Quayle misses AARP forum

Friday, there was a forum sponsored by the AARP. Legislative candidates from all over the area were invited to get input from AARP members and leaders on the issue of healthcare, a major concern for everyone, but seniors in particular. Democratic challenger Steve Heretick was there, but incumbent Senator Fred Quayle was not.

Now, seniors are a pretty reliable group of voters. I have no idea why Quayle would choose to ignore them. Maybe it has something to do with his voting record? After all, Quayle has:

• voted against allowing cameras (“granny cams”) in patients’ rooms to help protect seniors from abuse (SB922, 2003);
• voted to block legislation to require criminal background checks for employees of nursing homes (HB2748, 2001);
• voted to protect HMOs from being held legally responsible for refusing to authorize needed care and prescriptions (SB1294, 1999); and
• voted to kill the ability of terminally ill patients to continue to use their primary doctors when those doctors switched providers — even when the doctor would agree to the terms of managed care plans (SB1271, 1999)

Quayle’s website boasts that he received the Industry Leadership Award from the Virginia Adult Home Association. Sounds impressive, right? Well, except that 33 members of this special interest group has piled up over 700 violations this year alone of the regulations of the VA Department of Social Services. Oh yeah – and Qualye voted against annual inspections of adult care facilities (SB443, 1996).

With a record like that, it’s no wonder Qualye stayed away.

Steve Heretick will look out for seniors. Steve Heretick will work to ensure quality health care, just as he as advocated for as president of the Virginia Board of Medicine. Steve Heretick will listen to his constituents. Steve Heretick is the right person to represent the 13th district in the Senate.

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