ObesityVote.com
 is a grassroots effort.

Last Updated
02/24/06

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Tammy W. Rigney DBA Bird's Eye Graphics.
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House Bill 624 Carried Over to the 2007 Legislative Session

On January 26, 2006, the House Commerce and Labor Committee voted to lay HB 624 on the table. The vote was 14 to 7. However, in a parliamentary move several weeks ago, our patron, Delegate John O’Bannon, asked the committee to instead carry the bill over to the next session. What does that mean? It means that we will have one more shot at changing legislators’ minds about weight-loss surgery between now and November. More on that later. Stay with us; there is still work to be done.

But first, we want everyone to know that we (you and everyone involved with ObesityVote.com) did everything we could to help move this bill along. Our grassroots effort was not in vain. There was probably an unstated prejudice against obese people, although many legislators’ minds have been changed by the grassroots work that you all have done to help them understand more about morbid obesity and its impact on your lives. For that, we thank each and every one of you.

Many of you called the Constituent Viewpoint Messaging Center and voiced your support for HB 624. Several volunteers with ObesityVote.com worked long hours to rally the support of patients, and together they met with many of the legislators to exercise their voices about how weight-loss surgery had affected their lives. We definitely let our legislators know we were a strong presence in the fight for the rights of the morbidly obese to have mandated health insurance benefits for life-saving weight-loss surgery. Thanks to all of you for making ObesityVote.com a powerful force in this fight.

Committee Hearing Synopsis

What Happens Now?

What Can You Do Now?

Legislators in Support

Supporters who Testified

Legislators in Opposition

Send ObesityVote.com Your Personal Stories for Anonymous Posting

Committee Hearing Synopsis

Approximately 50 weight-loss surgery advocates were there to show their support, and we thank every one of them for taking time out of their schedules to be there. Here’s a breakdown of what happened at the committee hearing:

Delegate John O’Bannon, our patron for the bill, delivered very powerful testimony for our bill. He was magnificent in his advocacy for our cause.

Delegate Melanie Rapp, herself a patient, was spectacular in her support.

Dr. Neil Hutcher (Commonwealth Surgeons) and Dr. Jim Maher (MCV faculty) testified, reviewing the scientific data supporting the following:

Weight-loss surgery is the only effective treatment for morbid obesity.

Weight-loss surgery decreases the long-term costs associated with the condition.

Weight-loss surgery improves the lives and productivity of morbidly obese people. 

Joyce Sisson from Charlottesville, who has had the surgery, spoke eloquently on behalf of the patients.

The opposition from the insurance industry admitted that weight-loss surgery saves lives and overall, decreases healthcare costs. However, they stated that the data were not convincing “at this point” that weight-loss surgery, in its present state, is the best way to treat morbid obesity.

Speakers representing small business owners spoke in opposition expressing their belief that mandating coverage would increase their insurance costs to the point that they might have to stop offering health insurance to their employees.

The Committee members were thoughtful in asking their questions to our side as well as to the opposition.

In the final analysis, the vote was a reflection of some legislators’ philosophical beliefs that government should “stay out” of regulating healthcare as much as possible.

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What Happens Now?

This was a battle that we fought and lost. But the war is not over. We have changed minds, and we will continue to change minds. Each of us has a story to tell, and we need to tell our story to legislators and others who may help to make a difference: business people, newspersons, and community leaders. Stay active in your support groups. Get involved in support of your state legislators if they support our cause; if they don’t, and you cannot help them to see that weight-loss surgery should be available for those who can benefit from it, you can work to find someone to run for office who will be more supportive.

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What Can You Do Now?

There are ten things you can do right now to set the stage for our next battle:

  1. Express your appreciation. Write separate thank-you letters to each of the individuals who participated in the vote and to those who lent their support. Be sure to:

Thank them for their consideration of HB 624.

Invite them to visit ObesityVote.com.

Offer to provide them with information and updates about weight-loss surgery and treatments for morbid obesity in the coming months.

The seven legislators who did the right by voting “no” to lay our bill on the table: (Click each to send e-mail)

  1. Delegate Vincent F. Callahan, Jr.  (R, HD 34)

  2. Delegate Frank D. Hargrove, Sr. (R, HD 55)

  3. Delegate Robert Tata (R, HD 85)

  4. Delegate H. Morgan Griffith (R, HD 8)

  5. Delegate Dwight Clinton Jones (D, HD 70)

  6. Delegate Kenneth R. Melvin (D, HD 80)

  7. Delegate Jennifer L. McClellan (D, HD 71)

HB 624’s Chief Patron “saint” who sponsored the bill and has worked tirelessly for our cause:

Delegate John M. O'Bannon, III (R, HD 73) 

Delegate and weight-loss surgery patient who supported the bill:

Delegate Melanie L. Rapp (R, HD 96) 

Or, you may mail your letters to: General Assembly Building; Richmond, VA 23219.

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  1. Thank the people who testified on our behalf: (Click each to send e-mail.)

Dr. Neil Hutcher (Commonwealth Surgeons)

Dr. Jim Maher (MCV faculty)

Joyce Sisson, Charlottesville, VA, patient and advocate

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  1. Exercise your voice. Write a separate letter to each of the fourteen delegates who turned down the bill. Make your letter positive rather than negative; you don’t want to offend them. Remember, the bill is not dead; it is just in hibernation! Be sure to:

Thank them for their consideration of HB 624.

Invite them to visit ObesityVote.com.

Offer to provide them with information and updates about weight-loss surgery and treatments for morbid obesity in the coming months.

The fourteen legislators who voted to lay our bill on the table: (Click each to send e-mail)

  1. Chairman of House Commerce and Labor:
    Delegate Harvey B. Morgan (R, HD 98)

  2. Delegate Harry R. Purkey (R, HD 82)

  3. Delegate Terry G. Kilgore (R, HD 1)

  4. Delegate Kathy J. Byron (R, HD 22)

  5. Delegate R. Lee Ware, Jr. (R, HD 65)

  6. Delegate Allen W. Dudley (R, HD 9)

  7. Delegate Samuel A. Nixon, Jr. (R, HD 27)

  8. Delegate Terrie L. Suit (R, HD 81)

  9. Delegate Watkins M. Abbitt, Jr. (I, HD 59)

  10. Delegate Kenneth R. Plum (D, HD 36)

  11. Delegate Joseph P. Johnson, Jr. (D, HD 4)

  12. Delegate Kenneth C. Alexander (D, HD 89)

  13. Delegate Mark D. Sickles (D, HD 43)

  14. Delegate Johnny S. Joannou (D, HD 79)  

    (No e-mail address given.)

    In-session address:
    General Assembly Building, Room 423
    Capitol Square
    Richmond, Virginia 23219
    (804) 698-1079

    Mailing address:
    709 Court Street
    Portsmouth, Virginia 23704
    (757) 399-1700

Or, you may mail your letters to any of the delegates at

(name of delegate)
General Assembly Building
Richmond, VA 23219.

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  1. Send your personal stories telling what the surgery has done for you to ObesityVote.com for anonymous posting.

  2. Invite all legislators to visit ObesityVote.com.

  3. Offer to provide information and updates to all legislators as the months progress.

  4. Tell your story to legislators and others who may help to make a difference (media, business people, community leaders).

  5. Stay active in your support groups. Urge others to help us win this war! Invite them to visit ObesityVote.com and tell their stories.

  6. Get active in your local government and know who your legislators are. Give support to your state legislators if they support our cause; if they don’t, and you cannot help them to see that weight-loss surgery should be available for those who can benefit from it, you can work to find someone to run for office who will be more supportive.

  7. Keep visiting ObesityVote.com for the next steps!

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Thanks for all your help and support, and we look forward to continuing the fight!

Tamara W. Rigney

Executive Director

Rebecca Bowers-Lanier

Legislative Consultant

ObesityVote.com~Exercise Your Voice!

P. O. Box 854

Chesterfield, VA 23832

www.obesityvote.com

 


 ©Copyright 2005 Tammy W. Rigney DBA Bird's Eye Graphics. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission from Bird's Eye Graphics is prohibited. Web site designed and maintained by Bird's Eye Graphics. Please report any broken links, errors, or omissions. Contact us for all permissions, questions, and comments. Please review our privacy policy.