Rep. Reschke: Measure 111 – Too Expense and Won’t Work

By State Representative E. Werner Reschke,

There is a saying, “If you think healthcare is expensive now, just wait until it’s free.” The meaning is clear: when government runs and pays for all healthcare, the inefficiencies, cronyism and corruption that are inherent with such large government programs will be part of our healthcare system.

Some estimate the cost of this poorly worded ballot measure will cost the state $22 billion a year. To put that in perspective, the biennial (2-year) general fund budget for the State of Oregon is $25 billion. Also note K-12 Education usually takes up $9 billion. You do not need to be a math wizard to quickly realize something is wrong. Either healthcare will be rationed for all or your taxes will go up — significantly. It will be one or the other, or maybe even both!

Ballot Measure 111 is a constitutional provision, meaning it would require another vote of the people to unwind this ballot measure or 2/3 of the legislature with a Governor’s signature. In other words, highly unlikely.

One thing I can say about socialized medicine is that it is consistent: it fails the people everywhere it has been tried. Taxes are always high and care is always rationed. It’s why many around the world travel to the US for healthcare as routine as a CT scan. As someone once told me, “if you want the same people who run the DMV to manage your healthcare, BM 111 is for you.”

I strongly urge a NO vote on BM 111. It will significantly increase your taxes and the quality and timeliness of healthcare will become far, far worse.