From the Craig/Haddaway Campaign:
Harford County Executive and Maryland Governor candidate David Craig offered to reimburse a Seattle businesswoman who received hundreds of errant phone calls because Maryland Health Connection, the state’s online Obamacare exchange, incorrectly posted her toll-free number as a help line.
As State officials dither over whether to reimburse the owner of Seattle Pottery Supply, health care point man and Lt. Governor Anthony Brown remains silent on the issue after refusing to issue an apology for the troubled state exchange in General Assembly hearings.
“When people make a mess they usually clean it up and apologize, but our elected officials do neither,” said Craig.
As reported in the Baltimore Sun January 18, state health department officials “would consider reimbursing Lunz for long-distance calls from Maryland.” The calls to Sue Lunz’s pottery supply company started in October, and she has been directing Marylanders to the correct number through last weekend.
David Craig sent Lunz a letter yesterday stating that she will be reimbursed for the cost of phone calls. Craig is hopeful it is a small amount since the money would come from his personal account, and in the event it is a large amount a fundraiser will be held.
“As a small business owner myself, I can only imagine the inconvenience this must have caused her,” said Del. Jeannie Haddaway, who is running for Lt. Governor. “The State’s approach to handling this is arrogant, bureaucratic and unacceptable.”
In a separate error, the so-called zip code glitch has been corrected which the Craig campaign discovered on Jan 6. A “local” help feature on the federal exchange directed consumers in 14 states with their own exchange to navigators in other states. In Maryland, for example, entering a Baltimore zip code directed people to Reston, Virginia and York, Pennsylvania.
The glitch was reported on in national media outlets including Daily Caller, Fox News, Hot Air and Maryland media.
Craig and Haddaway have repeatedly called on the state to shift millions of dollars in marketing, outreach and promotional dollars away from the error-prone Maryland Health Connection. Undisclosed millions of dollars are allocated to promoting the troubled Maryland health exchange while virtually nothing is going to informing the public of their options of signing up for coverage with the assistance of insurance brokers or directly through carriers.
“It is a shame that the O’Malley-Brown Administration is just now getting around to considering some of the viable alternatives that we proposed. What will it take and how bad will this have to get before they finally admit that there is a better way to ensure Marylanders have health coverage?” asked Haddaway.
The board overseeing Maryland Health Connection announced yesterday that they will be working with insurance brokers to develop a telephone help line. Craig and Haddaway called on the State to emphasize direct enrollment options with the insurance industry on Jan. 6.
How noble. I am not a fan of O’Malley or his administration, and I think the healthcare debacle has been handled very poorly in Maryland, but what gives Craig the audacity to extend himself in such a manner? If he truly wanted to help this businesswoman out of the goodness of his heart, he could have done so without publicizing it. Instead, he makes a political issue out of it and inserts himself in a way that is outrageous and inappropriate. What is wrong with him – is he a nut?
What a joke. More political posturing and grandstanding from the soon to be irrelevant and former County Executive. If Mr. Craig is feeling so benevolent I can think of many local charities or individual residents of Harford County who are currently down on their luck that he could contribute to. He could even put more in the church plate on Sunday.
Or even HCPS!
He can offer to pay someone, out of state, but he can’t even give county workers a raise. She ain’t even a voter in this state!
So, if the woman’s phone bill is a small one, Craig will pay it BUT if its a large one then he will hold a fundraiser??? and what, expect Harford county citizens to pay the bill that HE is committing to paying — and wanting to get some kind of ‘kudos’ for ? Can I bring him my bills too?
Worry about your Harford county residents for a change, goofball!!!
Love the part where he will have a fundraiser. Also, I’d love to have my bills paid by a politician in an election year. Wonder why he didn’t do it the rest of the time he was exec.
What a joke!
I applaud David Craig. Focusing blame on Brown. WIN. Offer to pay it himself. WIN. Solicit help from others if it’s a large amount. WIN. Not using campaign funds. WIN. I’ll pitch in.
From the mind of a Graig sycophant.
Actually, I am not aligned with any candidate for Governor. I like David Craig’s resume’ and think that he is a good person.
Obviously you don’t know the man very well.
He has won many elections over the years. The voters seem to respect him.
The voters do not know him. And that is what is so sad about this. Apparently you are one of the people that do not know him – who believe all the lies and manipulations politicians (all politicians) dish out there.
You have never been more wrong in your life. It is so very sad how so many citizens of HC have no idea about the deviousness of this person. This “offer” was a true sign of a calculating narcissist, that is hoping that at the end it will help his agenda of high hopes for candidacy for governor. (which by the way he will never be…. most people hopefully can see through this).
Craig is a total Moron.He screwed up Havre de Grace when he was Mayor.The people of
Harford County need to wake up.They do not know what goes on in 220 S.Main
Someone correct me if I am wrong, but wasn’t Justice the person who was fired for mishandling County Contract bids?? And a dear friend of Mr. Craig’s?????
Dear Mr. Craig,
If you are going to hold a fundraiser, please do it for the schools of this great county. Between O’Malleys taxes and your spending money for a park, they need all the help that they can get.