Tuesday, December 18, 2007

Hillary on Healthcare for the National Guard

http://www.hillaryclinton.com/video/85.aspx

MANCHESTER, NH – The Clinton campaign today launched a new ad in New Hampshire, featuring Senator Clinton’s bi-partisan effort with Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) to expand access to TriCare to every National Guard Member and Reservist. The new 30-second spot is entitled, “Guard.” TriCare is the United States military's healthcare plan for military personnel, military retirees, and their dependents. The TriCare benefit is also available to some members of the Selected Reserve and their dependents. There are about 2,700 members of the New Hampshire National Guard, who are serving around the world in several capacities, from humanitarian missions to the war in Iraq.

[UnionLeader, 12/3/07]Watch the ad here:http://www.hillaryclinton.com/video/85.aspx

Following is the script for the ad. Hillary for President “Guard”TV: 30[Hillary Clinton:] “You would think that after all the sacrifice and service of the National Guard and Reserve protecting our country, they would have had health insurance. “But they didn’t. “So I reached across the aisle and worked for three years with Senator Lindsey Graham, a Republican, to change that. Now every member of the Guard and Reserve has access to the health coverage they need.“I’ve learned if you want to get things done,you have to know when to stand your ground, and when to find common ground. “I’m Hillary Clinton and I approved this message.”

with this she shows she can work with the Republicans to get things accomplished and she has quietly worked behind the curtains to get this work accomplished. We need leadership like this in the years ahead.

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1 comment:

Anonymous said...

check Factcheck.org.This ad mades it sound as though embers of the Guard and reserves didn't have coverage. However, it is misleading because active duty members of the guard and reserves already receive health care.

Clinton can claim credit for joining a number of House and Senate members in working on 2003 legislation that expanded reservists' temporary military health care coverage from 60 days to 180 days after active service. That coverage – called the Transitional Assistance Management Program (TAMP) – provides reservists with military health care (or TRICARE) immediately after they are taken off of active duty status.

It's also true, as Clinton states in the ad, that she worked with Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and with other senators. And as a result, in 2005, Congress mandated a new form of military health care called TRICARE Reserve Select (TRS) which gives those in the Selected Reserve – a component of the Ready Reserve – an opportunity to purchase TRICARE health coverage when not on active duty.