Allen Vaught sent out a mailer yesterday using very expensive first class postage. It was all about autism and honesty.

Allen Vaught is nervous.

Let’s sort out a few things. First, take a look at how Allen Vaught’s law firm takes care of kids:

• A 12-year-old boy, sent home from the emergency room, died twenty-four hours after his release. The E.R. nurse advised the emergency room physician on duty of the boy’s lab results. She provided the results of the wrong patient. This was discovered after the child’s death. FCJ obtained a verdict for the hospital based upon a causation defense.
• A child with respiratory symptoms was discharged from the E.R. only to return within hours still in distress. ICU admission, intubation, and transfer ensued, but the child sustained hypoxic brain injury. At the trial, there were two versions of the first emergency room chart; one indicating good vital signs and the other with none. In the suit, the family claimed that the infant was in severe respiratory distress and should have been hospitalized on the first visit. The emergency room physician stood accused of negligence and altering the chart. FCJ obtained a defense verdict for the physician.
• A baby boy, hospitalized for dehydration, developed compartment syndrome as a result of an IV infiltration. The child’s foot was severely injured, requiring fasciotomies and plastic surgery. The plaintiffs asserted claims of negligence and abandonment against the pediatrician. The verdict was for the defendant physician.

This is how Allen Vaught makes a living. These examples from his firm’s own website are Allen Vaught’s actions speaking louder than words.

Want more examples of actions speaking louder than words?

This is Allen Vaught’s latest mailer which, amazingly, was sent to special needs families across the district.

I couldn’t have written better headlines myself. Bill Keffer’s actions scream in comparison to Allen Vaught’s complete and total inaction. Nearly 1,000 families across the state whose children are enrolled in the Texas Virtual Academy, which Bill Keffer supported and helped create, would agree. Bill Keffer’s record speaks for itself every time a family returns to public school thanks to a legislator who does more than talk.

Allen Vaught’s sloppy attack ad discusses two specific bills – bills on insurance coverage for autism families.

Notice that Allen Vaught doesn’t talk about what he did for education for these children, Vaught’s platform issue.

Why is that?

Because there’s nothing to say. Allen Vaught didn’t do anything except allow a huge population of families to watch their children go two more years with no access to appropriate public education. Allen Vaught’s inaction speaks louder than words.

So Vaught, the education guy, wants to talk about insurance. Here is some information on the legislation Bill Keffer opposed:

LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 78TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

March 28, 2003

TO:	Honorable John T. Smithee, Chair, House Committee on Insurance
FROM:	John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HB1543 by Bonnen (Relating to health benefit plan coverage for an enrollee with autism and pervasive developmental disorders.), As Introduced

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would require health plans to provide any medically necessary treatment, equipment or therapy for the treatment of autism or a pervasive developmental disorder.

The bill would apply to Health Maintenance Organizations (HMO) in the Uniform Group Insurance Plan (UGIP) and could impact HMO costs. However, the impact on the UGIP would be minimal since only approximately 12 percent of UGIP enrollment is in HMO’s.

The Texas Department of Insurance would need to develop and propose new and amended rules. They would also have to review form amendments to bring previously-approved form filings into compliance with the new requirements. The agency indicates that any costs could be absorbed within current resources.

Local Government Impact

No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.

Source Agencies:	454 Department of Insurance, 327 Employees Retirement System
LBB Staff:	JK, JRO, RR, RT, RB

Factor in that only the non-Erisa plans are impacted by state law, and fewer than 5% of families could possibly benefit from this bill.

Who’s being misleading?

Bill Keffer did not support a bill that wasted time and energy and ultimately would not have helped anyone. I have invited everyone to produce a family that has benefitted from a similar bill Allen Vaught is proud to have supported, HB1919. I’ve been looking for two years, and I have not found a single person.

Allen Vaught is proud to have supported a bill that didn’t help anyone.

We completely agree.

Mr. Keffer, Families across the state thank you for making tangible education changes that have helped so many Texas children. Families across the state thank you for not wasting more of our children’s lives on legislation like HB1919 or HB1543. Good luck today!