Farmers Urge An Overhaul Of Health Care System WASHINGTON D.C. Far mers participating in a conference call with First Lady Hillary Rod ham Clinton urged the administra tion to swiftly and comprehen sively reform the nation’s health care system. Three of the seven farmers who shared their stories and concerns regarding health care reform with the First Lady were members of the National Farmers Union (NFU). They include Glen Stmad, Munden, Kan.; Ruben Hummell, Mott, N.D. and Ralph Johnson. Bloomfield, lowa. NFU President Leland Swenson joined the con ference call from the White House. “I’m old enough to retire, but not old enough to get health care,” said Stmad, who is in his early sixties. He told the First Lady that he and his wife dropped their health insurance in 1990 when monthly premiums hit $6OO. Stmad said this same policy would now cost them $1,400. Access is necessary, said Mrs. Clinton. Everyone has access to a Mercedes Benz, but most of us can’t afford one, she said. 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FOR YOUR NEAREST DEALER CALL: 1 -800- 387-7785 (USA East) Hummell thanked the First Lady for taking a stand on health care reform, saying, it’s time Con gress stops talking and acts. “I see no reason people in our country should be paying five times what other countries pay for health care,” he said. Mrs. Clinton criticized the “scare tactics” being used by spe cial interest groups to confuse citi zens about the need for health care reform. She acknowledged that the insurance lobby continues to be affective with members of the U.S. Congress. Johnson told of health insur ance premiums for he and his wife rising from $2OOO annually in 1983 to $12,000 in 1992. “We had to drop to a lower level (of cover age). In 1994, if we had the same insurance, it would cost us $13,876,” he said. Johnson also said he believes it is unfair that farmers cannot deduct the full cost of their insurance premiums for their income tax like other businesses and commended the President’s plan for this provision. Another farmer talked about how his lender instructed him to • 4.4 gallon 2500 PSI • 5.1 gallon 3600 PSI FOR ROPE or PIN HOLD DOWN drop his health care insurance holding that it was a luxury, rather than a necessity. The First Lady asked the farm leaders participating in the confer ence call to “support” the goal of guaranteed insurance for every American at an affordable cost.” Health care has become a finan cial drain for agricultural produc ers. Many families’ health care premiums meet or exceed the average income earned by farm families from farming. A recent study comparing health care costs for an average Kansas wheat producing family shows that in 1993, a farmer had to sell 3663 bushels of wheat to purchase health insurance and pay out-of-pocket costs. The 1993 level compares with an equivalent of 678 bushels in 1982 and 355 bushels in 1964. National Farmers Union has advocated universal health care coverage for half a century. 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Clinics Offered HUNTINGDON (Huntingdon Co.) Agronomic field diagnos tic clinics will be held at the Penn State Agronomy Farm at Rock spring on July 21 and July 26. The program offers hands-on diagnostic training in crop produc tion, soil fertility, and pest man agement. Penn State specialists will cover key agronomic topics with ample opportunity for one on-one discussion. The July 21 clilnic is targeted toward agricultural industry per- Manufacturer Hentimated net engine horsepower MASSEY FERGUSON • NFU believes that simplicity and streamlining will enable resources to be directed toward patient care, rather than admini strative costs. • NFU holds that the new health care plan must address discrimi natory pricing policies and rural access to prescription drugs and pharmacy services. sonnel. Farmers are invited to at tend the July 26 session. Either group may attend either clinic if the planned date is inconvenient. The programs begin at 9 a.m. and conclude by 4:30 p.m. Cost of registration is $25, which includes lunch and support materials. Registration deadlines are July 11 for the ag industry clinic and July 18 for the farmer oreinted session. Register by phone at (814) 865-8301. Pesti cide certification credits will be available. jetwn an law pntih, Ut*ttr chant whan •# an imparit*!. igh 3 n Under ter cooled diesel ie open, specious >rator\ platform D or 4WD HOPS Fold d<
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