"Hell No, I won't go," Congressman Zack Space, D-18, told the House Democratic Leadership yesterday. Space, who voted for the House version of the health reform bill, said he would join House Democrats opposing adoption of the Senate version. His reasoning below:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — On the heels of recent announcements that House Leadership may try to bring the Senate health care bill to a vote in the House of Representatives, U.S. Rep. Zack Space (OH-18) today blasted the legislation as unacceptable to his district, his constituents, and Ohioans across the state.
“I support making our health care system more responsive to our residents, but proceeding with the Senate-passed bill is unacceptable,” Space said.
“The Senate Bill is the most egregious example of politics as usual, with big giveaways to states like Nebraska to shore up support and buy the votes needed for passage,” Space continued. “I didn’t come to Washington for politics as usual. I absolutely refuse to support legislation that provides a windfall for insurance companies out of the pockets of my constituents.”
“My standards for health reform have always been that it must be good for seniors, small businesses, and middle class families in my district,” Space continued. “In my opinion, the Senate bill is none of these things. It will not provide consumers with lower costs, it will place a tax on my district’s working families, and it plays right into the hands of the insurance industry. That’s why I have told House Leadership that the Senate Bill is absolutely unacceptable.”
“I am outraged and disappointed that the leadership would even consider this plan,” Space continued.
Space expressed his concerns yesterday in a letter to Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Majority Leader Steny Hoyer. The text of the letter is below:
January 20, 2010
The Honorable Nancy Pelosi
Speaker
H232, The Capitol
Washington, DC 20515The Honorable Steny Hoyer
Majority Leader
H107, The Capitol
Washington, DC 20515Dear Speaker Pelosi and Leader Hoyer:
I write today to express my grave concern about the state of health reform legislation, as well as the agenda of the 111th Congress. In particular, I write to inform you that I will not be able to offer my support to the version of health reform legislation passed by the Senate, and I urge you to reconsider this legislation as well as other plans for the 111th Congress.
The legislation passed by the Senate fails to meet standards I have put forth for health reform legislation. Throughout the health reform debate, I have said that health reform legislation must:
1. Provide consumers with more choice and lower costs
2. Help small businesses afford the challenges of health insurance
3. Protect rural hospitals and health care providers from unfair reimbursement policies
The Senate’s bill fails to meet the first standard. By forcing all consumers to purchase insurance without providing ample financial support, this legislation will mean higher costs for many of my constituents. I worry that rather than helping my constituents manage their health care costs, this legislation will saddle my constituents with a new financial burden they cannot manage.
Additionally, I believe that the proposed excise tax on health insurance plans is an unfair penalty on the working families of my district. There is no reason to place this burden on working families, particularly at a when so many are struggling to make ends meet.
Rather than pursuing passage of this legislation, I emphatically believe we must shift our focus toward the issue of greatest importance to my constituents – the economy. This Congress must be working to find creative solutions to this challenging problem, and working to create new economic opportunity for the people of Ohio. We have already waited far too long to address this problem, failing to recognize the wishes of the people of this country.
Thank you for your attention to this matter. I trust you recognize the importance of the message I have relayed on behalf of my constituents.
Sincerely,
Zack Space
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