I got an email recently regarding GINA, something I was unfamiliar with, so rather than popping off emails to my Senators, I researched it first. Most of the sites referencing it were positive about it, but gave little information about it. But they di all note the same thing: the bill was held up by one single Senator--Tom Coburn.
That changed everything. Tom Coburn is our senator, an OBGYN and about one of the most honest men we've ever had the pleasure of corrsponding with. Coburn had some serious questions about GINA, similar to what was pointed out in the article I posted. He wanted to be sure that genetic information was used properly, and the potential for abuse was addressed before allowing the bill to go further. The trouble was, rather than addressing his concerns, the bills proponents simple launched attacks against him--useless attacks, because Coburn has proven he can't be manipulated by politics. I understand the bill has recently moved forward, but I couldn't fond information about whether that was simply procedural, or if Coburn's questions had finally been answered.
Sometimes it's best to stop, address people concerns, and take them seriously, rather that attempting to push things in spite of the objections, because failing to address those concerns only fuels their fears that they are being ignored.
