By John Frank, Times Staff Writer
In Print: Sunday, September 6, 2009
BROOKSVILLE — The AARP has sent a scathing letter to U.S. Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite, criticizing her for promoting mistruths in the debate over health care reform.
"On such a critical issues, there should be little or no room for misstatements … that frighten vulnerable older Floridians or cloud this important debate with misconceptions," wrote Lori Parham, the Florida director for the 40 million-member advocacy group.
The three-page letter, faxed to Brown-Waite's office Tuesday, first thanked her for "putting principle ahead of partisanship" when she corrected myths about end-of-life counseling in an August interview with an Orlando radio station.
But it then proceeded to scold the Brooksville Republican for misrepresenting numerous elements of House Bill 3200 in a flier labeled "Ginny's Prescription," which was distributed at her August town hall meeting on health care. Brown-Waite voted against the bill as a member of the House Ways and Means Committee, which drafted the legislation.
The congresswoman's flier warns of spending cuts to Medicare and Medicare Advantage and invokes the concept of rationing, a persistent, yet misstated, scare tactic employed by opponents.
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AARP scolds Ginny Brown-Waite
Veterans Issues
2007-2008 In 2007-2008 Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America gave Representative Brown-Waite a grade of B.
2006 Representative Brown-Waite supported the interests of the Disabled American Veterans 66 percent in 2006.
2006 In 2006 Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America gave Representative Brown-Waite a grade of C.
2006 Representative Brown-Waite sponsored or co-sponsored 86 percent of the legislation favored by the The Retired Enlisted Association in 2006.
2005 Representative Brown-Waite supported the interests of the Disabled American Veterans 0 percent in 2005.
2004 Representative Brown-Waite supported the interests of the Disabled American Veterans 0 percent in 2004.
2004 Representative Brown-Waite supported the interests of the The Retired Enlisted Association 33 percent in 2004.
2003-2004 Representative Brown-Waite supported the interests of the Vietnam Veterans of America 50 percent in 2003-2004.
2003 Representative Brown-Waite supported the interests of the American Veterans 100 percent in 2003.
2003 Representative Brown-Waite supported the interests of the Disabled American Veterans 50 percent in 2003.
2003 Representative Brown-Waite supported the interests of the The American Legion 80 percent in 2003.
Veterans Issues