroll said there was a huge fight in caucus and was worried we were going to lose our supporters. Senator Hewitt came and took me to his office to explain why the list of opponents were against us, and I did! Senator Shoesler came out and I asked him if he was still with me and he said "your damn right I am, the insurers didn't oppose the colo-rectal cancer mandate, the mental health mandate, but they are going to challenge the chiropractors this hard, forget them!" That is from the efforts of Dr's. Warren Kragt and Terry Larsen to keep their senator updated about our bill!!!

After caucus, they went back to the floor and several Senators were still out with the insurers and the bill came up first. There were speeches on both sides with Sen. Franklin speaking to the changes made in the House, and then Senator Keiser urging a yes vote. Then Senator Parlette spoke against us stating she was worried that this bill would give the insurers the opportunity to "toss out" the sole proprietor doctor from the panel in order to keep their costs down in networking. Then a terribly stated speech by Senator Jacobsen opposing us, and then a passionate speech by Sen. Don Benton supporting the bill. In the end, a 41-6 (and 2 absent) vote prevailed. I immediately went to the Governor's office requesting a bill signing ceremony!!! Nothing is confirmed she will sign, which is why we are requesting that patients call the Governor's office to urge her to sign our bill, 2SSB 5597, so that they will have access to care and continuity within the clinic that they choose.