— Editor’s note: One in a series of election stories.



Oklahoma’s top elected officials sidelined compliance with the mandates of federal health care reforms until this year’s general election.

Pinning their hopes on a Republican sweep in November, Gov. Mary Fallin and legislative leaders are taking a wait-and-see approach. As a result, decisions about a health care exchange and how to insure low-income Oklahomans are being delayed.

Two local Democrats competing for the nomination in the House District 14 legislative race agree affordable health care is a laudable goal. They differed by degrees about how — and whether — that might be accomplished.

Jerry Rains, a local rancher and former business owner, said “affordable health care is badly needed” but recognized the difficulty of making that available. Bobby Jefferson, a longtime Muskogee educator and wrestling coach, said “Every man, woman and child should be guaranteed affordable and comprehensive health care.”

Jefferson said in order to move forward with reforms included in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, the myths about what has become known as Obamacare must be exposed. Those myths include claims the act would bust the federal budget, ruin small businesses and destroy Medicare.

“It’s time to consider the good things about the new law,” Jefferson said. “The new law will actually reduce the federal deficits. Medicare benefits are guaranteed, free annual checkups and many free tests and vaccines are added. Lifetime and annual coverage limits ... (and) rejections of coverage because of pre-existing medical conditions are out.”

Rains said since the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act, “many people who can no longer afford coverage can get affordable medical attention.” Along with Jefferson, Rains cited provisions allowing children to remain on their parents’ health plans until age 26 as a benefit of Obamacare.

Rains also acknowledged shortcomings Affordable Care Act opponents cite as concerns. Those concerns, Rains said, include what some see as the “unpredictability of the law and the infringement of the federal government on state’s rights.”  

“This is an issue which has long been debated and will continue to be a point of contention among a sharply divided public,” Rains said. “While we all agree affordable health care is badly needed, the finer points of the law will no doubt be litigated until the provisions are worked out to the satisfaction of the majority of the people.”

Jefferson said the need to move forward with the implementation of federal health care reforms is evident in everyday life. As an example, Jefferson cited evidence indicating about “half of all personal bankruptcies are caused by major medical bills.”

“Our seniors also do not need to be faced with the dilemma of choosing between adequate health care and living independently,” Jefferson said, noting the state could learn something from tribal governments that appear to place greater importance on citizens’ health. “Health care should be a shared responsibility between employers, workers, insurers, providers and government.”

Both Democratic contenders indicated health care reforms are a work in progress. Rains said he has no doubts the Affordable Care Act will “be litigated until the provisions are worked out.” Jefferson, who decried the “transfer of wealth” from lower and middle income families to the wealthiest taxpayers, said the Affordable Care Act is “just a beginning.”

“I’m not suggesting that Oklahoma’s political leadership is deliberately waging war on the middle and lower economic classes,” Jefferson said. “I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt and just say they haven’t thought about it in these terms.”

Jefferson and Rains will square off Tuesday in the Democratic runoff election. The winner will face Republican Arthur Hulbert, who ran unopposed for the GOP nomination, in the general election. In-person absentee voting begins Friday for the runoff election.

Reach D.E. Smoot at (918) 684-2901 or dsmoot@muskogeephoenix.com.