Posted on 03/23/2010 12:52:21 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
U.S. Representative Collin Peterson, Democrat-Minnesota, issued the following statement Sunday night explaining why he voted against an historic health care reform bill that was approved on a 219-212 vote.
(Peterson represents the 7th District, which includes Douglas County.)
"After thorough and careful reading and review of the health care legislation the House considered this evening I was not convinced that it was right for the people of Minnesota’s 7th District and so I voted against it. Some people will appreciate that and some will be disappointed, but I made this decision because I thought it was the right thing to do for the people I serve, and that’s everyone who lives in the 7th District.
"Most people recognize that our health care system needs reform and since this reform effort began I have talked with a great many 7th District Minnesotans about what was needed. The clear consensus was that we needed to reduce the cost of health care -- for individuals, families, employers and the government – to expand coverage, and to fix the problems we have without destroying the parts of the system that are working.
"If the bills we voted on tonight had measured up to these standards I would have supported them, but they did not. In my judgment, while these bills deliver some good things they miss the mark on the most important things and will not deliver as promised.
"This legislation doesn’t control costs, doesn’t reform Medicare, and only covers 37% of the uninsured in the 7th District as opposed to an average of 68% nationwide. Some districts will see coverage expanded to cover as much as 92% of the uninsured and Minnesotans will paying for that while leaving 63% of our 7th District residents without coverage. This is very similar to the way the Medicare geographic disparities problem was created back in 1982. The geographic payment disparity encourages cost-shifting and rewards low quality / high cost health care providers in other states while forcing Minnesota to do more with less. Instead of fixing that problem – which we need to do -- this legislation will lock us into that same disparity situation with regard to the uninsured. Minnesotans will be asked to do more with less while also covering costs in other states that aren’t doing the right thing for their own citizens. And on top of that this legislation will not control costs – in fact it seems to me that it will do just the opposite; health insurance premiums will rise. CBO has said that premiums for individuals will increase 10-13%.
"That said, there are some good things in this legislation. It will end pre-existing condition exclusions for children within six months of enactment and do the same thing for adults when the “exchange” marketplaces are operative in 2014 – if they work as proponents claim they will, which is doubtful. It will allow children to stay on their parents’ health care plans until age 26, and it will end the practice of rescinding coverage when you get sick.
"However, this legislation avoided making the critical reforms we really need in order to strengthen our rural health care system and by doing so it punts these problems into the future where it’s likely that they’ll be even more difficult and more expensive to solve.
"As the Administration begins putting these reforms in place I will continue working to fix the problems I’ve mentioned and to ensure that everyone in the 7th District has access to affordable health care. I will work to hold the Administration accountable and I will keep working to make the changes we need in order for these new policies and health care delivery systems to be workable in rural areas.
"Throughout my service in Congress I’ve made it a point to study each issue and each piece of legislation and cast my votes according to what makes the most sense for the people of the 7th District. That is what I’ve done again this evening."
Party on, Dems.
Some stood tall.. most did not.
On to
November
How about “I’m not a f’ng socialist!”
Keep it simple, stupid.
McCain in 08?
Translation:
I sampled my constituents and most of them opposed it. I checked with Nancy and she told me they had enough votes.
Now I’m issuing this heartfelt statement of sincerity.
For the right price, he would have signed on to... a lot of Pubs would too,, remember they want ‘reform’ too.. but few if any of their proposals got the time of day..
“It will allow children to stay on their parents’ health care plans until age 26”
When I was 26 I had been married 8 years, fathered two children, served a hitch in the Army and been a cop for two years. Exactly WHEN did 26 year old ADULTS become children?
Most Deemocraps are ADULT children...think about it.
It’s why they call GOP the Party of NO...children hate being told NO by the adults all the time.
Consider it a new entitlement.. Obama sanctioned. :-)
and I thought the simple reason was this RAT was given a pass by the fascists and that if they really needed his vote, they would have gotten it. Vote this POS marxist out of office.
I would bet that Pelosi didn't need his vote, so she let him vote no for his cover. Pelosi knows that the 'rats will most likely lose in November, so any 'rat that they can "save" by lying is one less loss for their side.
If Mr Peterson means what he says, he will switch parties today....if not he is just another weasel from a party of weasels.
Go tell someone who cares — you were given cover, start looking for a job
Or how about...
“because it was the right thing to do.” Period.
Nancy let him vote NO because she thought that he might be able to win if there is an election in November. All Dims must be voted out of office if we are given the opportunity.
ML/NJ
Too late....WAR on ALL Dems! They cannot be retained since that Queen Beach Peafloozy must not be allowed to be Speaker!
Collin’s district is the NW quarter of Minnesota - largely rural and mostly conservative farming districts. He’s been targeted before by - liberal Democrats who do not like his blue-dog attitude! The trouble is, he caucuses with the Democrats, meaning his leader is Pelosi.
I do not particularly trust him. I do not think any Democrats can be trusted on the abortion issue. I think others who have posted that Nancy Pelosi had enough votes, so she let him off the hook is correct. He may well have caved if they needed him.
All Demicrats need to be defeated in November IMHO.
The GOP ought to run ads proclaiming that the Republican Party is the Party of YES!
There are lots of good, positive examples of this. We should not let the Rats saddle us with a negative image.
No isn’t negative and does not have to be in the GOP Frames it correctly.
The majority of Americans wanted their elected congresscritter to vote NO on this bill, they didn’t, the GOP did. No was listening to America
The majority of Americans are against Crap-n-tax and want it gone - again, saying NO. We’ve got to stop the three bonehead republican who are pushing this...then we are listneing to America
Most Americans want a HUGE no on illegal immigartion and do not believe illegals should be given rights.
And on and on and on
The GOP should use that they are saying NO to the Dems as America wants - and then show their programs will benefit the country.
Nothing wrong with being the Party of No when America wants it.
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