I saw this on TPM, and the link directed me toThe Briefing Room at TheHill.com. Apparently Rep. Mark Ross of the great state of Arkansas thought it necessary to tell the world that he wouldn't vote for a bill that kills old people. Apparently that is all it takes to get elected in his congressional district.
More after the fold...
The quote, in context, to be fair.
I can tell you, I've laid down my set of principles, so I will not force government-run health care on anyone. If there ever is government-run health care, the first ones to sign up should be the president and every member of Congress, including myself. You should be able to keep the insurance you've got today, if you like it, and always choose your own doctor. No federal funding for illegal immigrants or for abortion, and no rationing of health care. I will never vote for a bill to kill old people, period. [emphasis added]
Instead of simply stating that there's no plan in the works for the government to run our healthcare system, and that there is no plan for killing old people, he instead chooses to state that he won't vote for such a plan. In doing so, he only continues to give bullshit arguments the attention that they do not deserve. Well, someone give him a cookie and a man of the year award.
I sure hope he has a good primary opponent because my wallet's feeling a little heavy.
A little background on Mr. Ross's efforts in the health care debate so far, courtesy of Wikipedia, the free web encyclopedia.
On June 19, 2009, Ross made clear that he and a group of other fiscally conservative, moderate Democrats, known as Blue Dog Democrats, were increasingly unhappy with the direction that health-care legislation was taking in the House. They claimed the health care reform bill was being written behind closed doors without their input and that the proposals being consider fall short in reducing costs and increasing efficiency, outlining only a fraction of what will be required to achieve a product that does not add to the deficit.[4] Ross cited, among other things, provisions that major health-care companies also strongly oppose. Ross was the guest of honor at a special "health-care industry reception," one of at least seven fundraisers for the Arkansas lawmaker held by health-care companies or their lobbyists this year, according to publicly available invitations.[5] However, according to Ross's Federal Election Commission Disclosure Report, which every candidate must file quarterly, only eight percent (8%) of his total campaign contributions have come from the health care industry in the last election cycle (2007-8).[6]
Ross was thrust into the national spotlight on July 21 when he and a group of seven Blue Dog Democrats on Energy & Commerce bucked their party's leaders and brought the committee mark up process of H.R. 3200, America’s Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009, to a halt. House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Henry Waxman postponed meeting publicly to discuss the health-care legislation to negotiate with the Blue Dogs, meeting privately with Ross and other members of the so-called Blue Dog Coalition, conservative Democrats who sit on the committee and could join Republicans and vote down a bill they don't like since the panel has 36 Democrats and 23. Republicans.[7]
After days of back-to-back meetings and intense negotiations into the night, four of the seven Blue Dog Democrats on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, led by Ross, said they resolved their differences with Chairman Henry Waxman of California and were able to force House leadership to agree on several provisions, namely that the full House would not vote on the legislation until at least September so lawmakers would have time to read the bill and listen to constituents. [8]
Other concessions won by Blue Dogs, which drew immediate opposition from liberals in the chamber,[9] would shave about 10 percent from the health care overhaul's $1 trillion, 10-year price tag, in part by limiting subsidies to people who are not insured. The exemption for small businesses would be doubled so that only businesses with payrolls greater than $500,000 a year would be required to offer insurance or pay a tax equivalent to 8 percent of their payroll.
In addition, the government would negotiate rates with health care providers instead of using Medicare rates in the government or "public option" available to those who do not get health insurance through their employers or a government plan. [10]
President Obama praised the efforts of the Blue Dog Coalition in a statement issued after the agreement was announced: "I'm especially grateful that so many members, including some Blue Dogs on the Energy and Commerce Committee, are working so hard to find common ground. Those efforts are extraordinarily constructive in strengthening this legislation and bringing down its cost," the President said in a statement.[11] However, some of the concessions to Ross set off a revolt among members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, who said they feared that the public insurance plan was being weakened. "We do not support this," said Representative Lynn Woolsey, Democrat of California, co-chairwoman of the progressive caucus. "It’s a nonstarter."
It may be about time to put this blue dog out to pasture, because it sure as hell won't hunt.
