The Democrats who voted No for Health Care Reform are as follows:
According to House Roll Call 887
Updated with Contact Information
Adler (NJ) (w/ Statement) (202) 225-4765
Washington, DC - Congressman John Adler today released the following statement announcing that he will vote no on H.R 3962, the new House health care reform bill.
"The House health care bill, unveiled last week, does not do enough to contain costs, or protect small businesses, seniors, taxpayers, and middle class families. Since June, I have consistently expressed my serious reservations about the House proposal. While this new version of the bill is a step in the right direction, I am not satisfied that it curbs costs and keeps health care affordable in the long term.
"Congress should not pass a bill that costs more than $1 trillion dollars. Health care costs are rising faster than wages and inflation, and this bill does not change this trend. We must do more to ease health care costs for hard-working American families. In addition, we need to increase efforts to cut waste, fraud, and abuse from the system.
"If health care reform does not bend the cost curve and reduce waste and fraud, then we are not fixing the problem. We are simply pushing the cost onto future generations."
Since January, Congressman John Adler has hosted more than 60 town hall and open community events. Congressman Adler has heard from local residents, answered questions, and shared his concerns and ideas surrounding health care reform.
For additional information on Congressman Adler’s position, please contact Kathryn Prael at Kathryn.prael@mail.house.gov This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 202-226-9201.
Altmire (w/ Statement) 202-225-2565
U.S. Congressman Jason Altmire (PA-04) tonight released the following statement after voting against the health care reform legislation (H.R. 3962) debated today in the House. Please note that last week, the Congressional Budget Office estimated that under the terms of H.R. 3962, both federal and overall health care expenditures would actually increase in the long-term compared to current law.
"As I said following the initial committee vote in July, I voted against the House’s health care reform bill in the Education and Labor Committee because it failed to effectively rein in rising health care costs; it was punitive toward small businesses; and it paid for reform by raising taxes, rather than by squeezing the inefficiencies out of and modernizing our health care system.
"After months of negotiation, I believe that the bill we voted on today contained some improvements in each of these three areas, although these improvements were not sufficient for me to be able to vote for the bill. In particular, I remain concerned that the House’s health care reform bill still fails to make our health care system more cost-efficient. Until we rein in skyrocketing health care costs, we will simply be perpetuating an inefficient system that is unsustainable over time."
"This bill is inadequate in two key areas that are critical to meaningful health care reform: cost containment and delivery system reform. Although I was unable to support this particular bill, I strongly believe that we need common-sense health care reform. I will continue working with my colleagues in the House and the Senate to create a bill that will preserve what works in our current system, reduce health care costs for American families and small businesses, and build a payment structure that better incentivizes efficiency, value and quality of care."
Baird (w/ statement) (202) 225-3536
Washington, D.C.- I strongly believe there is a need for health care reform and I have offered my own proposal for how this should be accomplished. The bill before the House is a result of thousands of hours of effort put in by members of Congress and their staff, plus the unprecedented input from the public on all sides of this issue. Clearly, people care about how we deliver and pay for health care in this country and there is a need and opportunity for change.
In comparison to the initial draft of H.R. 3200, a number of improvements have been made. To name just a few, the current bill would allow negotiations for prescription drugs under Medicare D, promote alternatives to malpractice litigation, and allow for cross state agreements to purchase cross state insurance (something especially relevant to border districts such as my own). There are also elements that could at long last correct the Medicare payment disparities that disadvantage our state, and the bill would end the anti-trust exemption long enjoyed by insurance companies.
All of those changes are commendable, but there are still reasons for concern. The most important of these is the simple fact that we do not yet have reliable estimates of how this legislation will impact the premiums paid by people who already have insurance.
This week I spoke with Nancy-Ann DeParle, the President's chief health advisor and Doug Elmendorf, the director of the Congressional Budget Office (CBO). Although some prominent economists have asserted that premiums on average may go down relative to what they would be without this bill, the CBO has yet to complete its analysis of the issue. Furthermore, just yesterday, the chief actuary for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) said he did not think a cost estimate of the House bill would be available before the scheduled vote.
This is no small matter. To insist that members vote on this legislation without having cost estimates of Medicare and Medicaid impacts by CMS or an estimate of premium impacts from the CBO seems premature and unwise.
Precisely because this matter is so important, it is critical that we do things right, and know what we are doing. At present, unfortunately, I do not believe we have answers to fundamental questions.
Another troubling matter is how the legislation will be brought to a vote. As of this writing, only one amendment will be allowed from the Republican side. No other amendments, by either the majority or minority members, will be allowed. I believe that is a mistake. For a matter of this importance, and on which reasonable people can and do disagree, there ought to be more opportunity granted for amendments on both sides.
For these reasons, until more information is available on premium estimates and Medicare impacts, I will vote against the legislation in its current form. I will wait to make a decision on final legislation until this critical information becomes available and when the House and Senate together produce one bill.
Barrow (202) 225-2823
Boccieri (w/ Statement) (202) 225-3876
U.S. Congressman John Boccieri (D-Alliance) today released the following statement announcing he will vote no on H.R. 3962, the Affordable Health Care for America Act:
"After nearly 150 roundtables and meetings in my district, it's clear that my constituents agree our nation's health care system is in critical need of reform. While I fully support quality, affordable health care coverage for everyone, I am disappointed the House bill sadly does not go far enough to reduce the costs of getting there.
"The Affordable Health Care for America Act contains some important regulatory reforms I fought for including prohibiting discrimination against individuals with preexisting conditions, stressing prevention and wellness programs, and capping annual out of pocket costs for patients. While I am pleased the final bill includes these critical provisions, it is clear to me that too many of my constituents share my concern about the cost of this bill and how we pay for it.
"From the beginning, I made it clear we should wring all inefficiencies from this highly wasteful system to pay for necessary reforms. Unfortunately this bill does not go far enough to secure my vote.
"Our nation has gone through a long, thoughtful, and sometimes emotional debate to improve this bill. I hope when the health care reform bill comes back from the Senate, the concerns of my district are addressed."
Boren (w/ statement) (202) 225-2701
U.S. Congressman Dan Boren reaffirmed today his opposition to the health care legislation scheduled for a vote this week in the U.S. House of Representatives. Boren had previously announced his concerns with the legislation this past August at town halls held across Oklahoma’s Second District. Boren pledged to constituents then that he would not support the health care reform bill if it raises taxes on small businesses, places burdensome mandates on Oklahoma companies, and includes a public option.
"While I support improving health care access for all Oklahomans, just as I told constituents in August, I cannot vote for the health care bill that is currently before the House of Representatives. The worst thing we could do during a recession is raise taxes and this bill does just that. I also believe the public option would ultimately lead to a single-payer health care system. Finally, I do not believe that the possibility for tax-payer funded abortion has been clearly and emphatically removed from this legislation. Although I support eliminating health insurance companies’ ability to deny applicants coverage based on pre-existing conditions, this 2,000-page and $1 trillion bill, is just not the answer to America’s health care problems.
Boucher (w/ Statement) (thanks for selling out Virginians) 202-225-3861
I am concerned that for these reasons the creation of a government operated insurance plan as envisioned in the House bill could result in the closure of hospitals in our region. Families depend on our community hospitals for health care services, and financially healthy hospitals are essential to the health of Southwest Virginians.
Many of our hospitals are financially stressed in normal times, and two hospitals in the district I represent closed for periods of time in recent years for financial reasons. The government owned insurance plan as outlined in the House bill could push many more over the edge. I cannot support legislation that could lead to that result.
I also believe that bipartisan participation is needed on a measure of this scope which affects every American. The best ideas of Democrats and Republicans alike should be drawn upon to fashion the final legislation. That did not happen as the House bill was constructed.
In July, I opposed the health care reform measure when it was considered by the House Energy and Commerce Committee and expressed my concerns at that time. The bill passed by the House did not address those concerns.
Passage of the House bill is but a first step in a long legislative process to final enactment of a reform. I look forward to future steps in that process offering an opportunity for my concerns to be resolved.
Reform is needed, and I hope to support the final passage of legislation that emerges from a House-Senate conference that creates affordable access to health care for all Americans and does so in a way that enables the continued delivery of the excellent care now offered in our region.
Boyd (w/ statement) (202) 225-5235
WASHINGTON, DC – Calling rising healthcare costs the single largest threat to our country’s economic future, Congressman Allen Boyd (D-North Florida) today expressed his intent to vote against the healthcare legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives and urged his colleagues to continue working toward a fiscally responsible bill that would lower insurance premiums for all Americans and drive down the overall cost of healthcare services.
"While the House bill does take some positive steps toward increasing coverage and reforming insurance regulations, it simply falls short when it comes to lowering healthcare costs for North Florida families and businesses," said Congressman Boyd. "Improving our healthcare system is of utmost importance to me, but meaningful reform must reduce the skyrocketing cost of healthcare services. Until I have confidence that a healthcare reform bill will effectively curb rising healthcare costs and ease the burdensome pressure millions of Americans feel when paying their healthcare premiums or doctor bills, I cannot in good faith support this bill."
The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office has indicated that the House bill does little to reduce the escalating cost of healthcare services, meaning that healthcare costs will continue to rise at unsustainable rates and insurance premiums will continue to plague hardworking Americans.
Congressman Boyd believes it is possible to meet the healthcare needs of Americans while at the same time reducing the cost of our healthcare services. Responsible, affordable healthcare reform must increase coverage to more Americans; preserve patient choice; reduce the costs of medical procedures and services; and not add to our federal budget deficit.
"I have spent my years in public service working to improve access to quality, affordable healthcare for all Americans," Boyd stated. "I voted to reauthorize the State Children’s Health Insurance Plan three times in the last two years. I brought $17 billion to Florida to improve community health centers, veterans’ outpatient clinics, healthcare workforce training, and health IT initiatives through the federal stimulus package. And I formed the District Healthcare Council in 2005 so our local communities can work together to improve healthcare in North Florida."
Boyd concluded, "My vote against H.R. 3962, the House’s first attempt at a healthcare bill, is not a vote against responsible reform. Rather, it is a signal that our work in Congress is not yet complete. Reducing the cost of healthcare services must be the focus of any reform package, and I will continue working, as I’ve always done, to fix what’s wrong with our healthcare system, to continue what’s right, and to ensure Americans have access to affordable, quality coverage they need."
Bright (w/ Statement) (202) 225-2901
The health care bill being voted on today does not make enough significant changes to earn my support. From the beginning of this debate, I have been opposed to the government option and any legislation that puts additional burdens on our small businesses and tax-paying citizens. H.R. 3962 contains a government option and surcharges and mandates on small businesses and individuals. People and small businesses across the country are struggling to make ends meet and this is no time to place additional burdens on them.
Chandler (w/ Statement) (202) 225-4706
"After hearing from many constituents on both sides, holding meetings throughout the district, and reading a 2,000-page bill which has changed dramatically in the past week, I voted against the bill because I do not believe it is the best course of action for the people of Central Kentucky, specifically our working families, small businesses, and seniors.
"In particular, the cost of this bill for the taxpayer is too high. We already spend more on healthcare than any other country on earth, and now we are being asked to spend a trillion dollars more. The Congressional Budget Office states that the bill does not bring down the growing cost of healthcare and perpetuates a system that is fiscally unsustainable. I have serious concerns about forcing people to purchase health insurance they cannot afford, especially if we are not bringing down the costs.
"I am also concerned the reform bill would not adequately protect our rural hospitals and our small businesses—the engines of job creation. I have had these same concerns throughout this difficult debate, and in the end, do not believe this bill is the best for the Sixth Congressional District.
"I appreciate the efforts of President Obama and the Democrats to put together a bill which incorporates a number of reforms that are long overdue, including greater regulation of insurance companies, the elimination of lifetime caps on coverage, and prohibiting denial of coverage due to pre-existing conditions.
"There is no doubt that our healthcare system is broken, but I am not convinced that this bill today would lower costs, improve coverage, and maintain quality care in the long term."
Childers (w/ Statement) (202) 225-4306
Congressman Travis Childers (MS-01) released the following statement regarding his upcoming vote on the House health care reform bill, H.R. 3962:
"Today, millions of hard-working Americans are suffering from soaring premiums that are increasing seven times faster than wages. Our country needs health care reform, and there is no one who wants to see the implementation of successful reform and lower premiums for individuals and families more than I do.
"However, for several reasons, I will vote ‘no’ on the House’s health care reform bill, H.R. 3962.
"First and foremost, I cannot vote for legislation with this big of a price tag in today’s economic climate. I would also like to see legislation that contains stronger language to prohibit federal funding for abortion and provides equal access to care for individuals in rural communities. My concerns in these areas have not been sufficiently addressed by this legislation.
"Health care reform legislation in the House has come incredibly far from where it was when we began this discussion. But we need to get this legislation right, not just get it fast.
"Potential reform is still a work in progress, and the House bill is only one of many steps that lie ahead before Congress votes on final legislation. The Senate has yet to act on its bill and we don’t know what the conference report – the final bill – will ultimately look like. It must be a commonsense plan that reflects Mississippi values."
A pro-gun, pro-life Mississippian, Congressman Travis Childers (D-MS) represents the First Congressional District in North Mississippi. He is a member of the fiscally conservative Blue Dog Coalition and serves on the House Agriculture and Financial Services Committee. Congressman Childers co-chairs the reestablished bipartisan Congressional Rural Caucus and was appointed to the bipartisan Second Amendment Task Force. For more information, visit www.childers.house.gov.
Davis (AL) (202) 225-2665
Davis (TN) 202.225.6831
Edwards (TX) (w/ Statement) 202-225-6105
U.S. Representative Chet Edwards today announced he will vote against HR 3962, the House version of health care reform legislation, and released the following statement:
"After listening to thousands of my constituents and carefully reviewing the legislation, I have made a decision to vote "no" on the House health care reform bill.
Given the huge federal deficits facing our nation, I believe there is too much new spending in this bill.
I am especially disappointed that the bill does not have a fiscal trigger in it to cut spending if actual costs of new programs turn out to be higher than projected.
While the Congressional Budget Office predicts this bill is paid for over 10 years, there is no mechanism in the bill to force spending cuts if those complicated projections turn out to be wrong.
I also have concerns about a government-run "public option" insurance company and question whether this bill goes far enough in actually reducing health care costs for working families and businesses.
Throughout this debate I have heard two extremes. Some on the far left would like to see the federal government run a socialized health care system. Some on the far right would get the government completely out of health care, which would mean the elimination of Medicare and Medicaid. I think both extremes are wrong.
I believe most people in our district recognize that health care reform is needed to hold down costs and to make health care more affordable and dependable, but they want any reform bill to be fiscally responsible. I agree."
Gordon (TN) (w/ Statement) (202) 225-4231
Congressman Bart Gordon voted against the House health care bill (H.R. 3962) today, citing concerns about its ability to reduce health care costs.
"I firmly believe that any responsible health care bill must do two things: improve access to health care for small businesses and the uninsured, and reduce health care spending. This bill does one but not the other, it falls short of sufficiently cutting health care spending."
The Congressional Budget Office recently evaluated H.R. 3962 and indicated that the bill would not reduce, but instead would increase, the federal government’s spending on health care over the long-term.
"Currently, one out of every six dollars is spent on health care in the United States," stated Gordon. "It’s unsustainable to keep health care spending where it is now. We must decrease the amount of money our country spends on health care."
Gordon made his decision after studying the bill’s provisions and listening to the concerns of Middle Tennesseans during numerous public forums, telephone town halls, face-to-face meetings, as well as thousands of phone calls and emails since debate on the issue started earlier this year.
"This process of drafting health care proposals has been both lengthy and healthy. I’ve received valuable comments and suggestions from the Middle Tennesseans I represent. However, we still have a long way to go," said Gordon. "Any health care bill that is ultimately signed into law must not increase the federal deficit or our long-term spending on health care. I am hopeful that the Senate and House can work through the amendment process and conference committee and get to a point where we have a better bill that incorporates bipartisan ideas that I can support."
Griffith (w/ Statement) (202) 225-4801
Congressman Parker Griffith released the following statement tonight after his NO vote on the final vote on H.R. 3962, the Affordable Health Care for America Act:
"I voted against the proposed health care legislation today because a public option has remained the foundation of the bill’s aim. This bill is bad for our patients, bad for our North Alabama hospitals, and bad for our nation's bottom line.
"Improving the best health care system in the world to include the millions of Americans without access to affordable care is a worthy goal, but we cannot do it by reforming a system around a scarcity. As the House and Senate come together, I am hopeful that we see a reform package that aggressively addresses the growing problem of physician shortages in America and increases access to those without insurance without adding trillions to our growing debt."
Herseth Sandlin (w/ Statement) (202) 225-2801
Stephanie Herseth Sandlin today announced that while the House health care bill includes a number of good provisions, it is not the right answer for South Dakota because it could unintentionally threaten existing access to health care in our state, and it does not include sufficient cost-containment and deficit reduction measures. She will oppose the bill, which is scheduled to be on the House floor Saturday evening.
Herseth Sandlin said, "It’s critical that we control rising health care costs, increase quality and value within our health care system, and improve access to health care and affordable health insurance coverage. The strength of our communities in South Dakota depends on the health of our people."
She continued, "Unfortunately, the House bill misses a critical opportunity to address access, quality and costs on the one hand, and solidify our fiscal future on the other hand. I am convinced this Congress and the President will achieve fundamental reform because our country must fix what’s broken in our health care system. There is simply too much at stake for South Dakota’s families and businesses, who have either seen their premiums rise sharply year after year, or who still have no access to an affordable plan."
Herseth Sandlin added, "While the House bill does not yet represent the right formula for South Dakota I remain optimistic that, with the House and Senate working together with the President, we will achieve a good bill for South Dakota during this Congress. The time has come for fundamental reform that meets the twin goals of improved access, affordability and coverage, but also fiscal responsibility over the long-term. We need to fix what's broken in the system."
Herseth Sandlin pointed to the potential impact of the House bill on Medicaid provisions on South Dakota’s state budget, and the reductions in payments for long-term care under Medicare as areas of serious concern.
Underlying her concerns about access is a concern about the effect of the House bill on the nation’s long term deficit, and more specifically, its failure to start bringing down the deficit and health care costs in the long term. Herseth Sandlin noted that skyrocketing long-term costs will bankrupt the Medicare trust fund by 2017.
The House bill does include a number of good provisions which enjoy strong support among South Dakotans. Herseth Sandlin said, "I strongly support provisions in this bill to require insurance companies to cover people with preexisting conditions, and end the insurance companies’ ability to cancel coverage when someone becomes sick. These practices must end. In addition, I support establishing health insurance exchanges to provide a transparent and competitive marketplace for individuals and businesses to buy more affordable health care plans."
Holden (202) 225-5546
Kissel (202) 225-3715
Kosmas (w/ statement) (202) 225-2706
After carefully reviewing the House health care reform bill, HR 3962, Congresswoman Suzanne Kosmas issued the following statement:
"This was a difficult decision for me as I have long been a champion for improving health care coverage and services. In Congress, and going back to my time serving in the Florida State House, I have supported numerous health care efforts such as the expansion of health coverage for children of working families, protecting seniors from an increase in Medicare Part B premiums, and working to secure the funding for the new Orlando VA Medical Center to improve care for Central Florida’s veterans.
"Improving our health care system is a critical issue for me, but meaningful reform must slow the growth of health care costs that are hurting families, making it harder for businesses to create jobs, overwhelming the federal budget, and creating debt for future generations. While the health care reform bill before the U.S. House of Representatives has many positive elements, I believe that it does not do enough to slow the growth of health care costs and spending on care. Therefore, after careful consideration and with great difficulty, I have decided that I cannot support the legislation.
"I truly believe real health care reform is attainable, but we can improve upon the House bill. We need reform that truly rewards quality outcomes and moves us away from the fee-for-service system that rewards quantity over quality. We need reform that gives real incentives to reward healthy lifestyles that will lead to fewer procedures and less health care spending. We need reform that makes a serious effort to control waste, fraud, and abuse in the system. And we need reform that changes behavior in the way people choose health insurance so they focus on more cost-effective, high-quality products.
"Though I will not be voting in favor of the House bill, it has improved since first being released last summer and it shows promise. The bill begins to hold insurance companies accountable by preventing them from denying coverage based on preexisting conditions, eliminating life-time caps on coverage, and taking steps to lower premiums. It also establishes health insurance exchanges that will help provide options that may be more affordable for many individuals and small businesses.
"However, these reforms might be in vain if we don’t take significant steps to rein in rising costs, and the House bill simply does not do enough to address this issue. I will continue working with my colleagues to address rising health care costs and I am hopeful that, at the end of the day, the president will be able to sign into law a health care reform bill that truly meets this goal and moves our country forward towards affordable, accessible, and sustainable health care. But the House plan is not that bill, and therefore I cannot support it."
Kratovil (w/ Statement) (202) 225-5311
"I support healthcare reform, but it must be the right kind of reform that works for my constituents in the First District. I have consistently argued for healthcare reform that reduces long-term health care spending, improves quality, and expands coverage in a fiscally responsible manner. Our nation is facing an $11.9 trillion national debt, and we simply cannot afford a bill that does not lower healthcare spending. It is also essential for healthcare reform legislation to support, not burden, our nation’s small businesses.
I was not able to support the bill before Congress today because I do not believe it meets my criteria for a sustainable solution. While I recognize the need for reform and I applaud some aspects of this bill, I do not believe that this bill offers a sustainable solution. I will continue to work with my colleagues to pursue a better bill as this process continues, and I urge constituents to continue to offer their input."
Kucinich (w/ Statement)(won't compromise)(202)225-5871
"Why is it we have finite resources for health care but unlimited money for war?
"The inequities in our economy are piling up: trillions for war, trillions for Wall Street and tens of billions for the insurance companies. Banks and other corporations are sitting on piles of cash of taxpayer’s money while firing workers, cutting pay and denying small businesses money to survive.
"People are losing their homes, their jobs, their health, their investments, their retirement security; yet there is unlimited money for war, Wall Street and insurance companies, but very little money for jobs on Main Street.
"Unlimited money to blow up things in Iraq and Afghanistan, and relatively little money to build things in the US.
"The Administration may soon bring to Congress a request for an additional $50 billion for war. I can tell you that a Democratic version of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan is no more acceptable than a Republican version of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
"Trillions for war and Wall Street, billions for insurance companies... When we were promised change, we weren’t thinking that we give a dollar and get back two cents."
Markey (CO) 202.225.4676
Marshall (202)225-6531
Massa (202) 225-3161
Matheson (w/ Statement) 1-(877)677-9743
Congressman Jim Matheson said today it is critical that health care reform cover the uninsured while also ensuring that the health care system is secure, stable and affordable. Because the legislation pending in the House fails to accomplish those goals, Matheson said he will vote against HR 3962 when it comes to the floor.
"I am convinced that passing health care reform is a moral and a fiscal necessity. I believe that everyone in this country should have access to quality, affordable health care. On the practical side, we will never balance our federal budget and reduce our dangerous levels of debt without health care reform," said Matheson.
Matheson said he has participated for months in legislative efforts and offered substantial amendments to craft a bill that would cover 40 million people who are uninsured without adding to the deficit and by lowering the excessive growth in health care costs.
According to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, the House bill would—in the future—actually increase both federal outlays for health care and the federal budgetary commitment to health care.
"Putting millions of additional people into a broken system will not work. After meeting directly with the Director of the Congressional Budget Office, I do not believe that this bill makes the system reforms needed to ensure financial stability for our families, our businesses and our federal treasury." said Matheson.
Matheson notes that health insurance premiums for Utah working families increased 85 percent between 2000 and 2007 while the median earnings increased 17 percent.
"The path we are on is not sustainable. Without real reform, we will continue to strain family budgets, threaten the survival of small businesses and explode our national deficits. But a one-size-fits all, nationally-run plan that doesn’t acknowledge the different health demographics in the states isn’t the answer, "Matheson said.
Matheson said he is encouraged that a bipartisan, budget-deficit-neutral, cost-lowering bill is on the table in the Senate. He said he will continue to be a constructive voice in the effort to pass health care reform in a way that provides better health, stability and opportunity for Utahns.
McIntyre (w/ Statement) (202) 225-2731
Congressman Mike McIntyre, who will vote no on the health care bill in the U.S. House of Representatives, released the following statement:
"The need for health care reform is clear, but the focus should be on lowering the skyrocketing costs of health care, bringing down the cost of premiums, and ensuring access and affordability of health care for all.
"During these tough economic times, I could not support this bill because it was flawed in four major ways:
- It costs way too much money – more than $1 trillion dollars on top of a $12 trillion national debt;
- It does not take the steps necessary to effectively bring down long-term health care costs;
- It raises too much in new taxes and imposes new requirements that will harm the ability of too many small businesses to compete and create jobs; and
- It tries to do too much too soon instead of targeted changes that can immediately help people.
"Instead, we should tackle health care reform in targeted ways. Those include:
- strengthening Medicare and Medicaid;
- improving Medicare reimbursement rates for rural health providers,
- expanding the use of electronic medical records;
- expanding and strengthening community health centers;
- allowing small business owners to join pools of coverage to access better insurance rates;
- allowing states to form compacts to allow the purchase of insurance across state lines; and
- providing tax credits for long-term care.
"These are just some of the many examples where we can make needed health care changes without further bankrupting the country, and I remain committed to meaningful reform that maintains cost-effective principles that put our nation again on the path to reform.
McMahon (w/ Statement) (202) 225-3371
As a candidate for Congress in 2008, I ran on the platform of reforming our healthcare system while containing costs and improving access for Staten Islanders and Brooklynites. This legislation contains laudable reforms which I support; it allows individuals to keep coverage when they leave a job and young people to remain covered under their parents’ plan, and bans discrimination based on pre-existing conditions. However, I believe that the net negatives of this bill outweigh the positive effects for Staten Island and Brooklyn residents and I will be voting no when the House considers the legislation.
The House bill being debated costs over $1 trillion. It includes a tax increase that is not indexed to inflation. Medicare Advantage, which serves approximately 40% of my seniors on Medicare, would be cut dramatically, leading to significant monthly average premium increases of $130 per person per month.
And the bill will impact hospitals on Staten Island and Brooklyn by cutting the Disproportionate Share Payment (DSH) to hospitals for uncompensated care by at least $25 million each year. The bill would penalize small businesses and could have unintended consequence of encouraging businesses to drop healthcare coverage and push people into the public option. I do not believe that the House bill goes far enough in containing the cost curve in which healthcare spending takes up a larger and larger share of our GDP.
As an elected official, I know that inaction on healthcare isn’t an option. For families in Staten Island and Southern Brooklyn, we can begin by reforming the insurance market, eliminating discrimination based on pre-existing conditions, and creating a system to help those who can’t afford insurance obtain it, while also addressing the increasing premium costs for families. We must allow cross-state border competition so people can shop for lower rates. We need to reduce the cost of medical errors. Congress should add preventive services to Medicare such as annual physicals, close the so-called "donut hole" which seniors pay for prescription drugs out of pocket, cut waste, fraud and abuse in the Medicare and Medicaid systems and start paying for outcomes instead of procedures.
The bill currently being debated in the United States Senate does a good deal of this, but it leaves too many issues unanswered. As the House and Senate merge their two versions of healthcare reform I will continue to advocate for the families and seniors of Staten Island and Brooklyn to ensure that the best bill comes out of conference and addresses these issues which I believe are key for Staten Islanders and Brooklynites.
Melancon (202) 225-2165
Minnick (w/ Statement) (I'm personally not too mad at him...Idaho's as libertarian as it comes in this country..but still...) (202) 225-6611
"Over the last several months, I have met with thousands of constituents from all over Idaho’s First Congressional District. They are gravely concerned about the economy, about job security, and about the kinds of opportunities their children and grandchildren will have to make a better life.
"Like most of them, I believe that cutting down the cost of health care is one important step we can take in moving our economy forward. We need to reform the insurance industry by demanding accountability and increasing private-sector competition. We must reduce government spending on programs such as a Medicare, and look to Idaho for examples of ways to do just that. And we must reduce costs throughout the health-care system, so the long-term benefits of reform will truly help our economy to grow and our nation to prosper.
"Unfortunately, the new health-care bill in the House does not adequately meet those goals, so I will vote ‘no.’ However, I am encouraged by the work of the U.S. Senate, and am hopeful that the final bill I vote on will be one that all Idahoans can support."
Murphy (NY) (202) 225-5614
Nye (thanks for selling out Virginia, ya douche) (w/ Statement) (202) 225-4215
Congressman Glenn Nye (VA-02) announced today that he will vote no on the House health care reform bill (H.R. 3962). Nye stated that the latest version of the legislation achieves many of the goals he set for health care reform – including ensuring access to coverage for individuals with preexisting conditions – but that it does not reduce the overall cost of health care for families, small businesses or taxpayers.
Throughout the debate over health care, Nye has maintained that cost reduction must be central to any reform plan. Over the past decade, the cost of health care has increased fifty-nine percent, and the price of health insurance premiums has risen three times faster than wages. Reducing these costs, in order to protect small businesses and help families, is one of the key reasons why reform is needed.
However, according to the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO), H.R. 3962 does not effectively reduce long-term health care costs.
"Health care costs are crippling our small businesses and forcing families into bankruptcy, and any reform plan needs to reduce those costs. Although this version of the bill takes important steps to lower the deficit in the short term, the CBO has said that it does not address the fundamental problem of reducing skyrocketing health care costs," said Congressman Glenn Nye. "Small businesses are facing increases of ten to twenty percent in their health care premiums each year, and I am not convinced that this bill would fix that problem next year or the year after."
Peterson (202) 225-2165
Ross (w/ statement) 1-800-223-2220
Citing the size and cost of the bill, U.S. Representative Mike Ross, D-Ark., voted against H.R. 3962, the Affordable Health Care for America Act of 2009, in the House of Representatives on Saturday. The bill passed 220 to 215.
"I have spent the past few months traveling our Congressional district and listening to you, the people who sent me to be their voice at our nation’s capital. You overwhelmingly told me that you were opposed to the original 1,000 page House health care reform bill and its $1 trillion price tag. Now, the new House health care reform bill is over 2,000 pages and cost over $1.2 trillion. Washington may not have heard you, but I heard you loud and clear, and that’s why I voted against creating this massive new government spending program that we simply can not afford. While I strongly support efforts to reform our health care system, we can accomplish this without creating a new government-run health insurance program and without spending $1.2 trillion.
"We must stop the out-of-control spending in Washington and begin reducing our skyrocketing national debt. If we do not, we will begin to suffer from massive inflation costing our already fragile economy even more jobs. We are faced with the worst economic recession since World War II. This is not the time to force employees to buy health insurance they cannot afford or require struggling small businesses to provide it. This is not the time to raise federal taxes $730 billion. And, this is not the time to impose new and costly mandates on our local school districts and city, county and state governments, which would likely require tax increases on working families. In fact, Governor Beebe has stated that the Medicaid provisions in the House health care reform bill could increase the state budget in Arkansas $205 million by 2015.
"Moreover, this House health care bill does nothing to reduce how much the federal government spends on health care. In fact, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) and the Joint Committee on Taxation estimate indicate that H.R. 3962 would actually increase the federal budgetary commitment to health care by about $598 billion over the 2010 – 2019 period. This past Tuesday, I met with CBO Director Doug Elmendorf and he made clear that the House bill, simply put, does not effectively bring down the growing costs of health care. In fact, he said, the House bill only perpetuates a system that is ultimately unsustainable over the long term.
"I am also deeply concerned about this bill’s unintended consequences for our seniors. With more than $400 billion in cuts to Medicare, it could force many of our rural hospitals to close, providing less access and care for our seniors. I also voted against the health care reform bill because it allows illegal immigrants to purchase private insurance in the newly created government exchange.
"I also voted for a strict amendment that prohibits federally funded abortions and does not allow any insurance plans – public or private – in the newly created government exchange to cover elective abortions.
"While I support providing affordable coverage for the uninsured and cracking down on the health insurance companies, I believe we can accomplish this with much less than a 2,000 page bill costing $1.2 trillion. No one has worked harder on trying to accomplish health care reform than I have. I am disappointed that the health care reform bill passed by the House was not a common sense plan and did not reflect Arkansas values.
"During this economic crisis, I believe we should be focused on putting people back to work, not growing the size of the federal government with increased spending, new mandates and higher taxes."
Shuler (202) 225-6401
Skelton (w/ Statement) 202-225-2876
"This evening, I opposed passage of the health insurance reform legislation that was debated in the House of Representatives. After careful consideration and meetings with health care professionals and Fourth District residents, I decided the legislation did not represent the right balance for rural Missourians.
"I understand the need for reform. Far too often, insurance companies get in between a patient and their doctor by denying coverage for necessary medical procedures, by dropping beneficiaries because they get sick, and by imposing unreasonable premiums on those who need coverage the most. These insurance company tactics are wrong and must be fixed. Republicans and Democrats in Congress agree on this. However, while the legislation on the House Floor tonight was a vast improvement over earlier versions, especially as amended to prohibit any federal funding for abortions, I am not convinced that the legislation represented the best policy choice for the American people.
"I am concerned about the impact the legislation could have on rural hospitals and doctors. The proposed reductions to Medicare reimbursement could further squeeze the budgets of rural health care providers.
"I also oppose the creation of a new government run public option and continue to have serious concerns about its potential unintended consequences for Missourians who have private insurance plans they like.
"One solution might be for Congress to address health care reform one issue at a time and to ensure that rural Missourians understand how any new legislation will affect them and their families.
"At the end of the day the American people should be able to look at this bill and say that Congress has done a good job. This legislation did not accomplish that goal," said Skelton.
Tanner (w/ Statement) (202) 225-4714
After careful review of the current legislation pending in the House and the Congressional Budget Office’s analysis, I believe the bill will not help control the long-term costs of health care and puts in place an infrastructure that is not fiscally sustainable over time. I am unable to support this legislation in its present form.
"Most of us realize that serious reforms are needed to fix what is broken in our health care system. Specifically, we should work to reform health insurance; ensure no one can be denied health coverage because of a pre-existing condition; and slow the upward curve of health care costs. I will continue talking with Tennesseans and working with others to achieve these goals, improve our health care system and ensure our reforms help solve, rather than contribute to, our nation’s long-term fiscal challenges."
Taylor 202.225.5772
Teague (w/ Statement) (202) 225-2365
"Let me be clear, I believe we need to reform our health care system. I personally know how not having health insurance can impact individuals and families. Growing up, both my parents worked, but we still couldn’t afford health insurance. So when my parents got sick, I had to drop out of high school and go to work to help support our family. Those were difficult times and why as a small business owner I worked hard to provide affordable health insurance options to my employees and their families.
I had hoped to have an opportunity to vote for a health insurance reform bill that would guarantee every American access to affordable, quality health care, and rein in the skyrocketing health care costs that are keeping people and businesses out of the system and driving up our national debt. Unfortunately, the current bill before Congress falls short of that and I am left with no choice but to vote against it.
This bill doesn’t do enough to rein in insurance companies. It mandates millions of people and businesses to buy health insurance, but does little to make insurance companies control consumer costs. I am also concerned that American taxpayers will end up footing a nearly $900 billion tab for a bill that doesn’t do enough to ‘bend the cost curve’ in a way that permanently reduces both costs and the national debt.
I came to Washington with personal experience of how a health care crisis can impact a family and with a commitment to getting this kind of misguided spending under control. Health insurance reform is too important to settle for a bill that appears to be a temporary fix that guarantees more money for insurance companies and a bigger national debt, but in the end doesn’t lower the cost of health care for New Mexico families and businesses. I intend to continue pushing for reform that lowers the cost of health insurance for families and businesses in a fiscally responsible way."
H/T to RyanfromSTL for adding this list of Representatives PVI for their district:
Adler R+1
Altmire R+6
Baird EVEN
Barrow D+1
Boccieri R+4
Boren R+14
Rick Boucher R+11
Boyd R+6
Bright R+16
Chandler R+9
Childers R+14
Davis (AL) D+18
Davis (TN) R+13
Edwards (TX) R+20
Gordon R+13
Griffith R+12
Herseth Sandlin R+9
Holden R+6
Kissell R+2
Kosmas R+4
Kratovil R+13
Markey R+6
Marshall R+10
Matheson R+15
McIntyre R+5
McMahon R+4
Melancon R+12
Minnick R+18
Murphy (NY) R+2
Nye R+5
Peterson R+5
Shuler R+6
Skelton R+14
Tanner R+6
Taylor R+20
Teague R+6