On today's live show, host with The Young Turks, Ana Kasparian, reported on H.R. 1313, a Republican bill that has passed the first stages of being enacted in the U.S. House of Representatives, which would allow employers to demand that employees submit to Genetic Testing, or face significant fines. Ms. Kasparian explained that "protections" were put in place by former President Barack Obama that prevented employers from asking for exactly the same type of tests the GOP genetic testing bill is seeking to normalize.
H.R. 1313 is said to include provisions that, beyond mere testing, allow employers to access employees' genetic information and health records, as well as permit employers to ask "invasive questions," and to impose penalties should employees choose not to answer.
Seventeen Democrats were reported to have opposed the bill, and 22 Republicans supported it, allowing it to pass a House committee last Wednesday. The TYT host called the initiative "insane."
TYT founder calls GOP bill 'disastrous idea'
Stating that he believes the GOP genetic testing bill is a "disastrous idea," TYT founder Cenk Uygur explained that allowing employers to have genetic information allows them to "discriminate against you, ahead of time." He explained that decisions may be made about an employee about a condition they might never develop, but only have a genetic predisposition to develop, which is not a certainty. The host stated that the plan was similar to one out of a "futuristic movie."
Ana Kasparian described H.R.
1313 as being "beyond being invasive," she noted that it affects people's personal, private, and medical information. She explained that one of the reasons that companies would be interested in learning about employees' genetic information is because of the health care savings that could be achieved by only hiring employees without costly medical issues, who regularly bill insurance plans.
Kasparian also noted the possibility that an employer could base a decision about a female employee based upon whether or not she was pregnant, or wished to become so.
Genetic information available to third parties, third parties of third parties
A further issue with the GOP bill is that third parties to employers, by enlarge, would be responsible for carrying out genetic testing programs, which makes the personal information of employees accessible to a wide range of people, certainly wider than if no testing was performed.
The TYT host expressed concern that such information could be sold to third parties, or "third parties of third parties." which may result in increased junk mail and spam. Cenk Uygur described the effort as one of companies attempting to "re-market" consumers.
Ana Kasparian cited research showing that, despite the fact that the genetic testing bill is sponsored by Republicans, conservative voters do not support genetic testing. She stated that the bill "negatively impacts every single American." The host also expressed frustration with President Donald Trump, and his administration "flooding the news cycle with craziness," drawing attention away from such important legislation passing through Congress.
