FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 22, 2008
Contact: Natalie Naquin, 225-336-3338
natalie@doncazayoux.org

CAZAYOUX CAMPAIGN RESPONDS TO NEGATIVE ATTACK ADS
Cazayoux supports increasing access to quality, affordable health care for all Louisiana families

Baton Rouge , La. – Don Cazayoux, Candidate for Congress in Louisiana 's 6th District, responded today to the barrage of negative attack ads that began airing this morning distorting his record of standing up for the health care Louisiana families deserve.

"Health care costs continue to skyrocket, forcing middle class families to cut corners to pay for their families' basic health care, put off visits to the doctor, or go without any insurance,” Cazayoux said.  “Far too many Louisiana families struggle with the out of control costs, and 20 percent go without any health care at all.  I will work in Washington towards solutions to help the families of Louisiana get a quality, affordable health care plan.”

Cazayoux's positions on health care include:

• Ensuring that all Louisiana 's children have health insurance, a necessity for hard working families. Cazayoux will support expanding the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) and work to find other ways to make sure no child in our state or country goes without health care.  In the legislature, Cazayoux voted to expand the Louisiana Children's Health Insurance Program (LaCHIP) [HB 542, 2007].

• Giving every small business or individual the ability to buy into the same health care plan available to members of Congress.  Cazayoux does not believe a big government program is the solution; he supports a market-based solution that will increase access to quality, affordable healthcare.  Cazayoux believes that increasing access to health care for everyone will drive down the cost of premiums for those who currently have insurance.  This is because many Americans without health insurance use the most expensive form of health care – the emergency room – which we all end up paying for.

• Passing a prescription drug plan for seniors that works and is not just a giveaway to the big drug companies. 

• Making sure that our veterans have the health care they deserve. Right now, one out of every eight veterans under 65 is uninsured.

“Don Cazayoux has a strong record of fighting for healthcare for middle class families and we are certain the voters of Louisiana will not be fooled by attacks from Woody Jenkins and his Washington allies,” said Katie Nee, Cazayoux's campaign manager.  “Heath care is an issue where there are clear differences between the candidates.  While Don Cazayoux voted to expand LaCHIP in the legislature and wants to allow SCHIP to cover 80,000 additional Louisiana children, Woody Jenkins voted against funding for LaCHIP.”

Jenkins voted against the 1999-2000 state budget, which provided $3.3 billion in funding for Medicaid and appropriated $9.5 million for LaCHIP to fund the program up to 150 percent of the poverty level.  Jenkins was one of only two House members to vote against it [HB 1, Motion to Adopt, 6/21/99; 1999 Regular Session].

According to the bill's fiscal note, “Children will also benefit from the expansion of the LaCHIP to include children from families below 150 percent of Federal Poverty Level, or an income of $26,052 for a family of four.”

In addition, Jenkins skipped a vote when the state House of Representatives passed legislation to require that health insurance policies cover reconstructive breast surgery if they provide coverage for mastectomies.   He voted against legislation to increase funding for rural hospitals and opposed legislation requiring that health insurance companies cover severe mental illnesses. [SB 699, Final Passage, 6/16/97, 1997 Regular Session; SB 500, Final Passage, 5/21/97, 1997 Regular Session; HB 1300, Concur in Senate Amendments, 6/16/99, 1999 Regular Session]

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