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.
PRESSURE WASHER PARTS ft SERVICE
• 3.4 -gallon
1500 PSI
• 4 gallon
2000 PSI
Porlabla or
Stationary
2000 PSI Model Shown
14 years experience making our own pressure
washers. We will make one to your specifications.
We use quality U.S.-made Hypro pumps (2 yr. war
ranty) and Honda engines. Rotating Power Nozzle
Available. Call today for prices.
18.3- Bfl/gvKffilUgllg BE®IP
2388 Old Leacock Rd., GordonvlUe, PA 17529
(717) 768-3853
BILE STUCK COVERS
- 20 YEARS EXPERIENCE -
FOR PIPE HOLD DOWN
2" wide webbing loops (holding TWo spur eyelets eech comer
over 500 Lbs /loop) sewn Into 5 In 12" gueeete, plus eyelets
leyera of silver/blech, U.V.I. around perimeter at 3'o/c In
treated super tough poly-fabric. 9”; 5 layer gussets (for uneven
stacks).
the VemtWty Won Require in Held Penn System!
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. The
following includes the key policy
points adopted by delegates to
Soap Injactor
avaflablo on
all modal*
SEE YOUR NEAREST DEALER FOR DETAILS
ARNETTS GARAGE MEYERS S.G. LEWIS See These
IMPLEMENTS, INC. AND SON Dealers
400 Nonh AnWm WHf Wet! GrWa, PA 19390 DealCrS
(>01)733-0515 Gr**nsa»#*, PA 17226 (610)869-0440 For
(717)597-2176 "9-2214 De t*ilsl
N.H. FUCKER &
LEBANON VALLEY . JS?p?nirwi TEST
IMPLEMENT CO. PEOPLE’S SALES nnTW
700 B. litxten St. ' 810) ® 8 * 7252 & SERVICE DRIVE
RksNWWI, PA 17087 atniaßea rn Oakland Mills, PA 17076 ONE
(7.7) sn*7siß S TODAY!
Piiman, PA 17964
(717) 649-1120
M.M. WEAVER A SON aW. KELLER LAWN CARE
N. Qrolfdala Rd. SALES OF PA
taola, PA 17540 Perkasia, PA 18944 Martindala, PA 17649 V V
(717)656-2921 (610) 257-0101 (215)445-4541 MA9S6V kpguson
Easy to drive. Easy to own.
New 17-35* hp MF Compact Tractors
These new MF 1200 Senes Compact Tractors set new standards in
operator comfort and ease of use no matter what the job
And they all come with MF parts and service support, low-rate MF
financing, and competitive low prices
Test dnve the new standard in compact tractors at your MF dealer
Fold down
Infinite spei
hydrostatic
manual trai
Standard mi
rear PTO
MFfMMFU.
ffmii imiatmmn,
mWmtmcrt^
Integral pi
steering at
steering a
Huge selection of Smooth, 3 cylinder, Unique, full flat 16 speed transmission Exclusive indepen
implements and uoter cooled diesel operator’s deck with single lever dent rear PTO and
attachments engine synchro shuttle optional mid PTO
Mmi >i iuu-i>n pr <duil- im di-tnl ulid lhniuj.hnul N rlh Aminrn iuclumul\ >i\ A( <<M irpnrnli >n S irrr ( \
NFU’s annual convention in
March 1994.
• NFU supports a plan that pro
vides preventive and long-term
health care.
• NFU endorses 100-percent
federal income tax deductibility of
health care premiums paid by the
self-employed.
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<