Gourd speaks his mind, urges others to do same

Tahlequah Daily Press (OK)

March 09--Political activism and protest has been a hot topic since the 2016 general election, particularly for the left-leaning, now that Democrats are virtually shut out of power at the federal level.

For some, getting their voices heard means peaceful protest. For a tiny minority, it means violent protest that damages property -- though there remains paltry evidence that paid professional protesters are being shuttled about the country by wealthy liberal elites.

For Dr. Charles Gourd of Park Hill, it means sending a lot of emails, or speaking up at a Legislative Focus of the Tahlequah Area Chamber of Commerce, or sitting on a committee. Some may see him as passionate, others as a firebrand or agitator.

"I just sent a few emails early on, and I never let off," Gourd said.

These days, Gourd is especially critical of GOP policies, but that doesn't mean he marches in lockstep with the Democrats.

"For the Republicans, we're talking about issues they just don't care about," Gourd said. "They have a completely different agenda than what is in the best interest of the majority of people. I'm all over the Democratic Party, too. But I believe the most important audience is the general public. So few people are registered to vote, and so few who are registered go to vote. But then they sit around and complain. I say if you didn't vote, then shut up -- you gave up your voice when you had the opportunity."

Tahlequah's most direct line to Washington, D.C., is through Oklahoma District 2 Rep. Markwayne Mullin, a Republican and a resident of Westville. Mullin's office receives a lot of emails from Gourd, who said he is disappointed with the response.

Amy Lawrence, communication director for Mullin, said his office has sent two letters to Gourd in the past seven days and 15 during the previous year or so. Gourd is also a recipient of Mullin's weekly newsletter.

"He responds some of the time, but not all of the time, and he doesn't always address my query," Gourd said. "I get a standard response about looking into my concerns and getting back to me."

Lawrence also said Mullin's office noticed Gourd's January letter to the editor in the Tahlequah Daily Press about how repeal of the Affordable Care Act might endanger the Indian Health Service.

"Congressman Mullin's chief of staff attempted to call Dr. Gourd several times to discuss the topic with him, but his phone calls and voicemails were not returned," Lawrence wrote in email correspondence.

Gourd expressed surprise and said, "I don't recall receiving those."

The left-leaning crowd finds little to cheer about the administration of President Donald Trump, but Gourd believes the ACA is the top priority.

"Calling it 'Obamacare' was blatant racism," Gourd said. "It's the Affordable Care Act. A lot of people are saying get rid of Obamacare, but leave my Medicaid alone. Medicaid is a great part of the ACA and an attempt to make health care more affordable to more people. If they reduce reimbursement, hospitals can take fewer patients. The ACA will impact 75 million people. It will help people with home care to keep them home as long as possible to reduce costs. Home care costs $1,000 to $1,200 a month, while it costs $4,000 to keep someone in a nursing home."

The GOP alternative to the ACA is being met with skepticism by medical groups and threatens to sow discord within the party. Moderate Republicans and the party's right flank have expressed opposition. Some Republicans in the Senate say they just want the repeal process slowed. There is still no cost estimate. Full repeal of the ACA is probably not possible due to the threat of a Democratic filibuster, but funding can be adjusted through "budget reconciliation" measures that require only 51 votes in the Senate.

Mullin is among those who support the GOP proposal, or the "American Health Care Act."

"Obamacare sent premiums in Oklahoma through the roof and increased deductibles so that people couldn't even afford to use their health care plan," Mullin said. "With only one insurer left in the state marketplace, Oklahomans need relief from the disastrous policy they've been living under for the past seven years. The American Health Care Act delivers lower costs, more choices, and a patient-centered system that gives Oklahomans more control over their health care. I'm looking forward to passing The American Health Care Act so we can begin to deliver on our promise to repeal and replace Obamacare with a health care plan that puts patients first."

The Republicans want to offer credits based on age rather than income. The Medicaid expansion -- rejected by Oklahoma -- would continue until Jan. 1, 2020, whereupon funds would be awarded per capita rather than fee-for-service. ACA taxes on high incomes, capital gains and insurance plans would be removed. High-end insurance plans would be taxed starting in 2025. Pre-existing conditions would not be denied, though a renewal fee of up to 30 percent could be assessed against those with lapsed coverage.

The limit on health savings accounts -- a popular GOP plank -- would increase. There would be no funding for Planned Parenthood.

Gourd has also criticized Republicans on Capitol Hill for avoiding their constituents, but Mullin has visited Tahlequah during the first week of April in 2015 and 2016 as part of town hall "tours" through District 2, and held a telephone town hall in February.

Lawrence said Mullin again will hold town halls in 2017.

"Congressman Mullin has never been one to shy away from his constituents," Lawrence said. "Historically, he has held town halls in all 26 counties each year -- and this year will be no exception. The town hall schedule is still being finalized, but Congressman Mullin will hold town hall meetings in all 26 counties during the district work period in April. As soon as we've finalized the town hall schedule, we'll be announcing the times and locations for all town hall meetings on our website and social media pages."

The schedule first will be announced in Mullin's newsletter. Free subscriptions are available at mullin.house.gov/forms/form/?ID=1.

Gourd said elected officials of all stripes should always be mindful of their constituents' concerns.

"Anybody who holds an elective position but doesn't respond to constituent requests -- that is inexcusable," he said. "You're either with [Thomas] Jefferson or [Alexander] Hamilton. Jefferson believed you were only responsible to those who voted for you, but Hamilton believed you must represent all."

Last year, Gourd was seated on the Department of Agriculture's Forest Resource Coordinating Committee. He serves as a tribal representative. The committee works with the USDA, state agencies and private sector interests to enhance forest conservation.

"We dealt with issues impacting public and private forest land in an effort to get everyone to coordinate on what we were doing," he said. "We need to conserve our resources, because if they go, we are in trouble. So many tribes have significant forest resources, and this was a way to include them in forest policy."

Gourd said people should get involved in the public sphere if they are passionate about issues.

"It's not that I think I'm so smart, but I've been fortunate to have opportunities to do different things at different levels in different places," he said. "Become politically and socially active on issues that affect you, or even on issues that don't affect you but affect other people. Speak up and stay with it."

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