Silence can be much more revealing than what a person actually says.

Let’s consider Hartzler’s latest newsletter.

Of course, she want to repeals the ACA, but has not clear recommendations on what to replace it with:

As we begin the new year, I remain committed to working with my colleagues in Congress to end this disastrous law and to replace it with health care options that offer all Americans access to quality, affordable health coverage they want.

I want to consider two other examples.

She takes no bow for how much money will be saved from the budget by extending long term unemployment benefits.  We can all wonder why.

One of the reasons Hartzler cites to replace Obamacare is the following problem.

There’s a chance many people who thought they had enrolled in various health care plans are not actually enrolled, after all. Many Americans who signed up through the government exchanges have been incorrectly informed they enrolled in plans. If you’re in this category you might be in for a big shock early in the new year when you learn that while you were informed you had enrolled, the insurance company you thought you had signed up with might know nothing about you. Bottom line – you might not have coverage!

[I won’t note that these government exchanges are actually coverage by PRIVATE companies.}

This is serious: some of her constituents who thought they have insurance might not. However, she offers NO advice on how to find out whether one is enrolled or not.  Nice non-service for something that is important.

There is this “good” news:

I am pleased to share that even though Congress was not in session, negotiators from the House and Senate Agriculture Committees were at work hammering out the final details of what I hope will be a comprehensive five-year Farm Bill. There are still differences between the House and Senate versions of the Farm Bill, but the principle negotiators are making significant progress and the conferees plan to vote the first full week back in January. As a member of the House Agriculture Committee, I am committed to serving the interests of both consumers and farmers – approving a Farm Bill that provides the United States with a safe, plentiful, and affordable supply of food for many years to come.

We don’t need to note that a significant portion of the Farm Bill will be GOVERNMENT supported crop insurance.  

What is missing in this good news is any mention of providing Americans who are food insecure with help.  (Missouri has the highest percentage of people who are food insecure in the country.) There was a time when the Farm Bill had such support.

What Hartzler doesn’t say is much more important than what she says.