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Karen Thurman on Health Care

Former Democratic Representative (FL-5)


Voted NO on allowing suing HMOs, but under federal rules & limited award.

Vote to adopt an amendment that would limit liability and damage awards when a patient is harmed by a denial of health care. It would allow a patient to sue a health maintenance organization in state court but federal, not state, law would govern.
Bill HR 2563 ; vote number 2001-329 on Aug 2, 2001

Voted NO on subsidizing private insurance for Medicare Rx drug coverage.

HR 4680, the Medicare Rx 2000 Act, would institute a new program to provide voluntary prescription drug coverage for Medicare beneficiaries through subsidies to private plans. The program would cost an estimated $40 billion over five years and would go into effect in fiscal 2003.
Reference: Bill sponsored by Thomas, R-CA; Bill HR 4680 ; vote number 2000-357 on Jun 28, 2000

Voted NO on banning physician-assisted suicide.

Vote on HR 2260, the Pain Relief Promotion Act of 1999, would ban the use of drugs for physician-assisted suicide. The bill would not allow doctors to give lethal prescriptions to terminally ill patients, and instead promotes "palliative care," or aggressive pain relief techniques.
Reference: Bill sponsored by Hyde, R-IL; Bill HR 2260 ; vote number 1999-544 on Oct 27, 1999

Voted NO on establishing tax-exempt Medical Savings Accounts.

The bill allows all taxpayers to create a tax-exempt account for paying medical expenses called a Medical Savings Account [MSA]. Also, the measure would allow the full cost of health care premiums to be taken as a tax deduction for the self-employed and taxpayers who are paying for their own insurance. The bill would also allow the establishment of "HealthMarts," regional groups of insurers, health care providers and employers who could work together to develop packages for uninsured employees. Another provision of the bill would establish "association health plan," in which organizations could combine resources to purchase health insurance at better rates than they could separately.
Reference: Bill sponsored by Talent, R-MO; Bill HR 2990 ; vote number 1999-485 on Oct 6, 1999

Collect data on birth defects and present to the public.

Thurman co-sponsored the Birth Defects Prevention Act

Corresponding House bill is H.R.1114. Became Public Law No: 105-168.
Source: Bill sponsored by 35 Senators and 164 Reps 97-S419 on Mar 11, 1997

Supported funding women's health needs.

Thurman co-sponsored the Women's Caucus policy agenda:

Source: Women's Caucus Agenda-106th Congress 99-WC2 on Jul 15, 1999

Supported funding older women's health.

Thurman adopted the Women's Caucus policy agenda:

Source: Women's Caucus Agenda-106th Congress 99-WC3 on Jul 15, 1999

Supported funding Prenatal and Postpartum Care.

Thurman adopted the Women's Caucus policy agenda:

Source: Women's Caucus Agenda-106th Congress 99-WC5 on Jul 15, 1999

Supported funding Family and Children's Coverage.

Thurman adopted the Women's Caucus policy agenda:

Source: Women's Caucus Agenda-106th Congress 99-WC6 on Jul 15, 1999

Other candidates on Health Care: Karen Thurman on other issues:
FL Gubernatorial:
Charlie Crist
FL Senatorial:
Bill Nelson
Mel Martinez

Democratic retirements
& special elections:

D,AL-5:Cramer
D,CA-12:Lantos
D,CO-2:Udall
D,IN-7:Carson
D,NY-21:McNulty
D,ME-1:Allen
D,MD-4:Wynn
D,NM-3:Udall
D,OR-5:Hooley

Republican special elections:
R,IL-14:Hastert
R,LA-1:Jindal
R,LA-6:Baker
R,MS-1:Wicker
R,OH-5:Gillmor
Republican retirements:
R,AL-2:Everett
R,AZ-1:Renzi
R,CA-4:Doolittle
R,CA-52:Hunter
R,CO-6:Tancredo
R,FL-15:Weldon
R,IL-11:Weller
R,IL-18:LaHood
R,KY-2:Lewis
R,LA-4:McCrery
R,MD-1:Gilchrest
R,MN-3:Ramstad
R,MO-9:Hulshof
R,MS-3:Pickering
R,NJ-3:Saxton
R,NJ-7:Ferguson
R,NM-1:Wilson
R,NM-2:Pearce
R,NY-13:Fossella
R,NY-25:Walsh
R,NY-26:Reynolds
R,OH-7:Hobson
R,OH-15:Pryce
R,OH-16:Regula
R,PA-5:Peterson
R,VA-11:Davis
R,WY-0:Cubin
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Page last updated: Sep 17, 2008