Representative Lee Qualm seems to be feeling a bit of heat. Because this week in his District’s papers, he’s placed a couple of ads, one of which claims he has all sorts of healthcare credentials.
As noted on Qualm’s facebook page:
Qualm claims he’s “…a proven leader who works hard to enhance healthcare in SD?” Really?
And nevermind his claim of a false link between autism and vaccinations, that was part of his testimony on his bill House Bill 1235.. that anti-healthcare bill where he was the prime sponsor of a measure to not just end mandatory vaccination for school attendance, but made it a class one misdemeanor – that’s up to one year in jail – if an employer requires vaccinations for employees of nursing homes & state medical students.
Anyway, there’s one item that really got my attention in his ad. The first bullet where Qualm claims we should look at him as a health leader because he was the “Prime Sponsor of a Commemoration Honoring Dr. Jerome Bentz of Platte as the 2015 Family Doctor of the Year.”
Why? Because Dr. Jerome Bentz has his own opinion about this years’ District 21 State Senate Primary. And as reflected to a couple of the newspapers in District 21, it doesn’t really reflect glowingly on Qualm’s health care leadership:
To the Editor:
Erin Tobin and Lee Qualm are running for the District 21 Senate seat. Erin, a west river rancher’s wife, and her husband have 2 children in elementary school and is a certified nurse practitioner. Lee, a farmer and rancher from west of Platte, has been in the SD House of Representatives for 8 years. He has term-limited out and is hoping that voters will send him across the hall to the Senate Chamber.
In his campaign announcement Lee touted his accomplishments, but failed to remind voters of the misguided medical bills he has sponsored. Most noteworthy was HB1235 which would have abolished mandatory childhood vaccination requirements. Proponents labeled this bill a “medical freedom act”. Had this bill passed less children would’ve received childhood vaccinations and eventually SD would have had an increase or outbreak of vaccine preventable infectious diseases like measles.
Lest you brush this off as alarmist, you should note the 2019 measles outbreak in Oregon which has a strong anti-vaccination lobby. Between September 2018 and July 2019 New York also experienced a measles outbreak brought on by vaccine hesitancy, exercise of parental freedom to refuse immunization, and non-medical vaccine opponents. 649 patients contracted measles (most were not vaccinated) and nearly 6% had complications. The cost of managing this epidemic totaled more than 8 million dollars.
To my knowledge HB1235 was brought forward without ever consulting any SD medical practitioners. The entire SD medical community including physicians, nurses, advanced practice providers, hospitals, and the SD Department of Health testified against it. Fortunately it was overwhelmingly killed in the Health and Human Services Committee by a resounding 10 to 2 vote. It’s baffling that a lifelong farmer/rancher with no medical background would sponsor such an ill-advised medical bill. But then again, maybe it’s not surprising since no SD medical professionals or organizations were consulted.
Erin is a solid conservative prolife candidate who understands and will promote South Dakota agriculture. She will use her medical experience and expertise and work alongside (rather than against) our medial community to promote the health and wellbeing of our children and adults. It’s time for a change—vote ERIN TOBIN.
Sincerely,
Jerome W. Bentz, MD Family Physician in Platte, SD
Ouch.
“In his campaign announcement Lee touted his accomplishments, but failed to remind voters of the misguided medical bills he has sponsored….
To my knowledge HB1235 was brought forward without ever consulting any SD medical practitioners. The entire SD medical community including physicians, nurses, advanced practice providers, hospitals, and the SD Department of Health testified against it….
It’s baffling that a lifelong farmer/rancher with no medical background would sponsor such an ill-advised medical bill. But then again, maybe it’s not surprising since no SD medical professionals or organizations were consulted.”
It doesn’t sound as if the 2015 South Dakota Family Physician of the Year that Lee cites in his advertising believes Qualm is “a proven leader works hard to enhance healthcare in SD.”
If anything, I think he’s telling people the exact opposite.
I believe the youth refer to this as “rekt”
I like Lee.
But I would find it interesting if he lost his primary after trying to destroy Langer and Greenfield.
Since when is telling the truth trying to destroy someone?
The only people who tried to destroy Langner and Greenfield are Langner and Greenfield.
QUALM hopped aboard the Howard, Haugard, Jensen bus. What a mistake!
South Dakotans want to ride the truth-telling bus. Kudos to Qualm for driving it.
Too bad that the Qualm- Howard -Haugaard -Jensen truth-telling bus crashed into a wall because it was completely filled with manure.
If Qualm is on the “truth telling” bus he would be honest about his healthcare support, which is that he has been a major HURDLE to healthcare with introduction of stupid bills that hinder science based medicine. He sure hopped on the anti-vax wagon and lay midwife wagon though.
So now he is on the conservative bus?
Well maybe he is representing his constituency who are many Dutch conservatives plus throw in some Hutterites that are quite conservative also.
Anti-vax does not equal conservative. Anti-vax and alternative medicine = liberal.
I am Conservative,I am all for Alternative Medicine and choice in vaccinations. I find it puzzling that would not be a Conservative Position,. Freedom to choose what is best for you. That also means freedom to make poor choices. I don’t know if some of you have paid any attention but, the folks in the White coats get it wrong very often and list is long and distinguished. It’s no wonder folks are not trusting them and looking for different ways to heal and get better. Medical errors are one of top leading causes of death in the US, thats a systemic issue, not just a couple quacks
I too think Jenny McCarthy knows better than doctors because medical malpractice is a thing.
You have a choice already. But you would like to remove choices for the majority. Do you really think it’s ok for medical students to do clinical rotations in peds/OB/geriatrics without proper immunizations? For sake of a “choice”. Get real. Conservative beliefs typically fight for capitalism and hard work. Not “poor me” I have to home school.
Anti-vax and alternative medicine are neither conservative nor liberal. They are simply crazy, and there are enough crazies on both ends of the spectrum.
How about a libertarian point of view? Why do Republican conservatives like Jensen support this? Is he a liberal?
There are so many connotative definitions for liberal.
I just find it humorous that his sponsorship of a “Doc of the Year” award was number one on the list. Does that really have an impact on anyone’s life?
Rep. Qualm is an idiot and so is anyone that is dumb enough to vote for him…
So are his constituency idiots for electing him? The Legislature is a reflection of the people.
There has never really been another option against “Qualm”, now there is. Change is coming and it needs to happen. I’m sure the Qualms are great people but term limits were set in place for a reason. You don’t just bounce back-and-forth between chambers.
Fresh blood for district 21 is coming soon and when she has served her district, and she will, she will pass the torch. Murica.
I think you just answered your own question.