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Stop the Opiate Tax aka The Lifeboat Act

Public Comments (806)
  • Jun 7th, 2016
    Someone from New Castle, DE writes:
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    I'm a PDAV with 7 yrs service between the Active Air Force and Air Force Reserves. I've tried to apply for a 926C conceal carry card separated. I even sent away and a copy of my DD form 214 and military records only to be told I didn't have enough paper work to be considered. I feel congress needs to makes an admendment to this bill to allow for disabled vets who were n made to either cross trian or exit the service due to medical reasons.
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  • Jun 7th, 2016
    Someone from Hammond, IN signed.
  • Jun 6th, 2016
    Someone from Redfield, IA writes:
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    This is terrible to tax the sick and suffering .
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  • Jun 6th, 2016
    Someone from Brandon, FL writes:
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    Absolutely not fair and clearly biased. Congress couldn't be more against Americans who are suffering pain and the disabled than ever before . The American Government couldn't be more lost!
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  • Jun 6th, 2016
    Someone from Schenectady, NY writes:
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    So basically, a "sin tax" a god damn sin tax on a life sustaining medication?! Yes, life sustaining. .. the millions of chronic pain patients that would surely succumb to the unimaginable constant pain, if not for opioid medications. This just disgusts me
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  • Jun 6th, 2016
    Someone from Hayden, ID writes:
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    What happened to fair and ethical medical treatment? Why do our representatives not see what they are doing? You are punishing the sick, weak and elderly when you sign this bill. You are punishing the CANCER patient. The AUTOIMMUNE patient. The sick CHILD after surgery. I am an autoimmune patient, mother nurse and VETERAN. These medications when taken properly under supervision and with other treatment modalities help people heal and live their lives! When you do this you are STEALING money from some of the most vulnerable in our nation. You are punishing them to reward junkies who buy these pills off the street and often fail or drop out of programs. These rehabilitation programs HAVE funding. Statewide and nationwide. They're public and private entities. Why should good taxpaying people have to foot the bill? When will our country start punishing the junkies and criminals and make them pay a tax for our sick and elderly. SHAME ON YOU CONGRESS.
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  • Jun 6th, 2016
    Someone from Saint Paul, MN signed.
  • Jun 6th, 2016
    Someone from Satellite Beach, FL writes:
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    I was injured by a driver who failed to notice the red light I was stopped at. I have had 2 failed spinal surgeries, causing more damage to my spine, both of my shoulders were torn and ruined in my 22nd surgery...I live in a world of constant pain, lost my career,we lost our home....I barely make enough to help my family survive and pay for all my doctors appointments, physical therapy, medication that without I would not even function at all. I gave more surgeries on my spine that are dangerous, very dangerous, as well as shoulder sugeries, and other joint related surgeries. This is insanity, I want to live and enjoy what small moments I do have because my medication allows me to somewhat function is. I have never sought a pill mill Dr., nor would I ever,i think they are the true danger, not those of us who follow our Dr's. prescriptions and use only 1 doctor. This is so not founded in facts or reality.
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  • Jun 6th, 2016
    Someone from Spring Hill, FL writes:
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    Bad enough pharmacy price gouge patients
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  • Jun 6th, 2016
    Someone from Southaven, MS signed.
  • Jun 6th, 2016
    Someone from Sumiton, AL writes:
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    I'm a pain patient, so I'm supposed to pay for some heroin/crack/meth, since they amass the main percentage of overdoses, addict's rehab!?!? When I am barely getting by. Sure sounds fair, not!And who will really benefit from this tax I ask!?!? The people scamming I mean running these "rehabilitation"centers.
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  • Jun 6th, 2016
    Someone from Hobart, IN signed.
  • Jun 6th, 2016
    Someone from Eden, GA signed.
  • Jun 6th, 2016
    Someone from Jonesboro, GA signed.
  • Jun 6th, 2016
    Someone from Manchester, OH signed.
  • Jun 6th, 2016
    Someone from Oklahoma City, OK signed.
  • Jun 6th, 2016
    Someone from Edmond, OK writes:
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    PLEASE STOP THIS UTTER MADNESS! There really are people like me who live with Chronic Pain Every Single Day! I have Rheumatoid Disease, Dengenerative Disc Disease, Fibromyalgia & Sjogrens Syndrome. I do not take my measley 5 mg of norco for fun people! Please, I implore you, I do not know how I will live, oh, and guess what? I am Not an Addict! I do not nor ever have, taken more than I'm prescribed. My broken body needs the temporary relief these meds provide. Please make the difference betweem legit Chronic Pain sufferers & Addicts!
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  • Jun 6th, 2016
    Someone from Rosedale, MD signed.
  • Jun 6th, 2016
    Someone from Kirkland, WA signed.
  • Jun 6th, 2016
    Someone from Dyersville, IA signed.
  • Jun 6th, 2016
    Someone from Pittsburg, CA writes:
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    I am on social security disability and medicare. I need my medication to enjoy a decent quality of life. If I did not have it, I wouldn't be able to do daily things to take care of myself. I already struggle as it is. I also already have to pay a deductible for my meds. Now they want to add an additional tax? On someone that's on a very low fixed income? On someone who uses these meds responsibly? Unless they come up with a cure for RA I will probably have to use pain meds for the rest of my life and, will never go into a rehab facility? I don't use these meds to "get high". They only take the edge off the pain. That is the only impact on my life. And how did they come up with this seventy-five cents to three-dollar figure? I take 150 15 mg tablets a month. That comes to $22.50 a month plus my co-pay. Which to me would mean that if I had to see my doctor an extra time that month or possibly need another medication, I wouldn't be able to afford it. Why should I and others like me have to shoulder the responsibility of paying for drug treatment for drug abusers? Just because they can't tax the street drug dealers? That's just crazy and wrong on so many levels. Please do not pass this bill.
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  • Jun 6th, 2016
    Someone from Marine City, MI writes:
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    Raise Social Security Disability, ELIMINATE Refugee Programs and there won't be a problem having to Tax our valuable needed Meds. Bad enough Insurance Companies REFUSE to pay for those that actually worked and gave a bit of relief from Chronic Pain and now to tax us on Meds that aren't as effective??? INSANITY!!
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  • Jun 6th, 2016
    Someone from Saint John, IN writes:
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    I listened to the press conference and couldn't believe my ears. Comparing a tax on pain meds is in no way similar to taxing alcohol and cigarettes! If you are taxing these drugs for recreational purposes, then yes, it makes sense, but not for the use they have now. People in chronic pain use these drugs not to get high, but to function in their daily lives. Untreated and undertreated chronic pain causes depression, anxiety, heart disease, high blood pressure, lack of sleep, suicide and much more. Please look at the collateral damage this is going to do to the 95% who use these drugs responsibly. We DO NOT get high! i have taken morphine and generic vicodin for 9 years with no problem. I am a 73 yrs old disabled widow on social security income only. These new rules and regulations are killing us!
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  • Jun 6th, 2016
    Someone from Flat Rock, MI writes:
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    One again the people who take pain medication responsibly, who would have little quality of life without it, who are on a fixed income due to being disabled, are going to be taxed for pain Meds? How can you do this to the people who already pay so much for medical insurance, doctors appointments and prescriptions? Why are you persecuting the thousands of people who have nothing to do with abusing these medications?
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  • Jun 6th, 2016
    Someone from Des Moines, IA signed.
  • Jun 6th, 2016
    Someone from Greenback, TN signed.
  • Jun 6th, 2016
    Someone from Greenback, TN writes:
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    This bill will only tax responsible, law-abiding chronic pain patients with a legal prescription for opiates. There will be a very low percentage of us ever in rehabilitation. We use our prescriptions wisely, we don't abuse them or divert them. We, legal chronic pain patients, will be paying for rehab for recreational & street users. I urge you to vote AGAINST this bill.
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  • Jun 6th, 2016
    Someone from Morgantown, WV signed.
  • Jun 6th, 2016
    Someone from Palm Desert, CA writes:
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    This is just so unfair to punish those who are in pain by taxing their pain medications. We are already being tortured because of the policies against narcotic drugs by the government as they have again run off after the wrong people in this losing war on drugs. Please start asking some real questions like are any drug addicts no longer abusing drugs with these policies because we know that Prohibition does not work? The country is so concerned over the raise in heroin addiction and you will find, if you really look, that the raise is directly connected to these policies because if a drug addict can't get the pills they want, they will and are turning to heroin and now our government is supporting the Drug Cartels who will get a drug addict anything they want just as the "Mob's" did for alcohol. Did we learn nothing from history? Why is the life of a drug addict more important than the lives of those who are in pain? Why are politicians acting as doctors in the decisions of what is the best way to treat us? Mothers can no longer care for their children and bread winners no longer able to support their families. Who is going to pay for that care and where will that money come from? Who is going to care for those like myself who strive to stay independent and live within the boundaries of our disabilities but can no longer do so without the pain relief we need? Health Care in this country is going to fail under these policies and it must when doctors refuse to take on patients who are in pain, clinic are closing and good doctors can no longer treat their patients in the way they know is best without fear of prosecution? Who are they going to blame for this? Obama Care? Someone must be blamed for the failure of our health care system to deal with those who are in pain. Chronic Pain is a disability and we are being discriminated against because of those who will and do abuse drugs just like any religion or race who is discriminated against because of the actions of a few. We need someone to stand for us, talk about us, do something for us in this losing war on drugs. We are told that 13% of Veteran's abuse drugs but what about the 87% who need relief from pain and now can't get that relief? Chronic Pain can and does kill and those who can no longer deal with a life in pain 24/7 will take their own lives and Veterans are the most vulnerable after the horrors of war. America makes these Veterans and makes the pain they now live with and yet we are turning our backs on them and telling them there is nothing we can do for the pain they are in. Why aren't pain patients given the same rights as others to decide what is the best care for their problems? Politics needs to stay out of our relationship between our doctors and the care we need. Please do your jobs, do it right, look into the problems these policies are making that no one will talk about because of the fear of supporting drug addicts but we are NOT drug addicts, w
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  • Jun 6th, 2016
    Someone from Marion, IN signed.
  • Jun 6th, 2016
    Someone from Elizabethtown, KY signed.
  • Jun 6th, 2016
    Someone from Atkins, VA writes:
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    Chronic Pain Rights Being Violated. I am NOT an abuser, I need the meds to even get up of the morning. Implant surgery does NOT take the pain away!
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  • Jun 6th, 2016
    Someone from Atkins, VA writes:
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    Chronic Pain Rights Being Violated. I am NOT an abuser, I need the meds to even get up of the morning. Implant surgery does NOT take the pain away!
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  • Jun 6th, 2016
    Someone from Montgomery, AL signed.
  • Jun 6th, 2016
    Someone from Spring Hill, FL signed.
  • Jun 6th, 2016
    Someone from Mastic, NY writes:
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    Just one more thing in the Federal governments witch hunt to punish chronic pain patients! This so called "war on drugs" has been a losing battle so now instead of going after the illegal street drugs like heroin and synthetic opiates, the suppliers, the smugglers. Who will never go away! It's now Doctors and patients with debilitating chronic pain that are going to pay the price. (No pun intended) "Patients won't have to worry about the cost because the insurance will pay for it" now that the new guidelines are being released the insurance companies will make it impossible to get much needed medication! Just watch! Street drugs and addicts will always be there as long as the drugs are made available. Patients on the other hand will lose their quality of life and you will see suicides increase. You will see patients turn to illegal drugs to alleviate their pain. Just watch! So sad....
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  • Jun 6th, 2016
    Someone from Fort Campbell, KY signed.
  • Jun 6th, 2016
    Someone from Bend, OR signed.
  • Jun 6th, 2016
    Someone from Paradise, CA writes:
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    This tax is a HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATION and must not be implemented. It is discrimination of one group of people for medically necessary medications. It is punishing one group of people for the actions of another group of people. We are supposed to be free from discrimination free from being punished for another persons actions. This is making one group of patients responsible for the actions of another group of people. Why would a chronic pain patient be more responsible for providing a meth addict or cocaine addict or a heroin addict addiction treatment based on the medication they are legally prescribed it has nothing to do with a drug addict abusing drugs. This tax is another example of how the war on drugs has become the war on those chronically ill. Those that brought this tax to the table should be ashamed of such out right discrimination of those that are chronically ill.
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  • Jun 6th, 2016
    Someone from Saint Johns, FL signed.