Red County Caucus urges support of Graham-Cassidy bill

In 2008, a small rural county in Maine gained national notoriety as being the only county in all of New England to vote against Barack Obama and stay red. This singular moment in political history earned Piscataquis County the title of “The Red County.” Considered by some as the most conservative county east of the Mississippi, Piscataquis holds the well deserved reputation of being a bastion of conservatism for the east.

Soon after 2008, local politicians and conservative personalities from Piscataquis County joined forces to form the Red County Caucus (RCC). The idea was to impact the Maine political arena by an endorsement from a noted conservative group. With Piscataquis’ established reputation, it was obvious this was the time. The RCC immediately impacted the political landscape of Maine by endorsing Paul LePage for governor.

Maine, as well as the nation, are facing crucial decisions in our future. These decisions will determine whether we become a state and a nation of people that forfeit our freedoms or take them back from government overreach. The RCC once again will be at the forefront of political influence in our state.

The caucus is ready to speak to the challenges of a new election. The RCC will be weighing in on the crucial issues of our day starting here with healthcare. Along with statements on several issues, The RCC will give an endorsement for governor.

The best government is the government that governs least and local governance is the best governance. The free market is the best purveyor of healthcare. Unfortunately, our government has violated these proven truths and now we are caught in the tentacles of their misdeeds, Obamacare or the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

When it comes down to it, all healthcare is local. Our federal government, through the passage of Obamacare, has eliminated local control from our healthcare system and established rules that are mandated to every person and business. This is the suppression of our individual freedom.

The ability to make choices about what health insurance options we want, or if we want health insurance at all, has been taken out of the citizen’s hand. This has gone too far. We must take action.

Massive increases in premiums and deductible costs are hurting regular citizens and businesses. All around us we hear of neighbors, friends, and businesses crushed by Obamacare, yet Washington stubbornly continues to tout the ACA as the answer to protect our citizens. The time has come to make significant changes to Obamacare, since Washington is unable to repeal and replace the entire bill as promised.

The Graham-Cassidy bill is not perfect but makes significant improvements to the existing law. This bill will return much of the control to the states rather than the federal government, eliminate employer and individual mandates, eliminate some taxes, and retain protection for patients with preexisting conditions. Graham-Cassidy will begin the fight to get the federal government out of the health insurance business and curtail significantly the hardships imposed by Obamacare on millions of our fellow citizens.

The RCC strongly urges U.S. Senator Susan Collins, R-Maine to heed the disastrous impact the ACA has had on her constituents here in Maine and support Graham-Cassidy. We urge Maine citizens to contact U.S. Sen. Collins and remind her that “We The People” want these changes. Her vote to support individual liberty in Maine is needed now.