Reznet

GOP Candidates Silent on Indian Health Bill

By Kevin Abourezk

A major Senate vote affecting every Native person in America is just around the corner, and a recent survey of presidential candidates on the bill is offering some insight into what they think about the bill.

The Senate will vote on the Indian Health Care Improvement Act on Jan. 22. The bill essentially affects every facet of Indian health care in America and is an effort to modernize Native health care.

Or, in the wise words of the National Congress of American Indians:

"For nearly a decade, Tribal leaders have been working to reauthorize the bill that serves as the underlying authority for the Federal government's responsibility to provide health care to American Indians and Alaska Natives. We have worked on this bill for years. It has been negotiated, amended, revised, wordsmithed and compromised. It is now in the hands of Senate leadership and we want them to move the bill."

Last August, the American Association of People with Disabilities sent a survey to every presidential candidate asking whether they would support the Indian Health Care Improvement Act and what they would do to improve the quality of health provided to Native people with disabilities.

It's telling that none of the top three Republican candidates (former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney or Sen. John McCain) responded to the survey. All of the top three Democratic candidates (Sen. Hillary Clinton, Sen. Barack Obama and former Sen. John Edwards) responded to the survey.

Here are the Democratic candidates' responses:

Clinton: I am a strong supporter of developing innovative ways to ensure that health and rehabilitation services are provided to minority groups, particularly Native Americans. In this regard, I am a cosponsor of current Senate Bill 1200, a bill that would expand and reauthorize the Indian Healthcare Act. As President, I will continue to outreach to those groups like Native Americans that have historically been denied high-quality healthcare.

Obama: Yes, I strongly support reauthorization of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act. I am an original cosponsor of the bill, which is expected to pass the Senate this year. As President, I would increase funding for a variety of tribal health care programs that have been cut under the Bush Administration. This includes fully funding clinical services, and restoring funds for programs such as the Urban Indian Healthcare Program. Second, Native Americans, including those with disabilities, will be able to participate in my universal health care plan which will provide high-quality health care services. I am aware, however, that universal health care for everyone does not mean equal access to healthcare for everyone. One of the major problems facing American Indians is a chronic lack of basic health care facilities. I am committed to investing the necessary resources into health care infrastructure. This includes providing funding for health care workers, and requiring compliance from plans that do not meet performance thresholds.

Edwards: Native Americans face unique health challenges: less access to health care, high rates of certain chronic conditions, and an infant mortality rate that is nearly 50 percent higher than the rate for white Americans. The U.S. government has an obligation to address these inequities and live up to its historic commitments to Native Americans. The first step is to adequately fund the Indian Health Service. While in the Senate, I voted for increased IHS funding. I also support the badly needed improvements in the Indian Health Care Improvement Act. To ensure that Indian health gets the attention it deserves, I support elevating the position of the Director of Indian Health Services to the Assistant Secretary for Indian Health. I have proposed increasing research on medical disparities and creating a new health unit within the U.S. Department of Justice to address discrimination in health care. As I said above, training to educate health care practitioners on best practices for treating people with disabilities is essential, and it is part of my plan to improve the quality of care for every American.

Obviously, improving Native health care is vital as Natives suffer from some of the highest health disparities in the country.

For example, suicide is the No. 2 cause of death for Indian youth. Indians are 2.6 times more likely to be diagnosed with diabetes. And the life expectancy for Indians is nearly 6 years less than the rest of the U.S. population.

While I commend the Democratic presidential candidates for taking a stand on Indian health care, I'm disappointed neither Clinton nor Obama are expected to vote on the act come Jan. 22, thus missing a chance to vote on a bill critical to Native people.

Only time will tell whether any of the candidates will take action on their promises, should they be given that opportunity.

For more information about the bill, go to www.nihb.org and click on "IHCIA Reauthorization" in the left column.

Obama, meet Giago

Last week, Huffingtonpost.com columnist Tim Giago took aim at presidential hopeful Barack Obama, criticizing the Illinois senator for uttering the R-word.

Giago seemed to be, at best, reaching when he chastised Obama for saying the word "Redskins" during the Democratic presidential debate Jan. 5 in Manchester, N.H.

Here's a copy of exactly what Obama said during the debate, borrowed from ABC News' transcript of the debate:

SCOTT SPRADLING from ABC Affiliate WMUR in Manchester: Senator Obama, I don't know if your ears were ringing during the first debate. I asked a question about you earlier, and am interested to hear your response to what the Republican candidates for president laid out in arguments for you not being elected president.

I revved up the Republican attack machine. Please respond.

OBAMA: Well, you know, I have to admit that I was going back and forth between the Republicans and football.

(LAUGHTER)

CHARLIE GIBSON, ABC World News anchor: How did the Redskins do?

OBAMA: The Redskins lost.

(LAUGHTER)

Giago said Obama's "lack of sensitivity resonated in Indian country. It made one wonder whether Obama ever considered the meaning of the word that is as hurtful and degrading to Native Americans as the ‘N-word' is to African Americans."

To answer Giago's question: I doubt Obama did think of the meaning of the word as he was simply answering a reporter's question about a game.

While I certainly don't condone the use of the term Redskins, I also think we should save our criticism of its use for those times when it's truly warranted, such as when people argue the term doesn't demean Native people.

In my opinion, Obama - simply responding to a question about whether he watched the game and not engaged in a political discussion about race - didn't place himself in that camp Jan. 5.

Kevin Abourezk, Oglala Lakota, is a reporter and editor at the Lincoln (Neb.) Journal Star. He is a reznet assignment editor and teaches reporting at the Freedom Forum's American Indian Journalism Institute.

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